Driving myself insane over two tiny lumps

Posting here as it's weirdly potentially the most reassuring place on the internet (literally every thread I look on with similar symptoms detailed to mine seems to end up being about someone being completely fine) and I'm driving myself insane worrying about two little lumps I've found. There's one on my right side of my neck, about halfway down, and then one sort of above/behind my right collarbone which you have to really dig in to find. Nurse I saw at my GP yesterday says they're both about 2cm in size. Both are malleable and easy to roll around, first found them in May this year. Saw another nurse a couple of months ago who wasn't at all concerned about them but told me to come back in four weeks if they were still there, but didn't end up going back for eight weeks as I've been so worried about them I've ended up kind of blocking it out and forgetting to follow up. Have now been referred to the hematology department at my local hospital and am on a two-week wait for an appointment, which I think will possibly be an ultrasound to have a look at the lumps and see if they're scary or not.

I have a lot of cancer-related anxiety (my dad died of lung cancer when I was 12 and my half sister has chronic myeloid leukemia, which won't kill her but is, obviously, Forever, my mother's partner died of acute myeloid leukemia a few months ago, my uncle has prostate cancer, I could go on but you get the picture) and I'm so anxious about it I'm finding it genuinely difficult to think about anything else. Just thought I'd share because I've seen so many people on here in a similar situation and I'm driving myself a bit mad.

  • Hello gersonswhistle, 

    I am so sorry to hear these two little lumps you found are driving you insane. You did well to go and get them looked at when you noticed them and it's good that they are being thorough and that you will have an ultrasound very soon to look at the lumps in more detail. Your cancer anxiety is understandably making you fear the worst especially given your family history and this waiting time for tests and results can be all consuming and it can be hard, as so many of our members will have experienced, to think of anything else. Try if you can to stay away from Google as looking things up will only bring up the worst case scenarios and make you feel more anxious. I am glad this forum has given you some reassurance - indeed, there are so many things these lumps could be other than cancer so it's important not to anticipate the worst and least likely possibility. Obviously you will only know what is going on once you have had all your results and there are helpful tips on this page to help you cope while waiting for important news. 

    Many members of your community have been in a similar place before and I hope they'll be along shortly to share their story with you. I am keeping everything crossed for you that it all turns out to be nothing of concern. 

    Best wishes, 

    Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator