Its good you have got a scan arranged. Try and not panic in the meantime and stay off google if possible!  Im sorry about your nephew, I hope hes okay. Im sure thats exasperating your worries! 

hi thank you so much for your reply, your right I’m staying away from google it really makes you feel worse, my thoughts are it’s some kind of cyst, i feel it’s definitely got something to do with how my ear is feeling, as if it’s pressing a nerve or something. I guess I won’t know until I have a scan, and yes I don’t thing everything going on with my nephew is helping. 

I can understand your concern and that will not be resolved at least until you have the results of a scan and a biopsy of the lump. However, if it helps, I was diagnosed with Melanoma (skin cancer) three years ago after the biopsy results of a lump in my groin appeared but it had been active internally for much longer. It was not a hard lump and there was no pain with it. I have been on the latest drug Pembro since December 2016 and it has saved my life and all my later external growths have gone. Internally the rest have been at least stable for some time but I have regular scans. However during this time I also developed  a lump on my neck. This was removed at my GP surgery and proved to be a different type of cancer, one that was  a type that doesn't spread and was dismissed by my consultant. There has been no reappearance.

Really what I am saying is that even it it turns out to be worse than you hoped, try not to worry as advances have been such in the last five years that there is still much hope for your future.

Thank you for your reply, And I really hope you are on the road to recovery now it doesn’t sound like you have had it easy these past few years. I am glad you have no reappearance. 

This lump doesn’t have any pain either it’s quite hard but some parts feels slightly rubbery and it doesn’t move, it’s just the pain inside my ear and tinnitus which is very irritating, I have been extremely tired but again I have had an iron deficiency a very long time so I put the tiredness down to that. I just need to wait now and see like you say a lot has changed over the years, I’m quite lucky my GP referred me as an urgent, I could still be waiting to be seen. 

Difficult I know but try not to get too wound up but make sure you have the tests. I have had  tinnitus for decades in my right ear and I tend not to notice it until now when it is mentioned.

I am 77 now and trying hard to play catch up with holidays that we missed for a long time and now since I am able again. Next scan in November to see if all is still stable.

If you want to know more about the progress with Melanoma, the BBC has just done an update which makes encouraging reading. It will not permit me to post the link on here.

Hi Louise 

How did your scan go?  

I have very similar symptoms, ear fullness in one ear, hard lump beneath same ear, ear pain that comes and goes in same ear, small bead sized lump near jaw line on other side and a sore throat.

Had US after fighting with GPs, which came back clear. ENT says lump is "probably my spine" same as yourself, and that I "don't fit the bill" for anything sinister. Trying to trust the specialist and his expertise, but can't help be concerned with the persistent symptoms. Tried some nasal steroids, antihistamines and antibiotics and still no further forward. 

Not an easy thing to be living with unexplained symptoms! 

Thank you for your reply I'm so glad you are now catching up on all the things you have missed. Good luck for your scan in November x

i had my scan but my GP isn't happy as she said it's bigger than what they have measured,  she has referred for a 2nd opinion and I have to have my bloods done Monday. I'm trying to remain positive. 

UPDATE 

so today after my GP has referred me for a 2nd opinion, I have had a letter through the post from the consultant I originally saw asking me to come in I can only presume he's looked at my scan. I have an appointment next week so now I feel sick and my anxiety is through the roof. :(

Hi Louise35. 

I was wondering how your results went? Hope you're OK and feeling better.

I'm currently waiting on a scan as I found a lump behind my ear over 12months ago now. I just forgot about it and carried on but of late it feels bigger so I rang through to the GP. 

It's hard to the touch and doesn't move around and I've started with some Uncomfortable sensation on the right side of my head and migraines which have knocked me funny.

Xx