Lymphoma

I wonder if anyone has had any experiences and can make me feel positive. Back in September 2021 I found 1 swollen lymph node and I went to the doctors and they said that it was fine and had blood tests which came back normal. Since then I have found another 3 swollen lymph nodes in the neck area, one on the identical side to the first one, one on the side of my neck and one near my collarbone. 
 

I have an ultrasound on Monday and I am scared that it will be lymphoma and I am only 18-25 yrs old.

 

how likely is lymphoma as a possible cause? Can several lymph nodes be swollen and stay swollen for a long period of time? Do they generally tell you at the ultrasound what it it? 
 

Any help would be much appreciated.

  • Hi,

    I found 3-4 swollen nodes in my neck/collar bone area in Oct 2021. I hadn't been ill but I did have my covid vaccines in the summer, which a lot of swollen glands have been linked to. 

    I've since had an ultrasound and blood tests, the Dr's have said they aren't sinister and they are reactive glands that are no cause for concern. They're still there, and I still worry about them (being an anxious sort). 

    Generally speaking, if they are squishy, under 1cm in size and move freely when you touch them, the Dr's don't seem to be that concerned. The person conducting the US will probably tell you there which means you won't be sitting around waiting for results.

    Good luck, I'm sure you will be fine and it will be good news xx

     

  • Thank you for replying so quick.

    So 3 of the lymph nodes are 1cm or less but one seems like it is longer than 1 cm. 

    My lymph nodes are all moveable however they are not squishy.

    Can ultrasounds definitely show if it is cancer or is it just like the next step?

    I have also had 3 vaccines and was really ill at the start of September, I just couldn't shake the feeling of cancer especially as most places say that swollen lymph nodes after illness should be around for maximum 3 weeks.

     

  • No, ultrasounds are not a definitive way of diagnosing. But cancerous nodes apparently look different so it's a good start. If they have any concerns, they are likely to do a biopsy. I think it's good practise to do this anyway if the nodes measure over 1cm in diameter (which is how they take the measurement). A biopsy will take a bit of tissue from the node to the checked for cancerous cells. 

    Not all of my nodes are squishy either, but people I know who've had lymphoma said their nodes were very hard. 


    Swollen nodes shouldn't last more than a couple of weeks but sometimes they just don't go down. In some cases, they are permanently raised. The ENT consultant told me that's not particularly unusual. I'll admit, I do feel worried that mine are still there, but if they don't get significantly bigger and they've been deemed OK but the Dr's then there really isn't any reason to worry. 

  • Hi I just wanted to reply to this post I am experiencing similar experience, I've had 3 Covid jabs the last one which was the Mordena early December after that I had two swollen lymph nodes under my armpit which according to the gp went down after a week or so but since then I've had an ache under my armpit and sometimes the other side , easy January I started noticing some minor back ache and mild chest pain (which could be stress related) fast forward to around a week ago so the 15th of January and I had a neck pain which went after two days but during day I noticed a swollen lymph node on my left side of my neck just above the collarbone and I'm sure in the last week the same one on the other side is swollen, I went to the doctors the Tuesday just gone the 18th of January, the gp felt the node which was more prominent on the left side and im having blood tests on Monday the gp didn't seem to concerned and even said there was 2 blood test slots on Friday the 21st for emergency slots and didn't want to give me these ones , since Tuesday I've not stopped prodding and poking tall areas lymph nodes could appear , I've had chest pain come and go and back tightness come and go I'm worried about the lymphoma and hoping that the lymph nodes are issues with the moderna that have lasted a while I've had no other symptoms. 

  • Hey I'm in a similar position did you get any answers

    Amelia