Hard Lump on the Back of Neck

Hey Guys, 

So I’ve reached a point where I literally cannot stop thinking/worrying about this lump on the back of my neck. It’s on my hair line to the left of the back of my neck. It’s a hard, non-moveable lump that feels around 2-3cm diameter. I rarely self-diagnose because I know how horrifying Dr. Google can be, but since I’ve already lost someone to cancer, every hard lump is a bit of a red flag. I’ve suddenly also started getting really bad migraines which make me feel so dizzy, am constantly tired with joint and muscle aches, and I have both back pains (lower back and sometimes around shoulder blades) and a super intense chest pain that comes and goes (particularly when I drink gin, which is unfortunate to say the least!). I’m also struggling quite a bit to breathe recently - it just feels like my chest is constantly tight with some relatively infrequent coughing.

I have been to the GP who just believed that it’s a lymph node that’s naturally sticking out a bit (which is what I originally thought anyway), but it’s now been a week and it seems to be getting bigger (I was also wondering if lymph nodes in their natural state should be solid and non-moveable?). I was given a PPI and sent on my way (to deal with the chest pains). I’m presenting barely any classic infection symptoms which initially got me worried; so naturally my worryful mind immediately thought it could be the worst case scenario. 

I’ve seen many posts here about the same kind of issue, but I was wondering if back pains, migraines and chest pains/breathlessness have any connections to neck lumps with regards to those who have been through the process. 

Thanks so much! 

Parents
  • hi rob, I was wondering if you have had a diagnosis for the lump on the back of your neck as I’ve been gett8mg the exact same symbols as u have had, back pain that started at the lower bit and then travelled to the shoulder blade, sometimes my left lung feels incredibly tight and uncomfortable and now I’ve found the lump at the back on the neck. Just wondering if you have had any news on it. Thank you 

Reply
  • hi rob, I was wondering if you have had a diagnosis for the lump on the back of your neck as I’ve been gett8mg the exact same symbols as u have had, back pain that started at the lower bit and then travelled to the shoulder blade, sometimes my left lung feels incredibly tight and uncomfortable and now I’ve found the lump at the back on the neck. Just wondering if you have had any news on it. Thank you 

Children
  • I had a squamous cell carcinoma excised from my back with clear margins two years ago.  I have had three monthly check ups for lymph nodes under my arms, all clear.  Then at the end of June this year I found a hard lump which did not move, and was mildly tender upon touch. No other symptoms and felt normal.  However I went straight to doctor the next day, the lump was measured as 2 cms by 1.5 cms. I had ultra sound scan and two punch biopsies the following week, which proved cancer, but not type of cancer.  I have blood taken and two CTscans, one with no dye and one with dye, which my inside showed as normal, so bit of a mystery.  I then had the complete lump excised with very large margins.  Now waiting to have stitches out and histology on the whole lump.

  • Hi what was the result of this? I had similar experience.

  • The pathology on the lump which was removed proved difficult to read.  There were multi disciplinary team meetings weekly for 4 weeks, with more pathology each time.  Eventually it was decided that it was not cancer, but a deep type fibrous histiocytoma.  I still have to go every 3 months for check ups on any further lesions and also examining my lymph nodes.