Hi Sunshine,

Welcome to the forum. This has been going on for a while now and, is obviously worrying you. It seems that you still do not know the results of your bloods yet. You know your own body and are aware that something is not right.

This is one occasion when you have to assert your rights, so you cannot be lacking in confidence at this time. Make another appointment to see the doctor you saw last time, or another one in the practice if you have no faith in her. I am not a doctor, but this may all be due to your tonsils being inflamed.

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

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine.

Thank you for your reply. I went back to the same doctor and my blood tests showed nothing particularly untoward. She did tell me I had normal haemaglobin levels, but low iron stores, also some inflammation markers,  had another look at my throat and decided to refer me to ENT consultant. She doesn't think it's anything serious, she said she want them to check out the irregular shape of my left tonsil. She told me there is a long waiting list.

I just need to run this past someone......for the past 2 or 3 weeks I have had a mild pressure sensation at the back of my head on the left side. It's not continuous, it's sparodic. Then a few days ago, I was washing my hair and felt a tender area at the back of my head. It's a lump, It feels like it's about the size of a grape. It's hard and feels like it's actually attached to my occipital bone. It's sort of on the top of the bone as opposed to under it. Is this a lymph node??  It's definitely not at the back of my neck. It's on the back of my head. Does anyone think this is connected in some way? Should I go back and push for a quicker appointment to see ENT consultant? The thing is I don't feel unwell. Can anyone else relate to my symptoms? Thank you in advance.

Hi Sunshine,

It sounds like it was worthwhile going to see your GP again. Well done you on persuading her to refer you to ENT.

I am afraid that I cannot really answer your question about the lump on your head. This is because I just don't know the answer - I have had 2 bouts of breast cancer. You could phone the nurses on this site and they should be able to advise you. They are open Mom-Fri, 9.00am-5.00pm. The number is free to phone and it is 0808 800 4040. If this lump continues to worry you, it might be worth going back to see your GP again.

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

I'll have my fingers crossed for a good result.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine.

Thank you for your thoughts on my previous message. I will ring the nurses as you suggested. I also think I need to see my GP again. I will let you know how I get on. 

Kind regards. Xx

Be pushy. This could be your life at stake, or it could be nothing. Either way, the stress of it alone can make you ill. Im in the process of awaiting a biopsy in my mouth for a possible melanoma when I noticed a black spot in my mouth on 19/2/19. It’s taken 4 weeks to get to the stage of an appointment just for a visual assessment. I only got this because I kept ringing up and made a nuisance of myself and in the end I got a cancellation otherwise it would have been April. Then there’s the biopsy in 2 weeks time and then another 2 weeks waiting for results. I guess what I’m saying is the process takes long enough even when you do start the ball rolling and in the meantime you’ll probably think of little else. Never think you are wasting anybody’s time and don’t be afraid to be assertive.

Good luck and please let us know how you get on. Xx

Hi there swampfing.

I am sorry to hear the symptoms you are also experiencing. You are spot on about the stress, and also the waiting game. You hit the nail on the head about me thinking I might be wasting people's time. But I am also concerned about waiting months to see a consultant. I am considering maybe going to see a consultant privately. Although, I wouldn't be able to afford to actually have anything done, but maybe just speaking with a consultant might move things along.

I also have my husband who is undergoing tests for colon cancer. He has had alot of discomfort in his bowel, very distended tummy .problems going to the the loo. Now he feels sick after eating, he has had a colonoscopy, they took some biopsies of two polyps they found, but couldn't investigate far up enough. He now has a CT scan in 2weeks which will hopefully give us more answers. I figure, if I get a consultant appointment privately for me, it will be within the next week. That way I can focus on the appointments for my husband. I feel like my head is all over the place at the moment.

  Thanks for listening. Xx

Hi there. 

I too had the same idea and  went down the private consultation route, also with the idea of just kickstarting the process without being able to afford the whole thing privately. Even then I still had to wait 2 weeks and it cost £170. I was enviously looking at a Harley Street consultant who promised to see me in a couple of days, do biopsy and get result all on the same day! Didn’t ring though as I knew I couldn’t afford it.

As luck would have it though the NHS rang the next day with an appointment at my local hospital as someone had cancelled so I didn’t end up having to go down the private route and I shamefacedly cancelled the appointment. They were fine about it and wished me luck. 

I really feel for you at this time. Not only do you have your health issues to work through but your husband’s as well. Everything else pales into insignificance if you don’t have your health doesn’t it.

I hope you get seen soon and that your mind is put to rest. xx

Hi 

did you you find out what it was? 

Thanks. 

Hi Sunshine,

I am delighted to hear that your cyst and lymph nodes are completely clear of cancer and, need no further treatment. I am sure that you are feeling mightily relieved tonight.

Kind regards,
Jolamine xx