Hello Emily1998 and welcome to our forum, 

It sounds like your GP is not overly concerned about this and it's reassuring that your blood tests came back fine. It's good that they are being thorough though and have referred you for a scan. It is normal to be anxious while you are waiting to find out more.

I know it is really hard but try not to worry too much or anticipate what it might be. The best thing to do to avoid thinking too much about this is to keep busy and distracted if you can and avoid looking things up online. I can imagine it is hard for you to do this at the moment but it will help you feel a little less anxious. 

I hope you will also hear from others here who have been through all this before and that they will be along soon to share their story with you. 

Keeping everything crossed for you that everything turns out fine. 

Best wishes, 

Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator

Hi Emily,

I just wanted to hop on and say I know exactly how you feel. I have quite a few large swollen hard lymph nodes as well as 2 large lumps in my neck and I'm trying so hard not to assume the worst but it's very hard not to worry.

The first showed up around September and after it had been there a month I went to the doctor who did the exact same said it was just a lymph node and sent me for bloods which came back normal.

However between then and now multiple more have popped up included these 2 large lumps at the base of my neck either side. I went back early Feb and he straight away referred me for an ultrasound.

Other than the lumps I haven't felt any symptoms other than being really tired all the time but I work shift work including nights so that's not anything unusual or to be unexpected really haha!

I too suffer with anxiety so have been going out of my mind with worry because we all know what Google says about things like this! I've been trying to keep myself busy to distract myself and that's the best advice I can give regarding worrying (not v helpful I know :/).

One thing I will say is I'd highly advise ringing the department if you still haven't had an appointment date sent out. I waited 2 weeks (which is how long my doctor said it would take for me to get an appointment letter) and when I hadn't heard anything I rang the hospital switchboard and asked to be put through. The woman on the phone was super helpful and able to get me booked in over the phone for the 3rd March (much sooner than the 6-8 weeks she said it normally takes). Would definitely recommend ringing if you haven't been sent an appointment as they might be able to do the same for you! Even if they can't fit you in soon just knowing when you will be seen and hopefully get some answers can be a massive relief!

Feel free to reach out to talk any time as I know how hard it can be at times!

Hey thanks so much for your response. Hopefully everything was okay with your ultrasound?? 
 

I ended up going private for mine as it had been over 4 weeks since I was referred and the anxiety was taking over. It was such a relieving experience, I had the scan and was reassured immediately that the lymph nodes were just reactive from being poorly from covid. When I questioned why they were still swollen, he said that younger people generally have larger lymph nodes and mine were very close to the surface of my skin and so that was why they may feel more enlarged than what they are. He also jokingly suggested that I would not be able to feel them if I put on a bit of weight haha 

Anyway, I feel much more calm about them now and hopefully you have managed to get the same relief from your scan. 
 

keep me updated on how you get on and thanks again for the message ️

Hi Emily,

That's great news!! So glad you have an answer and can be reassured it's nothing worrying!

I haven't had my scan yet but hoping for positive news