Hello and thanks for your enquiry,

It is completely understandable that you’re feeling anxious, especially after having your initial concerns dismissed. Moving from a "pea-sized" sensation to a visible 2-inch lump is quite a change, and the "red flag" speed of your referral can feel overwhelming. While the 2-week pathway is designed to rule out the most serious causes quickly, it is also used for any "unexplained" mass that requires specialist imaging.

Whilst it is important to test for cancer in that area, lumps in the supraclavicular area (the hollow above the collarbone) are often related to lymph nodes, but there are several non-cancerous possibilities. Lymph nodes can swell due to long-term inflammation or previous infections. Since you mentioned complex medical issues, your immune system may be reacting to an underlying systemic condition. Other possible medical explanations can include a lipoma. This is a slow-growing, fatty tissue tumor. While usually soft, they can feel more firm if they are deep under the fascia muscle. A fluid-filled sac (like a sebaceous or branchial cleft cyst) that can grow and become quite firm or visible is also possible. Less common are schwannomas, which is a benign (non-cancerous) growth on a nerve sheath, which can occur in the neck area.

It is important to try to keep an open mind as to what it could be.

I hope that this helps a bit at this time,

Kind regards,

Vanda