enlarged lymph nodes - worried!

Hi all! Sorry if this is slightly long to read.

I'm 21, and female. In november, I noticed one of my lymph nodes in my neck was enlarged, without any other signs of illness. Shortly after my groin swelled up, and then I noticed another in my neck was enlarged too. The groin 'swelling' seemed to go down, I occasionally worried about the ones in my neck, but didn't do anything about it. Since november, I have been getting increasingly tired, however this comes and goes. Some days I am fine, other days I am exhausted, and it is completely unrelated to how much sleep i've got! One in particular on my neck seemed to be growing larger, and I then noticed I could actually still feel the one in my groin. I've also seemed to have slightly tender side of my breast, on one particular side, which comes and goes too. I don't know if this is related.

I finally went to my GP on monday, and she examined me and found some more  - another in my neck, one above my collar bone, and another in the other side of my groin. So in total I have 6, that I know of. I'm also convinced another one has swelled up in my armpit since I saw her, but I don't know if this is stress related? The day it felt swollen, the side of my breast on that side was also tender to touch (the opposite to where it has previously been sore). I've also seemed to have developed a 'tight chest' feeling and a chesty cough when I breathe in deeply since seeing her, after she pressed down on my stomach and told me to inhale/exhale, but then again, maybe its always been there/ is stress related? I'm just noticing it now?
I had a chest x-ray this morning, have a CT scan on my neck in just under 2 weeks, and blood tests in about 3 weeks. I feel a bit confused to be honest, I know they're testing 'to rule out' cancer, but what does this actually mean? a specific type of cancer? any cancer? I don't really understand the stages of diagnosis, and how likely really is this to be cancer? I don't think I've had any significant weight loss, and I definitely have not had night sweats to the point I've drenched the sheets, i've woken up hotter than usual some nights but that could be a whole range of things.

 I know lymphoma can cause enlarged lymph nodes - does anyone know if 6 palpable nodes is a bad sign? The one in my neck that I had originally noticed seems to feel quite hard and doesn't move, but my GP did say the ones in my groin area are movable and so that is more 'promising'. I'm trying to stay positive but the worry is really eating away at me, at a time where i'm trying to write my university dissertation too!

Any kind of insight/opinion would be really helpful/appreciated, its driving me crazy!

 

EDIT: I also had glandular fever 2 years ago, so we know it isn't this. 

 

  • hi 

    would like to thank everyone on here for your support.  The lump in my neck is benign and is called fibromatosis and the nodes on my other side are 0.8mm so consultant said nothing to worry about and has give me the all clear. I hope i never go through anxiety like the last 10 weeks every again. As it is the worst thing i have ever felt. As many of you are aware.  I hope you all get sorted and the results you want.  This thread has really helped me over this worrying time. Best of luck to you all. 

    Love nicci xxx

  • That is fantastic news!!! Now you can enjoy the summer stress/anxiety free! I hope you are planning a lovely holiday somewhere!Thanks for letting us know! Fingers crossed we all get positive results over the next weeks!

    take care 

    Miks xxx

  • hi 

    Going on my hen due 2 weeks tomorrow which i was thinking of not going on. But now going, getting married in august and we now booking a family holiday with kids for after that. Just so glad its over and nothing sinister xxx 

  • Sounds fabulous!!! Enjoy every minute

  •  

    Hi Nicci,

    This is fantastic news. Now you can really concentrate on your wedding and enjoy your hen do.

    I hope that you manage to get booked up for a fantastic family holiday with the kids, once all the excitement is over.

    I wish you nothing but good health and happiness in the future.

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx

  • thank you so much your words of experience really helped put my mind at ease when my thoughts were racing all over the place. All of you take care and positive thoughts with you all xxx

  • Hello

    There are so many reasons you can have swollen lymph nodes. If you think of your lymph nodes as little prison cells. When they swell up they are trapping rogue cells they do not know what to do with. It can be as simple as a tooth infection. It can be as a result of wearing too tight clothing like leggings or jeans. All sorts of simple stuff. 

    The scans are more than likely just Pinpointin the cause. Nothing is a bad sign unless you have the information to back it up. You have 700 lymph nodes in your body and six are swollen up. You say they are testing to rule our cancer, has someone actually said this to you? 

    Any kind of testing is worrying but, the testing is being done to find out the best way to get you better as soon as possible.

  • Great news, what a relief for you!!

  • Thanls Jolamine, I hope so too!  Appointment is in 3 weeks time so I need to just buck up and get on with things until then.  I have 2 little one's and I don't feel I've really been present for them for a long time now as I'm always so preoccupied by this. 

  •  

    Hi Becky,

    I hope that your doctor listens to you and understands how worried you are and, refers you for that ultrasound.

    I know that it is difficult to keep pushing when you are feeling tired all the time, but it is worth doing, if only for your peace of mind.

    I hope that it all turns out well for you.

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx