Hi everyone,

ive been reading through this whole thread for a few days now and I have to say I find it really comforting when I am having an anxiety attack worrying about cancer.

im a 33 year old female with the fear of lymphoma. I firstly had a cold which only affected one side of my face and a constant lump feeling in my throat. After a month I called the doctors and the gave me antibiotics for a sinus infection. Nothing changed. I went back again and the doctor felt my lymph nodes and immediately said he was sending me for an urgent referral to ENT. Now I'm scared he felt something I didn't. 
 

tonight my whole body has started itching. My anxiety is through the roof and I'm having panic attacks at any sign of differences in my body. Hoping to just get a little support from people in the same situation. Thanks xx

Hi all! This thread has given me a lot of comfort today (I've just sat and read through all 33 pages!). Thank you for that and for stopping me consulting Dr google at least for a day.

I have had enlarged lymph nodes in my groin for the past 6 weeks. They're very achey, and more and more seem to be popping up- I have also found lumps in my lower abdomen and on my public bone.

I went to my GP a couple of weeks ago and she said that she will refer me for an ultrasound. The issue is, my boyfriend has just passed away in Canada, and I have just arrived there to spend time with his family and our mutual friends. Im going to be here for at least a month, and then will obviously have to isolate on return to the UK and wait for a referral!

All of this waiting is making me so panicked, and not allowing me to focus on healing while I'm out here. I'm noticing every little development and am sure I can feel new lumps every day.

As a result I've convinced myself that I have all kinds of advanced cancer and am worried about leaving an ultrasound for so long. 

Just looking for a bit of advice or talking down I suppose. I know that cancer is rare in someone my age (27), but it does happen, and I see no other reason for the lumps, as I'm pretty sure they can't be caused by stress.

I'm so sorry for the essay, and in case anyone actually made it through my rambling, bravo and thank you 

Hi Char,

I am so sorry to hear about your boyfriend's passing and offer my sincere condolences. These symptoms couldn't have appeared at a worse time in your life, could they?

You have had these enlarged nodes for 6 weeks, so hopefully another 4 won't make that much difference. Have you informed your GP of your circumstances? It might be worth letting either your GP or the ultrasound department know that you won't be available for the next few weeks. 

It is quite likely that your referral will come through while you are away and, if this happens, you may find that you have a further delay whilst you wait for another referral.

If your GP is concerned about the waiting time for your ultrasound, would it be possible to have one done privately in Canada?

I am not a doctor, but agree that cancer is unlikely in someone of your age, although not impossible. There are a number of different causes for the appearance of swollen lymph nodes, but with so many affected, it is certainly worth getting these checked out. 

I do hope that you can get some answers soon and that nothing untoward is found.

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

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine,

Thank you so much for your kind reply, and for being such a calming presence to many in this forum!

You're right, the timing is terrible. My boyfriend actually passed on the 1st October (before I noticed any lymph nodes), but this was the soonesst I was able to get to Canada with borders being so strict at the moment. Hard times indeed! I appreciate your condolences <3

My GP is aware that I'm going to be here for a while and didn't seem too concerend that we leave the ultrasound until I get back, so maybe that's reassuring. Although this was before I started noticing more nodes... They are all reasonably small, and I don't believe they are getting bigger so far, so I am trying to take that as a positive as well! She thought that the swelling could be stress/grief related, but I can't find anything that states this as a possible bodily response online.

Unfortunately it would be difficult for me to get a private scan here in Vancouver. I would need to get a referral sent by my GP at home, and then pay around $500 for the scan, which isn't feasable for me at the moment.

I think I will try and put it to the back of my mind (easier said that done I'm sure) for now, as it's not something that's in my immediate control- I'll just have to wait!

Hi everyone, 

I never post to forums like this but after spending a long time reading through the posts I felt if I could provide my own experience which might help another then it's worth it. 

