Hello Butterfly1 and thanks for posting

I am sorry to hear you are undergoing some tests and appreciate this is an anxious time for you.

Unfortunately usually a series of tests are needed to confirm what a mass is being caused by. It is important that a biopsy is taken when lymph nodes are raised and suspicious near to a mass to check for cancer cells. If and when cancer is found it is only a tissue sample (biopsy) that can confirm the type and grade ( how aggressive) of a cancer to direct treatment decisions.

I can appreciate you are worried this is cancer and that the biopsy will cause the cancer to spread further but there is a very low risk of this happening and for most this is a safe and necessary test to find out more.

Do discuss your concerns with your team and I hope you know more about your situation soon.

Please get back to us if you need any more information or support.  You may find it helpful to talk things through with one of the nurses on our helpline.  The number to call is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and the lines are open from 9am till 5pm Monday to Friday.

Best wishes,

Naomi

This is extremely comforting and I will be going forward with the biopsy:) thank you Naomi