Sick with worry - lymph nodes

Long story short (ish)

 

End of may, felt lump on neck. Knew it was most likely a lymph node so waited 2 weeks as I knew that's what GP would say. Went to GP. He referred me to have US but said felt like node/cyst.

Mid July, went for scan. 

End of July, results show multiple (3?) enlarged nodes on right side of neck. Largest being 2.4cm. reactive. Scan again in 6 weeks.

Fast forward to now, I have major anxiety over them. I can now feel 2, and easier to feel. Not sure but think they are bigger. Now I feel a small one other side (mirrored so exact same place).

Bloods clear end April.

No other symptoms. Not tender, no pain, no illness.

 

Like many others I suffer health anxiety and I am out of my mind with worry. I know no one here can say what they are. But I tell my husband and he thinks I'm crazy for worrying. No one gets it. Of course it would be easier to forget them. But I get in a visious circle of worrying, tests, results. And usually I'm fine, but these are the most physical symptom i have. I can't deny they are there.

Can reactive nodes turn into cancer? Could I have cancer somewhere else and that's why they are up? Or would cancer be inside them? Will I have to have a biopsy if they've grown or stayed the same?

I have ezcema on the nape of my neck, but under my hair. I am on steroids for it (liquid) but terrible at applying. But I've had that about a year and they weren't up before.

  • Hi khammy87

    I'm not a doctor and can't tell u what they are but I had exactly the same as u, no sickness, pain, weight loss or anything, just lumps on my neck. last sept, went to gp who told me they were just an infection and would go down, they didn't, so went back in April so she referred me to ent.

    Long story short, I had ultrasound scan then excisional biopsy, turned out to sarcoidosis which is not serious. I was sick with worry from April right through till I got my results. I could tell u to try not to worry too much, but I know u will, but the ent consultant told me there are a million things it could be and sometimes the lumps can linger on for ages, one of mine is still there nearly a year later.

    I wanted to tell u my story hoping it would put your mind at rest a bit and I hope the outcome is good as I know how u feel, it's a worrying time x

  • Thank you for your reply. Of course deep down, I know it could be a thousand other things, but I assume the worst sadly. I do feel a little bit better thank you. I'm trying to get a referral for counselling as I've not been right mentally for a long time. But these lumps haven't helped. I felt them last night, though I try not to and I was just filled with dread. X

  • I hope everything turns out good for u.

    Please let me know on this how you get on and I'm thinking of u x

  • I don't know how to add to the post so have to reply to this.

    My scan is Tuesday 2.15. So worried now. I have another one popped up on the opposite side. The original one is bigger, though still movable.

    I know 100% that at my scan it will be bigger and so will need further investigation. And that means I'll be waiting again, which is terrifying. Sometimes I go to sleep and all I can imagine is my kids not having me. I'm avoiding making future plans because I know I'll be too sick to follow through. I start college 10th September, work exp that Friday, my daughter starts cheer class, I have to get them both to gymnastics, how am I going to cope.

    I just can't see how it's not cancer. Why would they still be swollen and painless? 

    At first I was glad for the scan to give me reassurance, but it's not going to give me any because the nodes are bigger. So I'm going around in circles.

    Sorry to sound like a downer, I can't get my mind off this. I don't want to die, I'm only 32.

  • Khammy87, how are you now? How did your scan go?

  • Hiya, thanks for asking. A couple of days before they moved my appointment to 24th September. It really upset me but I am only a week away now. I think my nodes may have actually shrunk. Trying to keep positive but I had this feeling of a lump in my throat for a week which didn't help. I had to put it down to anxiety. And it went when I started feeling better about things x

  • Im sure you cant wait to be seen, although it sounds good that they seem to have shrunk! I keep getting random nodes pop up in my neck that are tender, its happened 4 times in the last 3 months. Im waiting to be seen my heamotology as I've been getting random fevers and chills too. Its so hard to not worry and stay off google :( 

  • Hi there.was it an ultrasound or an mri you got? 

  • Mine originally got bigger so I'm glad it seems to have shrunk. It worries me as they've never been tender though. I expect I'll probably be referred to if they are still too big x

  • I have had an ultrasound and am due a follow up one next week x