Hi everyone! As a lot of you have said you're glad you've come across this forum and so am I.

I've had a swollen lymph node in my armpit for As long as I can remember and had it scanned a while back to be told it's all normal. Its larger but a normal shape so no cause for concern. However I now have noticed I've had another lymph nodes under my chin for years as I just thought it was a part of me that was like cartilage. I've also found another next to it.

So like you all I've googled and I am worrying about my two kids and partner. I feel so overcome with worry it's exhausting :( 

Hi Abbeyr,

Welcome to our forum.

If you've had these swollen nodes for quite some time without any symptoms and, the ones under your arm were clear when it was scanned, the chances are that these ones in your neck might be clear too, but why risk it, especially when you have a family?

Make an immediate appointment to see your GP. If he is at all concerned, he will refer you to see a specialist to get it checked out. Worrying can indeed get you down. I hope that all  turns out to be ok.

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

Kind regards,

Jolamine

I can feel my saliva glands under my chin. once, about 10 years ago it was swollen on one side and tender. kept going back to doctors who gave me a course of antibiotics but when it didn't go down told me to go to the dentist thinking it was maybe an abscess but nothing was found, it was very obviously my saliva gland! He never sent me for a referal because I was only about 24years so they never think it's anything (even though I told him I was a smoker). In the end the whole side of my face swelled up and I went to A&E. They gave me intravenous antibiotics and that cleared it up, but no scans. I can still feel the glands under my chin (one on each side) but they are now the same size as each other and it feels ok. occasionally when I'm having to talk a lot (I am a secondary science teacher) and probably  haven't been drinking enough water, it used to swell a bit and feel slightly tender but other than that it has been fine. I have noticed since I've reduced my teaching over the last few years, it doesn't happen so probably linked to be over worked and run down plus I try not to shout at the class too much! like I said I do think some of us are just prone to swollen glands but it's nothing but harmless infections. if the glands had kept getting bigger or staying larger and tender it's worth getting it checked but don't worry. 10 years on and I'm still fine! 

Hi 

just wondering if anyone has been through or is currently going through this, I have about 4 enlarged lymph nodes in my neck that I know of , from what I can feel the one on the left side of my neck Beneath my ear is around 2cm firm but not rock hard and not moveable , I have 2 pea sized moveable ones and one grape size moveable one . I have had them that I know of around about 2 years with no change is size, I went to the doctors a couple of months ago and she said it was because of my acne (which I have had untreated for 5 years) so she changed my pill and that has really cleared up my acne but the lymph nodes still persist with no change? I am going back to the doctors tomorrow as they are worrying and if you couldn't already tell I have severe health anxiety , is it true that lymph nodes can just stay permanently enlarged after infection ps. I have had no weight loss, night sweats or anything just a little tiredness as I have been iron deficient , overalls feel fine apart from this anxiety taking over my life

I would really appreciate and comments thank you xx

I have been reading through a lot of posts on here to try and put my mind at rest. 

I noticed a large lump under my jaw under my earlobe early December, it's around the size of a walnut. It's not painful, fairly firm and moves slightly, although I can feel pressure in my neck and ear some days and my tonsil looks larger on that side. No other issues with illness either. (Cold etc)  I made a doctor's appointment for the following Monday, they told me to go back in a week if it hadn't gone down. I also had a blood test which came back clear.  In the meantime, I did feel it was starting to shrink, but then it got bigger again so I returned to the Doctor's. She wasn't totally sure what it was and I had recently had a tooth out the month before due to an abscess so we decided to try Antibiotics. She checked my groin, underarm etc. No apparent issues there.

It appeared to shrink again for a couple of days but then returned to its previous size. (I'm not sure now if it does shrink or if it is just how I have my neck positioned or if it was wishful thinking) So I returned to the doctors. 

She has fast tracked me to the ENT, I went the other day and had a camera up my nose, he indicated there was no visible problems there. I have now been booked in for a biopsy and MRI scan. 

I'm now getting myself so worked up I can't sleep. My shoulders neck and back have suddenly become painful and I'm certain it's muscle tension, but my brain is now working overtime convincing me I'm riddled with cancer. I even feel daft for writing that!! But I think I just needed to put it in words. 

I know I have to wait, but I'm so scared. 

Hi Halfcent,

I am glad to see that you are undergoing the tests needed to  rule out anything untoward. Do you have a date yet for your MRI and biopsy?

Most of us find waiting for tests and results one of the scariest parts of our cancer journey. There are so many unknowns attached to a diagnosis. For some strange reason, most of us manage to convince ourselves that our cancer is as bad as it can get, but fortunately, this is seldom the case.

I'm afraid that we all just have to be patient at this stage, whether we like it or not. Try to distract yourself from the wait by keeping as busy as you can. Do your best to avoid 'Dr Google' as much of his information is out of date, or poorly researched.

I sincerely hope that you get the all clear from your latest tests too.

Please keep us updated. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine,

Thank you for your reply. I have my scan and biopsy tomorrow (23rd) and then a follow up appointment on the 30th. I've calmed myself down a bit since I posted, sounds daft but I think just writing it down helped a bit, although the tense muscles are increasing rapidly. It's going to be a very long week me finks. 

I'm trying to stay away from Google and keep myself busy. 

I'll come back with an update when I have more news. This is a great site,  just reading posts on here gives reassurance, so thank you to all that have posted and the replies. 

So glad I found this. I founds a lump last week on the back of my neck on the right side - it has been growing ever since and becoming increasingly tender. I haven’t been unwell at all .

I went to the doctors yesterday, she confirmed that it was a swollen node  and she could not find any signs of infection, but has put me on antibiotics anyway to see if this makes a difference, as well as booking me a follow up appointment for 2 weeks time.

She said that she couldn’t rule out cancer, but it is highly unlikely. 

So scared and can’t stop thinking about it. Would be interested to learn the outcome for everybody else.

I  worry because it is quickly getting bigger and bigger

Hi Halfcent,

I hope that all goes well for you tomorrow and that your results on 30th are good. I'm afraid that you will have another anxious wait until then.

Many people find that writing down their concerns can be helpful.

I look forward to your updates.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Proudmummy,

Welcome to our forum.

It is always a worry when you are referred for further investigation and our imaginations tend to run into overdrive.

Try to keep yourself as busy as you can to distract yourself from the wait. Also, try to avoid consulting 'Dr Google', as much of his information is out of date or poorly researched.

I sincerely hope that your GP is correct and, that the possibility of having cancer is highly unlikely.

Please update us when you get your results. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx