Lymphoma? HL? NHL? something else?

About 8 months ago a lump came up just inside my right collarbone. I saw the GP, she said I would have to wait two weeks and if it was still there she would refer me. Well, it went away. Only it came back a few weeks ago. It's kidney bean shaped (I think, it's def not round), about an inch long, it's sometimes tender, my neck aches in the evening and sometimes the morning. A few days ago another lump appeared, much smaller and round, like a smallish pea, next to the other one. This one is sore all the time. 

I have had night sweats but not sure if I'm just hot.

I've seen a different gp and she took bloods (nothing significant other than crp 129) and has referred me for an ultrasound, and I'm currently awaiting that appointment.

Of course I've googled these things and it comes back with the worst. 

Can anyone suggest anything non cancer related?

I hsvd a 13 month old son and the thought of being away from him or not seeing him grow up breaks my heart. 

Parents
  • This is probably of no help.  I've had Non-Hodgkin lymphoma twice, the first time it was very advanced. I also had thyroid cancer which spread round my neck.  I'm very experienced in feeling tumours. All my tumours were hard & painless, not tender. Ive no medical qualifications but  I believe there are about 60 lymph nodes in the neck, lymph drains into the neck, so swollen glands in the neck aqren't uncommon & could have causes other than cancer. I had night sweats which were absolutley drenching.  The bed was saturated.. The sweating started when the lymphoma had obviously spread round my body, well beyond my neck.  I think it's important to persist with your GP while you remain concerned.  I had to report lumps in my neck for a year before my thyroid cancer was diagnosed.  Go on reporting your concerns until you get an answer or they go away.  I hope it's not a serious problem, but if it is, while the problem remains in one area the outlook is good.

  • Thank you for your reply, I'm sorry you've been through so much, but very grateful to you for sharing it with me. I know Dr Google is not to be trusted deep down, but its hard to share the worry of what might be. 

  • I .didn't explain myself very well & didn't mean to sound sorry for myself.  The trouble with Dr Google is that you get not enough information or too much.  Lists of symptoms which just say "night sweats" don't explain that it's not like ordinary sweating. In my experience without being particularly hot sweat pours out from every part & soaks bedding.  If you had night sweats you wouldn't be in any doubt about it. And I meant that there are a lot of reasons to have swollen glands in the neck.  I used to have tender swollen glands when I had tonsilitis. My tumours were different, As lymph drains into the neck anything to be disposed of ends up there, It may be difficult for GPs to diagnose lumps in the neck but I think they have a duty to investigate & make referrals when they don't know the cause  It shouldn't be a struggle to get a diagnosis. You're doing the right things apart from worrying. Even if there is a serious problem this site ought to tell you that outcomes can be very good! If you're interested, I posted some details of my history on the 'about me' page, click my username, & the nurses can tell you reliable things about lymph nodes.

  • Hi, I spent ages today chasing up my fast track appointment which was requested 2 weeks ago a d according to the gp means I should have been seen this week-ish. And turns out my request has been passed from pillar to post whilst they decide who should be dealing with it at the hospital. 

     

    Anyway, after having a constantly achey neck and sore lumps (and one big hard now painless lump) I've booked in to see the gp again in the morning. 

    I have definitely had night sweats a couple times but that could be caused by immune system trying to sort something else out I guess. 

    My worst enemy is still Google. I'm on my own all evening in the week (OH works away Mon-Fri), and so I inevitably end up googling even though I know I shouldn't.

Reply
  • Hi, I spent ages today chasing up my fast track appointment which was requested 2 weeks ago a d according to the gp means I should have been seen this week-ish. And turns out my request has been passed from pillar to post whilst they decide who should be dealing with it at the hospital. 

     

    Anyway, after having a constantly achey neck and sore lumps (and one big hard now painless lump) I've booked in to see the gp again in the morning. 

    I have definitely had night sweats a couple times but that could be caused by immune system trying to sort something else out I guess. 

    My worst enemy is still Google. I'm on my own all evening in the week (OH works away Mon-Fri), and so I inevitably end up googling even though I know I shouldn't.

