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Lump in lymph node behind ear

Maz10
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I Just need a bit of advice really . We have a huge family history or brain and lymph node tumours ( father , aunt on mother's side and her son)  . I have a lump behind my ear that's been there a year and is slowly growing . I finally managed to get a doctors appointment and mentioned the lump and that i get dizzy spells and headaches and she dismissed it as a cyst ( even though it's a solid non moving mass) and told me she would be more worried if I had more then one??? I have high blood pressure at the moment so she dismissed my dizzy spells as that . How long should I leave it before I mention it again? 

  • Hello Maz10 and thanks for posting,

    I wasn't sure whether your GP had examined this lump or if you had only described it during a telephone appointment. GPs do see a lot of people with cysts so they should have a good idea of what they feel like. I think some cysts do feel quite firm, they aren't always squishy despite often being described as fluid filled sacs and I expect the overall size and growth rate come into the assessment. But as you aren't feeling reassured and have questions, I think it would be ok to bring it up again when you can next get an appointment. I wondered if you could arrange to see another GP to see what they think.

    It can be a good idea to be very direct with your doctor about what is bothering you, get them to explain their thinking and ask outright if you need to have any tests. And if you have been looking things up on line and drawn certain conclusions as a result, to say so,  This can feel a bit awkward but sometimes it is the best way to leave the surgery feeling ok about things. 

    I hope your next appointment goes well and leaves you feeling more comfotable about this.

    Best wishes,

    Julia

  • Offline in reply to CRUK Nurse Julia

    Thank you for your reply . I did go in and see her . It was her comment on if it was cancer I should have more than 1 lump which threw me.  I know it sounds terrible but my dad started off with cancer on his back which the same surgery thought was a cyst and they took him into clinic  and tried to cut it out under a local anaesthetic ! It spread to his brain after that unfortunately and I've had pe's twice and both times the same surgery missed the signs . It's in between the bones of my neck and ear so is really hard to feel . I'm probably worrying for nothing but I'm not sure how long do I wait before mentioning it again if it doesn't go . I understand if it's a cyst it may grow but it doesn't move and is hard . Thankyou for your reply .

  • in reply to Maz10

    Hello Maz10 and thanks for getting back to us, 

    I am sorry to learn about your dad and can understand how your confidence in the surgery has been shaken. I think it would be alright for you to go back as soon as you can get an appointment to explain why you remain worried - remind the doctor about what happened to your dad so they can appreciate where you are coming from. Seeing another GP may help so try and arrange an appointment with someone else. I think we tend to feel we can't take up too much time by asking questions at a doctors appointment, but if they explain their thinking it can often help so do get a list of questions ready and focus on what is bothering you most about this lump. 

    All the best,

    Julia

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