Hi,  I found a lump on my neck, 3 weeks ago, and my doctor sent me to ENT as a 2 week referral.  I was petrified and googled symptoms which made me feel worse.

I saw the consultant last Monday and by feeling it he said it was a reactive lump node half a cm and mobile.  I don't feel ill or have an infection..  He said it will takes weeks to go down, and until it does I won't be totally happy. I also went to my dentist who confirmed what the doctor had said.    

Your doing the right thing by getting it checked, but just to say it could be something very simple and try not to worry.

Rachel and kernow

welcome to the forum and sorry to hear you are both experiencing the some worries about a lump.

lumps in the body can be many things, but there are always worth getting checked out, even if it’s just to ease the worry they cause.

the process of diagnosis for any lump is not instant, regardless of the cause so don’t expect an immediate total answer and don’t be overly alarmed if more tests are needed.

the standard proces appears to be a mix and match of the following

1. An appointment and discussion at your local hospital with an ENT consultantant

2. This may then lead to an ultrasound appointment 

3. Possibly a biopsy appointment

4. And a ct scan appointment

you may find that these are all individual appointments or you might get the ultrasound and biopsy doubled up.

each of these processes could be appointments in there own right, they in themselves could take 2-4 weeks to arrange and results are normally back in 2 weeks ... it vary depending on where you live

what i am trying to say, is that it takes time to diagnose regardless of what it is and if you follow these steps it no precursor to what this site is set up for.

the process of diagnosing can therefore be a lengthy one and during that time trying to deal with the unknown is not something the human brain does well.....we worry, we worry a lot and it’s only natural to come up with the worst possible answer.

i am a cancer survivor, 4 years out of a lump in a neck lymph node and like many others on here with similars cancers, doing well.

i also speak to many people on here who come to this forum with like symptoms and I am happy to report that the majority leave after receiving a diagnosis that has nothing to do with this site.

however we all go through the same initial testing process and all react and worry in the same way.

my advice therefore to anyone going throught this worrying diagnosis time is as follows

1. We all make the first big mistake, I know I did it myself, but stay off of Dr Google. Self diagnosis in this way never has a positive outcome and could lead to causing more worry than is necessary ..... it happens kernow, you now have learned information that you can’t get rid of ... it’s a process of learning how to deal with that information, even though it may be wrong.

2. You can’t get away from this worry, It will be on your mind every waking hour because we have naturally gone straight from A to Z. To break this up a bit and get some of yourself back, try little pockets of distraction, a brisk energetic walk, a comedy on tv, or a good film at the cinema. Try to get constant little pockets of distraction into your daily routine ... it does help believe me

3. This site is full of fantastic people and we have all been through what you are both now going through, so come and sound off to us. Nothing is too menial or silly and there is always someone here that will listen and offer their experiences .... it will just prove that you are not mad, alone, orsilly with what’s going on in your mind at the moment

apologies if my diatribe has come across as patronising, that was not the essence of what I was trying to achieve here

hopefully I have been of some help and advice

regardless, please let us know how you both get on

vatch

hi,

im going through the same thing as you at the moment. Did you get your results back? How are you

Hi!!

I went to the hospital for my appointment and it turned out just to be a swollen lymph node. I’d had glandular fever, which I was recovered from but I was told that’s probably just how my lymph node has always been, I just have never noticed it and it got bigger when I was really unwell. It eventually went down, but is still bigger than the average. 

Please try not to worry, I know it’s a scary experience. Please don’t hesitate to message me for a chat, let ken know how you get on!! 

Hi all,

so I went for my ultrasound scan and needle biopsy

on Friday. My heads been all over the place since.

i was seen by a head and neck consultant, he said the few nodes on the right side of my neck were abnormal. They were full of fluid and he did drain some dark fluid off and said he was sending this off urgently and this would take 5days. 

My appointment is 10days away and he told me they may call to bring this forward.

has anyone else had dark brown fluid aspirated and what was the outcome..

Hi A.T

What was the outcome? Hope all is well x

Hi there, 6months ago I found a lump on the right hand side of my neck, when it didn't go after 3 months I attended my GP and got lots of bloods done and nothing showed up. The GP told me if it didn't go in 3 weeks come back but then the covid happened and I only went back on Friday. He has sent a referral to the ENT specialist and it looks like I need a biopsy. Being a nurse I have googled it to death and now realise exactly what size a normal lymph should be up to 1 cm and mine is 2 1/2 cm and now I am concerned. I have been playing it down to myself and family but I think the realisation has set in. I just kept putting it down to a blocked lymph but not so sure now. I don't have private health cover so I'm wondering how long it will take for my appointment with ENT, does anyone out there have an idea?

kind regards,

iqbal

Hi iqbal

I'm having the exact same expereince I found a lump in my neck 4 months ago on the right hand side I went to the GP in July who confirmed they could feel it and said it was 3cm in size. They didn't take bloods but said will refer me to ENT that was over 2 weeks ago and still not heard any thing. The lump isn't painfull but the size worries me a great deal. How long did it take for you to get your appointment did they you what is was?

Thanks

Steve

Hi Steve,

I am still waiting for an appointment, i will let you know as soon as.

Kind regards,

Elaine