Hiya, I am sorry if this is the wrong place to post, I am just a bit lost at the moment of who to talk to...

I found a lump in my neck last year (left anterior triangle, also had other symptoms like severe fatigue, stiff and painful joints, nausea, etc.) - it had been there a while so I kept an eye on it, after a couple months (now November 2022) it didn't go down so I went to my GP. She sent me for a scan and blood test. They said it was a small 5mm lump, most likely reactive. So that was that, it was just left with the GP receptionist calling me saying there is nothing to worry about. 

Come February 2023, it still was there and you could see that it was noticeable in my neck so I made another appointment with the GP, she referred me to an ENT under 2 week pathway, went to see him and he was very dismissive, said he couldn't feel anything, that I was just anxious and because I work in palliative care that I was jumping to conclusions. 

I left it a few more months trying to forget about it but the lump had still not gone down, it is now August 2023 and the lump felt bigger, the left side of my neck felt more swollen and hard, I can feel smaller more pea sized lymph nodes popping up and my general well being is just not good. My neck feels achy and like I can't swallow properly without it getting stuck sometimes. So I ended up going back to the GP, she sent me for another ultrasound on my neck and the results had come back that the lump had grown from 5mm to 11 x 4.2mm, another lymph node had popped up beside it. (I had asked the doctor who did the ultrasound to scan the sides of my neck as well due to the other lumps but he ignored my concerns). I had a follow up call with the doctor in 4 weeks but she called me within 1 week (which was very kind, she said she had a spare few minutes and didn't want to leave me waiting) to let me know that she had referred me to a haematologist as she didn't like that the lump is growing and wants to eliminate anything sinister. 

I have to wait till December for a phone consultation to speak to them, I am concerned if I leave it any longer, my neck and the lump are just going to get bigger. Is this a normal wait time to see a haematologist for suspected cancer? My bloods seem to be in normal range, does that mean there is nothing wrong? I have so many questions and waiting another 4 months is making me anxious, I suppose it is good that they don't think it is urgent.. I understand the NHS are under so much pressure at the moment, I work in palliative care and can relate to the strain of having no staff, etc. I am trying not to worry, keep myself busy, but it just keeps creeping up on me and stressing me out. 

Has anyone been through similar or could you tell me how long your diagnosis took? 

Thank you for reading, I appreciate it.