Possible lymphoma symptoms

Hi everyone,

Almost 4 weeks ago I randomly felt a lump on my neck (left side just above the collarbone). It was the size of an egg and I am almost certain it has only recently grown to that size. My GP arranged an urgent 2-week referral to the ENT department and I had bloods done. She said it might be cancer but it could be other things too.

The blood tests came back normal, although my LDH was slightly low. I have an underactive thyroid and their levels were within range too. Since then, I have felt tired, a little under the weather, nauseous and I can sometimes feel a slight pressure in my throat.

My appointment is on Friday and I'm staying positive but there is a part of me freaking out about this. Other than an underactive thyroid, I'm 39 and very healthy. I eat healthily, I don't smoke, drink and exercise a lot (3-4 times a month). Has anyone else been diagnosed with similar symptoms? I know the one on my neck is obviously a symptom but the others seem too vague and could be anything.

Any help would be greatly appreciated :) 

Parents
  • Hi

    I hope things are moving on positively for you.   I presented with similar symptoms in 2022 with enlarged lymph nodes and a enlarged spleen  but I had also turned yellow and had bright orange pee.  Hospital were convinced I had NHL but it took 3 separate biopsies to convince them. Turns out I have an auto-immune condition called AIHA (auto immune haemolytic anaemia) which was mimicking all the classic indicators for NHL.  I was put on a 5 month course of steroids and it all went away until August this year, when I started haemolysing again and this time the steroids aren't getting rid of it.  My consultant is concerned it may have morphed into low grade non-aggressive NHL, so I have a repeat CT scan next week followed by a chat with haematology about moving on to monoclonal antibody treatment with a drip-fed drug called Rituximab (which has a lot of the same side effects as chemo). 

    I am feeling strangely calm about it all, possibly because you have plenty of time with low grade NHL and the recovery rate is high. 

Reply
  • Hi

    I hope things are moving on positively for you.   I presented with similar symptoms in 2022 with enlarged lymph nodes and a enlarged spleen  but I had also turned yellow and had bright orange pee.  Hospital were convinced I had NHL but it took 3 separate biopsies to convince them. Turns out I have an auto-immune condition called AIHA (auto immune haemolytic anaemia) which was mimicking all the classic indicators for NHL.  I was put on a 5 month course of steroids and it all went away until August this year, when I started haemolysing again and this time the steroids aren't getting rid of it.  My consultant is concerned it may have morphed into low grade non-aggressive NHL, so I have a repeat CT scan next week followed by a chat with haematology about moving on to monoclonal antibody treatment with a drip-fed drug called Rituximab (which has a lot of the same side effects as chemo). 

    I am feeling strangely calm about it all, possibly because you have plenty of time with low grade NHL and the recovery rate is high. 

Children
  • Hey, sorry your going thru similar. I was given steroids whilst awaiting my biopsy result and they reduced my lumps massively. So hoping that's a good sign for you and it isn't actually cancer, although as you say it's a very curable cancer to have. Hopefully you get answers sooner rather than later! Best of luck, keep positive  here if you need a chat