Hi,

I don’t know the purpose of this post other than not going crazy I suppose. 

During an examination by GP in Feb this year she found a lump just above my left collarbone. 

At the time I was experiencing extreme exhaustion and drenching night sweats and what I thought was a sore throat at the time  

I was sent for a chest xray and and blood tests. 

chest xray was clear and blood tests for white cells high normal. Nothing to worry about she said. Monitor the lump and come back if it was still there in a couple of weeks time. 

Lump persisted so I had to advocate for myself and ask for an ultrasound. Ultrasound appointment took about 6 weeks to come though even though it was meant to be an urgent referral. By this point I still had the extreme fatigue, night sweats and hoarseness for several weeks. 

Ultrasound showed up a lymph node that was missing the fatty hiluim. The operator however marked it down as a reactive lymph node and just suggested if symptoms persist that I should be referred to ENT. My GP didn’t even contact me with results. I rang up 2 weeks later and the GP I spoke to said that the Ultrasound operators remark was a suggestion and that this did not mean that this is Acton that needed to be taken. So I asked about all of my symptoms as they were getting worse. He told me to get back in touch with them after watching and waiting to see if they got better. This was May by now! 

I went back to see another GP who once he had the overview of what had been happening made an urgent 2 WW referral to ENT. 

When I got an appointment through for this urgent referral it was with a consultant from Maxillofacial Surgey. 

He looked in my mouth, couldn’t see anything. Felt my neck, found 2 lumps either side of my voice box measuring 1.5-2cms. Said he’d have to refer me to ENT! But he ordered a blood test on that day and then a CT Scan with contrast and a repeat ultrasound with biopsy if needed. 

I got my blood tests done 2 weeks ago, my CT Scan last Saturday and had my Ultrasound today. The operator of the Ultrasound today said he couldn’t find anything of concern which would need a biopsy. 

My follow up appointment with the same Maxillofacial Surgery Consultant is booked for 3 weeks time. Heard nothing from ENT. 

I was initially relieved that today appointment doesn’t need a biopsy. My husband thinks this means there’s no chance of cancer now and I really want to think the same but what’s causing all of these symptoms. 

I suppose I just wanted to ask others if they’ve been in similar situations and had either positive or negative results? 

I don’t know what to think. On one hand I’m thinking it’s got to be positive because nothing has shown on the ultrasound and I haven’t had any contact about the other tests already done and I don’t have a follow up until 3 weeks time for results.

And then on the other hand do I allow myself to think it’s nothing and what about if it something and it’s shown up on the ct scan and blood tests but I just don’t know that? 

I feel so poorly and I’m trying to get on best I can working full time with a young family but I’m so exhausted physically and mentally. 

I don’t have any capacity to speak to anyone on the helpline which is why I’m reaching out on here. 

Thanks if you got this far.