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enlarged lymph nodes - worried!

SunshineEm
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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. 

 

  • Offline in reply to sunshine783

     

    Hi Sunshine,

    I'm sorry to hear that you are still struggling with fatigue and pain in your lymph nodes. If this continues, make sure that you go back to your GP for further tests.

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx

  • Offline in reply to Jolamine

    Hi, 

    Over the past couple of weeks I have been having pain in my groin that feels like a pinched nerve that comes and goes. I've recently started getting pain under my arms too, this also comes and goes. I've lost 3.5kg since january and found a single enlarged lymph node in my neck. I've became very itchy and was bruising easily at the weekend. I seen my GP on monday for a blood test and if the lymph node isnt gone by next week he wants further testing. My mum had lymphoma but wasnt listened to so it wasnt found until it was too late and she sadly passed 4 days after diagnosis. I am beside myself with worry as I have an 11 month old and dont want her going through what i did with my mum. 

  • Offline in reply to Bec1999

     

    Hi Bec,

    A very warm welcome to our forum. I am sorry to hear about your symptoms.  

    I am also so sorry to hear about your mum. My mum also died from secondary breast cancer and, I know just how scared I was, when I discovered my first breast lump as a result. I have since had 2 bouts, but I am still here 11 years after diagnosis.

    I hope that your blood test gives you an indication of what is causing the symptoms that you are experiencing. Congratulations on losing so much weight. It's not easy to do this with a young baby in the house. If your blood tests don't show anything conclusive, Explain to your GP why you feel so anxious and, ask for a referral to get this checked out.

    You are young and have had a lot of hormonal changes within the past year, so there may well be a simpler solution than you're thinking of. I do hope so!

    Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on We are always here for you.

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx

  • Offline in reply to Jolamine

    Hi Jolamine, 

    Thanks for getting back in touch. Unfortunately this weight loss was not intended and has sent me into a tizzy thinking the worst. Only one of my blood results are back and therefore they wont tell me the results until they're all back, the receptionist was very confused as to why they're not back yet. 

  • Offline in reply to Bec1999

     

    Hi Bec,

    I'm sorry about my weight loss gaffe. It is understandable that you are worried about this. I hope that the rest of your blood test results come back soon. Did the receptionist give you any idea of when they might be back?

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx

  • Offline in reply to Jolamine

    Hi everyone,

     

    I discovered this thread a while ago and decided to post because I'm really worried about my partner. 
     

    She had a couple of enlarged lymph nodes in the base of her neck and they do seem to have gone down a bit but she has two behind her ear that aren't going and are about 1 inch. They move around a bit and don't feel rock hard but due to Covid the doctors won't see her in person and have just referred her for a head scan but god knows how long that woll

    take.

     

    She's "not too worried" (even though she is a bit) and I'm really trying not to but I'm driving myself insane. I'm super anxious anyway which won't be helping but I don't know what to do. 
     

    Any ideas what it could be? I'm convinced it's leukaemia or lymphoma. 
     

    Thanks everyone x

  • Offline in reply to zeb

     

    Hi Zeb,

    Welcome to our forum.I am sorry to hear about your partner's symptoms.

    Did her GP not give her any idea about how long she is likely to have to wait for a head scan?  They should be able to give her some indication of waiting times. I'm sure that your partner is possibly more worried than she is letting on. Why doesn't she phone her practice and ask for guidance?

    It is not clear whether she has been refered to a cancer clinic or not, or whether she is just waiting for a scan. I am not a doctor, but I suspect that it will come through much quicker if she has been referred to a secialist clinic.

    There are a number of different reasons for enlarged nodes. Some enlarge as a result of inflammation and don't always settle down again. It is good to hear that they are not rock hard and move around a bit, as most suspicious nodes feel quite hard when enlarged.

    I sincerely hope that nothing untoward is found. Please keep in touch and let us know how your partner gets on. We are always here for you.

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx

     

     

     

  • Offline in reply to Jolamine

    Hi Jolamine,

     

    Thanks for the reply -- sorry for the rambly post yesterday, I was writing in very tired. 

    The GP said 'a few months' and said he isn't concerned about them and that they're likely to be a cyst or something. My worry is that the doctor only saw photos as she's unable to go in.

    She has called the GP again today and has another phone appointment later, I assume they'll ask for photos again. It's quite frustrating that they are completely refusing to see patients because of Covid. 

    Thank you for your kindness and I will let you know how we get on with the GP later -- have a good day. 

     

    xx

  • Offline in reply to zeb

    Hi everyone,

     

    Really great to read other peoples experiences around this topic - just a shame regarding their circumstances. I'm in the same boat as many here - 24 yr old male, swollen nodes (in my neck, front of ear and left collarbone), fevers, sweats, petechiae and left lower rib pain also. Doctor seemed concered so sent for blood counts etc. White blood cells are a little high with lymphocytes borderline low. I was sent to a consultant haemotologist who saw me within 24hrs of referral and requested more bloods and CT of neck, chest, neck, abdomen and pelvis. All viral infections and autoimmune diseases have been ruled out so it leaves little to the imagination that there's a serious possibility of Lymphoma, which doctors have mentioned throughout my consultations from day 1. I suppose I am just wondering how others have got on with the whole process? Hemo secretary said today I have to wait till tomorrow for a call from the consultant with CT and additional blood results. Hoping for the best but expecting the worst,

    cheers

    LJ

  • Offline in reply to zeb

     

    Hi Zeb,

    How did your partner get on with her GP this time? GPs can still see patients in person if they feel the need. Do you think that it might help to see another dotor in the clinic? You never know, s/he might be more sympathetic and, it always gives your partner a second opinion.

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine

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