Left Supraclavicular Lymph Node my story

Hello everyone this is my first time posting on a forum. However, i wanted to share my story in hopes that it helps someone. About 4 months ago while I was in class i noticed a lump on my left collar bone. I didnt think much of it until I got home and browsed the web. Yikes! I googled and googled and self diagnosed myself with a left supraclavicular lymph node. Everywhere i researched on the internet informed me that these lymph nodes were the most pron to malignancy. A week later i decided to go to my primary care dr. He performed a chest ex ray and did a complete blood count all clear. However, he informed that my lymph node was in fact a supraclavicular node and told me to follow up in 6 weeks. I did, as the node was still there 6 weeks later. My Dr. Became concerned and referred me to and ent. A week later I went to the ent were he performed an nasal endoscopy all clear. He referred me to a radiologist for imaging of the collarbone region. At this point im scared. Got the imaging and the radiologist report reveal not 1 not 2 not 3 but 4 supraclavicular nodes the biggest just under a centimeter. The ent doc didnt seem to concerned because they werent huge but i was scared. Ent doc decided he wanted to do an excisional biopsy of one of the nodes to be sure. Did i mention that all of this is taking place during my last semester of law school. Omg. Anyway, i got the biopsy and waited two weeks for the results. It was the longest wait ever. Results came back and the Doc informed me that i had ink on one of the nodes from a tattoo i got just above the collar bone 5 years ago. He said this is rare but it happens. Benign benign benign. Everything was benign. Now im studying for the most important test of my life. THE BAR EXAM. I hope my story helps others not worry so much. 

My warmest regards

Tip.

  • Hi Tip and welcome to the Cancer Chat forum.

    It sounds like you've been through a very testing time, especially as this happened during your last semester of law school, but I'm so pleased that the results showed that everything was benign.

    It really does help to read about other people's experiences and I have no doubt that our members will find your insight invaluable so thank you for sharing your story with us; we really do appreciate it.

    I look forward to seeing you helping others around the forum soon Tip.

    All the best, 

    Steph, Cancer Chat Moderator

    P.S Good luck with your bar exam, I'm sure you'll do great! :)

  • Hi,

    How many nodes did your dr removed from the region?

    And why it took 2 weeks for result of biopsy?

    My wife recently has been undergone biopsy for checking lymph node swelling. The biggest one is around 4 x 6 mm.

    Did you had any problem or effect after removal of nodes during biopsy?

     

  • Hello. Sorry so late. He removed only one. The biggest. I'm not sure why the results took so long that was crazy. However I still feel numbness from the excision site

  • I am panicking as I have a lymph node under my left collar bone and the doctor on the phone has really scared me with her tone I now have to wait up to four weeks for a scan. Your post really helped although I have no tattoos in that areas 

  • Hi Mandejw

     

    I am sorry for this late contact however I am experiencing similar symptoms and wondered whether you ever got to the bottom of what was going on? What was your outcome?

     

    Thanks! :)

  • Hi i went for my ultrasound scan and they couldnt see anything, she could feel it on my collarbone but nothing showing on the scan so she said it would be a fatty lump as that wouldnt show, hope that helps you but i would always get it checked :-)

  • I am going through this at the moment and this is the first bit of reassuring information I have read. I had a tattoo over my collar about a year ago and have had supraclavicular swelling on and off for about two months. Waiting for my ultra sound scan results now. Bloods all clear. Although I have got some other symptoms (chest tightness and heartburn). 

  • Hiya, today I have found a small pea sized lump under my left collar bone, ive contacted my gp and he has said it could be a reactive lymph node and has said to keep checking it for 4 weeks and if it hasn't disappeared then he will send me for a scan, how worrying it is

     

  • Don't panic if it doesn't disappear mine is still there 8 months later but the scan showed normal reactive nodes. Try not to worry as I worried myself sick and remember that normally nodes are not anything to worry about. When you say under that is what my doctor said to me he said it's under not on. Hope you are all good and I hope this helps 

  • Thank you for your reply  I do admit I felt sick to the stomach when I felt it today, the Doctor was lovely and trued to reassure me not to worry, I will try not to worry however I think it will be on my mind all the time until I know for sure. I'm happy for you that you had no worries with it, its awful isn't it to be worrying. I dont know of it feels on or under my collar bone but I'm sure it moves a little. Take good care of yourself.