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Swollen lymph node

Worried1
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Hi everyone,

A week ago i was rubbing my neck and felt what i thought was a spot, it was sore and red.  I noticed it didnt seem to have any kind of head on it to be a spot and it seemed to be coming more from underneath the skin, so i stupidely looked it up online i saw a lot of stuff about cancer!!! I got an appointment at the doctors and he checked all over my head and neck and could only feel the one lymph node swollen, he asked me a number of questions such as was i feeling ill? did i have night sweats? history of family cancer, etc, all of which i answered no to.  He took my blood pressure and weight which were all fine, he asked if i had been ill recently and i said ive had cough and cold on and off since decemeber but has gone now so he has put the swollen lymph node down to this and said he wasnt worried but  told me if it gets any bigger or is there after 2-4 weeks i should return..

It has now been a week and i can still feel the node, it is no longer sore and red this went after 3 days.  I am so worried that i can feel it, its smaller than a pea and is just there! I dont want it there and dont know why it is there,  this is what is bothering me so much is not knowing why it has all of a sudden popped up out of nowhere and also what the hell will happen if it is still there after two weeks! 

This is making me very anxious, and i hate feeling this way, its mostly the not knowing why it is there and is it something sinister! Dont know what to do, not sure what it is im asking here, think i just need some reassurances im going to be ok as i have two young children :( 

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    Hi Worried1. Welcome to the forum.

    Apart from the nurses, we're not medically qualified here. We're mainly cancer patients/survivors and carers for cancer patients.

    Although I'm not a doctor, it does seem that your doctor has asked all the right questions and you gave reassuring answers.  Lymph nodes to swell and subside in response to infections - that's their job and most of the time it happens without us noticing. Then one day, one node is a little bigger and more painful than normal, and we notice it and start wondering what's going on.

    These days, we're all cancer aware, and if you ever Google your symptoms then the result is usually scary.  Last time I Googled my symptoms, it turned out I needed to have a hysterectomy - and I'm a bloke!

    You are right to talk to your doctor for reassurance, but in all likelihood this lymph node is doing its job of protecting your body from an infection that you're not even aware you have.

  • Offline in reply to telemando
    Hi telemando, thank you for you reply. I’m a bit annoyed with the doctors, I called them again because I hadn’t received a call back in 3 hours from the doctor and the receptionist told me my name wasn’t even on his call list even though I called at 9 this morning! I feel so annoyed! I explained I have health anxiety and this is important and I need a call back so she said doc will call shortly But I’m still waiting argh! I don’t know if my anxiety has brought these swellings up! They are really small, smaller than a pea I would say I just need some reassurance.
  • Offline in reply to Worried1
    Finally received a call back from the doctor, I explained about the new node popping up, its basically exactly the same as the other one that popped up. He asked me if i had fever, sweating at night or weight loss which i don't have i literally feel normal apart from the anxiety of course. He said the size and location are not concerning, and that i should just check them every few days to make sure not getting bigger. My first one has decreased in size so i am hoping this one goes down as well. If they are still there in 2 weeks then i go back to the doctors to get them checked again but he said he is not concerned about them. Should i be reassured by this?
  • Offline in reply to Worried1

    Hi Worried1.

    I'm not a doctor, but in your situation I would be completely reassured by this.

    Night sweats are a classic symptom of lymphoma (although there are PLENTY of other reasons that can cause them, most of them benign). So is weight loss (with again the same proviso).  You have neither, so this is a case where no news is definitely good news.  Your doctor has asked all the right questions and you don't appear to have anything to suggest that these nodes are sinister (in my non-qualified opinion). 

    You doctor is correct in advising you to monitor the nodes, but I suggest you don't become obsessive about it.  See what they're like in 7 and 14 days time from now, and decide then whether you need to go back. 

    Your doctor sounds to me to be completely on the ball. I think you've got a good one there! He might almost be as good as my doctor, who is just brilliant! 

  • Offline in reply to telemando
    Well I feel a slightly stupid, the 2nd node I thought i had was actually a spot getting spots all over my neck now because I keep touching it!! Grrr need to stop searching for what’s not there however still got the initial one it’s small but the fact it’s still there is annoying me. It’s been there for 12 days now :( wish it would get lost
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  • Offline in reply to telemando
    Well I feel a slightly stupid, the 2nd node I thought i had was actually a spot getting spots all over my neck now because I keep touching it!! Grrr need to stop searching for what’s not there however still got the initial one it’s small but the fact it’s still there is annoying me. It’s been there for 12 days now :( wish it would get lost
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