Children
  • I've just been feeling the lumps again, the larger older lump which doesn't hurt is slightly moveable, it doesn't go anywhere as such but does move around when wiggled. The sorest lump is pea sized and hard, and doesn't move. Under that one seems to be another tender area, flatter and really tender to touch, just like swollen glands when you have a sore throat. 

    Surely the amount it all aches and hurts it must be muscular and the non hurty one could be a knot?

  • It's awful that you haven't been seen by a consultant yet.  Perhaps you should nag your GP to sort it out. .  There;s a time limit hospitals ought to keep to.  Your'e bound to wonder about the lumps but must try not to let wondering be worry. Google is a mixed blessing. I wonder whether you've asked the nurses on this site or read Macmillan.  I find Macmillan useful, it gives enough information so you don't have to guess what it means but not so much information you believe you have everything it describes! My last check up showed that I'm anaemic & I immediately thought the worse.  Going through web sites was no help because there were so many causes & symptoms & signs I could have dozens of problems! I don't worry about things now. Don't worry is easier said than done but worry won't help.  Do something practical like nagging people. I hope you' get the consultation soon. 

  • Finally have my appt , it's on Tuesday. How long do they take with results?  

  • That's great! Only a few days to wait. How long it takes to get results depends on what kind of tests you have, & I suppose how good the hospital is. Probably at the first appointment you'll be examined & have tests arranged & can have a blood test sample taken then.  Blood test results take a few days.  If you need a biopsy or are to have a scan you'll probably have to wait for another apointment, but not for long. You've done the hardest bit which is getting a GP to refer you to a consultant. Once you've been seen things move quickly - if necessary that is. You might not need to have investigations..The consultant might recognize a simple problem that doesn't need tests. Let's hope so. 

  • This appt is for an ultrasound guided aspiration. It's with the radiologist. No consultant appt yet. GP did blood tests, all clear except for CRP marker. 

  • Aspiration is ok It doesn't take long & won't hurt - only some pressure.  The results take a few days.I had a fine-needle-aspiration in my leg last year which was quite strange.  Lying on my front with my leg up was the only way to reach a tumour near my groin. I had the result very quickly.  I'm sorry, I thought you had a referral to a clinic & would see a doctor.  Perhaps you won't need to. 

  • Oh thank goodness, I'm a big wimp about needles!  Yes, hopefully it's just an infection and no need for any onward referral. 

    Your leg aspiration sounds a bit like a game of twister :) 

  • Fine-needle-aspiration is done with a very fine needle.  For me it's nothing like as bad as going to the dentist. Only a few days to wait now.

  • Ok, so just saw the radiologist for fine needle aspiration this morning. I asked him for as much info as he was able to give and he could see a thyroid module and about 20 enlarged lymph nodes, all abnormal. He thinks with thyroid cancer or lymphoma. He doesn't think an infection is a possibility. 

    He is going to fast track the results which means they'll be done in 2 days and he said to make an appointment with my GP to get those on Thursday. He thinks the next step will be a referral to endocrinology if it's thyroid and haematology if it's lymphoma. 

  • I'm very sorry to hear your news. At least the waiting is over & things will move along quickly now. If the radiologist found a thyroid nodule it sounds more like thyroid disease than lymphoma. Thyroid cancers spread nearby so a lump in the neck may be the first you know of it if the thyroid hormones stay normal.. I had papilliary thyroid cancer, 26 years ago, & had a goitre but I was "euthyroid" - I had normal thyroid hormone levels & no symptoms only painless lumps. The treatment has improved since I had it. It's very effective. I remember being devastated at the time & it had a big impact on my life but I was completely cured & it hasn't recurred. I live very well without a thyroid. And I've survived very advanced lymphoma, with no drastic treatment . Perhaps it would help to ask Macmillan about it, rather than consulting Dr.Google. Dr. Google wasn't practising when I had thyroid cancer so I read medical text books & knew everything about my condition - it helped me to feel in control. It sounds like you want to know what's happening so go on asking questions, of the right people.