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.

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. 

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.

Thank you. It's been a strange day. I find your replies extremely reassuring and I know I need to stay positive too. I Have a 13 month old to keep me busy (we went to a farm park this afternoon). I also wasted £10 on scratchcards on the basis that I was due some luck to balance the day!

Did you follow any kind of "beat cancer" diet? I'm thinking it can't hurt and feel I need to do something for myself .

I hope you enjoyed the farm - an excellent thing to do! I've never tried any particular diet.  I'm a vegetarian & think about what I eat so I have quite a healthy diet.  I've never looked into diets & cancer treatments but I'm sure there's a lot written about them.  I'm afraid they might be cranky.  There's a lot of rubbish written about cancer treatments.  I think that having fun with your little one is better than researching diets .You could ask the nurses whether they have any ideas.

I don't buy scratch cards but I'm certain that I'll win the jackpot in Euromillions!  I've found a 10 bedroom house I'll buy when I win.

You can't win today ...... I bought a ticket for that within the tenner too! :) 

Yes, I think you may be right. I eat well on the whole. I drink sparingly since being pregnant, not at all at the moment, I don't need my emotions made any more unstable by alcohol!!  

I will see what the pros say rather than the internet self proclaimed gurus :) there's so many of them out there. I'm also doing my best to boycott Dr Google.   

I'm going to win on a Friday.  You can win on a Tuesday, it ought to be  tonight! 

If you have a healthy diet I doubt there's much you could change.  I know some people talk about 'super foods'  but that's for general health, not particularly cancers I think. There was a place in Bristol where they put very ill, & probably desperate people on extreme diets & were heavily criticised for it . Enjoy your food t I say, I think diet is important for people who have cancers or chemo that affect their eating, digestion & appetite & research has probably been into helping those things, but Macmillan or the nurses on this site might know of diets or particular foods that thave been properly tested... .

Nope, didn't win. Got £2 back out of £10. I should know better!

Had a call from a lovely GP who rang to introduce himself ahead of giving me the results tomorrow. 

£2 out of £10!  Well done. I've had £2.60 from about £50.  I'm waiting for the jackpot.

It was nice of the GP to phone.  I had a letter from my GP which suggested visiting a cancer drop-in sort of place attached to the hospital. It was a good idea but I felt ok about the little lump I'd found so I didn't go.  For me the good thing about GPs is that they take me seriously now when I report anything because they know I've had a lot of experience!

I'm sure you'll ask questions about the results.  Don't leave wondering about anything.  I hope you'll post what happened.