I'm 24 years old and noticed a swollen lymph node, pea-sized in the right side of my neck. I noticed this back in January 2020 and obviously panicked. When I was 15 I found a lump in my left breast - turned out to be a Fibroadenmona which I got removed when I was 18. I think ever since 15, I have constantly struggled with anxiety relating to cancer. Therefore, when I found this in my neck I freaked out. I am fairly slim which I read can make it easier to find lumps, but it really doesn't take long to find this gland - i didn't have to 'dig' for it. 

My first reaction was to use a web doctor (provided via my work) who listened to my symptoms, asked the usual questions (have you experienced night sweats) and concluded it did not sound sinister. 

I was living away from home at the time so went to a doctor (not my registered GP) who said he wasn't concerned by the size of it, and suggested that because I suffer with psioaris and a dry, often irritated scalp - it was likely I had a scalp infection which was causing the node to swell. He provided me with a steroid gel which I applied twice a day to my scalp. Whilst this removed all irritation from my scalp, my gland did not get any smaller. Around the time that I visited this Doctor, I also made an appointment with my own GP. 

Due to Covid, this appointment was cancelled. I then spent several weeks obsessing over the gland because it hadn't gone down, and like many on this forum, convinced myself I had cancer. I wasn't experiencing any of the other usual symptoms e.g. fever, night sweats etc. I convinced myself that my neck was sore but I honestly think this was my anxiety at work. 

I felt a similar size gland in the exact same place on the other side of my neck. Again, I panicked and rang my Doctor. After explaining my symptoms she reiterated she wasn't concerned by this and an appointment was not required. I actually rang her a second time a month or two later as I was convinced they were enlarging - mental torture!! 

I rang yet again a month or so later and finally, the doctor agreed to see me. This was a locum doctor but he felt my neck, the raise glands, my stomach and said he wasn't concerned. To assure me, he agreed to do bloods. The bloods came back fine. I was finally reassured until I realised not all cancers are detected by blood tests!! The anxiety continues. 

After discovering another raised gland a few weeks later on the left side of my neck (v small, smaller than a pea but close to the other gland), I panicked again. It's not like I wasn't panicking throughout all of these discoveries but my anxiety definitely peaked. I rang my doctor again (after the discouragement of friends and family who would argue I am a hypocondriact - I don't blame them really). I probably should also note that when I got the lump in my breast removed at 18, another much smaller lump had appeared in my breast around the same time. However, given it's small size (wasn't painful or annoying me) I didn't take further action with this. Therefore, I've been living with this for years with no issue at all.

I think with the general anxiety around health during covid, the constant stream of 'cancer' advertisments and encouragement from social media to check for lumps and bumps, and the experiences with my neck.. I decided to tell the doctor about this small lump in my breast. This was the reason he agreed to see me in the surgery. This was another locum doctor who felt the lump in my breast and my neck. He agreed to send me to the breast clinic to confirm that the lump is another fibroadenoma but reassured me that the glands in my neck were normal and could remain 'up' despite having no infection. She prescribed me more shampoo and steroid gel for my scalp (which remains dry, flakey and occasionaly irritated) and noted that the fact that I dye my hair blonde could irritate my skin and cause a scalp infeciton. 

As noted by my family and friends, I should have enough reassurance given that I have had clear blood tests and the opinion of 5 different doctors. However, I believe this period has really heightened my health anxiety and I just do not believe them. I think this is only further heightened by the fact that two of my close friends (similar in age) both have had lymphona (with similar sized lumps to mine, and no other symptoms). 

And to add to it all, I now seem to experience pain in the breast which has the lump - again.. convinced that I am psychologically creating this pain because it wasn't there when I wasn't focused on it! 

Some days I am extremely rational and take the advice of friends/family and stay relaxed. If I was ill I would know by now, 5 doctors concur and blood tests confirm this. However, other days when something really exciting has happened in my life e.g. recently decided to move in with my boyfriend, my anxiety gets the better of me and I am convinced I am living with cancer and by the time I find out about it it'll be too late - torture!!!

Apologies for the essay but reading this thread has really helped me calm down. I think knowing so many on here have had similar experience and still have raised glands years on really helps me. I've also read that if you really want to go looking for glands, you'll find them. I really try to stay off google, but I don't want to keep talking about this to friends/family because I know they think i'm crazy (and I honestly don't blame them) 

Anyway, hopefully my situation relates to someone else. I think I just need to read the facts and remain rational, acknowledging when anxiety strikes and figuring out how to overcome it. 

Hi Catc22,

It sounds as if you have been through the mill recently! When are you due to be seen at the breast clinic, or have you already been? If you still have to go, they will examine everything again for you. Try to write down a list of when all your different symptoms started and make a list of any questions you have.

Many people have reactive nodes for no obvious reason and some never seem to fully resolve.  I should state that I am not a doctor, but have gleaned this information from others on this forum.

It is difficult not to be worried about this, but it sounds reassuring that 5 doctors concur. The best way to overcome your fear is to avoid consulting 'Dr Google'. 

If you still have to attend your breast clinic appointment, they should check you out more thoroughly, which should mean that you can finally set your mind to rest. In the meantime don't hesitate to return to your GP if you notice any further changes. I sincerely hope that your breast lump turns out to be another fibroadenoma.

Please keep us in the loop. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Char,

I am surprised that you managed to get out to Canada at all with all of the border restrictions in place at the moment. 

I am glad to hear that your GP knows that you are away for October and didn't seem to be too concerned about the delay in getting an ultrasound. I am not a doctor, but I have seen posts on this forum in the past where stress was supposed to be implecated in the swelling of some lymph nodes - I cannot comment on how tenuous the connection may be though.

It does sound as if all you can do is to try and put this to the back of your mind until you arrive home - not easy to do, I know! Try to avoid consulting 'Dr Google' in the meantime, as this will only stress you further.

I hope that you get your ultrasound appointment through as soon as possible and that nothing untoward is found.

Do please let us know the outcome. We are always here for you.

Kind regards.

Jolamine xx

Hello, sorry I know no one has been on this chat for a while but I'm hoping for some help  

I am turning 19 this week and cannot stop stressing for the past year as am a hypochondriac for sure but would like to address my problems on here for some help and reassurance as I have just read through it all and it has really helped me relax. 
 

in February 2020 I found a tiny lump deep in the back of my neck and felt generally unwell with hot flushes and dizziness and slight neck pain. I went to the doctors and she said my throat looked red but it wasn't sore and she said the lump was just a swollen gland by feeling it. She gave me a prescription to take if I didn't feel well still after a few weeks but I felt a bit better so didn't take it.

I then started getting upper back pain in March 2020 and had a on and off feeling of tightness/swelling in my neck throughout these months. In around september/october 2020 I noticed a slightly bigger movable lump under my armpit and then as the months went on noticed a few more under both armpits. I went to my doctors and had a blood test which came back saying I had a b12 deficiency which I am on tablets for and it said I was border line thyroid problem and to re see it in 6 weeks. Still nothings heard about back pain. These lumps didn't go and my glands in my neck also feel bigger than they should so I had a full blood count and it came back clear. The lumps weren't gone and the more I felt it seemed like there were more under my armpits. I was sent for a chest X-ray and it's been 2 and a bit weeks and haven't had the results back yet I called doctors and they said they hadn't received them back yet. I have noticed another movable lump above my collar bone on the left side which moves about a lot and I can't stop stressing I still have my upper back pain too. I turned to google and all I can see is lymphoma etc. Please help 

Hi there,

Lymph nodes can swell with any mimor infection. They usually resolve after a while, but sometimes can remain permanently swollen. The worst thing that you can do is to consult 'Dr Google', as this will only increase your anxiety and serve no useful purpose. 

If you are noticing more lumps under your arms, ask to be referred to the breast clinic, where they can check them out properly.

You will naturally feel stressed until you know that there is nothing untoward, which is the most likely outcome given your age. I sincerely hope that all goes well and that you can finally rest easy once reassured that all is ok.

Please let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx