Cancer Research UK main site
  • Replies 59 replies
  • Views 117359 views
  • Users 0 members are here

Has anyone had an enlarged lymph node for six/seven years?

Anon.K
Offline

Hi everyone, I'm new here.

I've been trying to find examples online of chronically enlarged nodes which people have had for maybe six years or more. Not much has come up; I suppose often people might get them looked at a bit sooner than that.

I have had one in the top of my thigh for roughly that long. I found it either just before or just after my last child was born, I can't remember - it felt hard-ish and lentil-sized, and I made a note but it didn't do anything, so I just kept monitoring it. After a year or two it was probably the size of a baked bean, and then a couple of years later more like a small kidney bean I suppose. It was mobile, and smooth and seemed to fluctuate a bit - I assumed because of hormones, or whatever was causing it to be enlarged in the first place. So it got a bit bigger, then smaller again.

At that point I went to the GP about it, but she wasn't able to feel it and just said watch and wait. Anyway a month or two ago it started to feel a bit uncomfortable, like it might be pressing on a nerve I suppose, and although it wasn't really noticeably larger it was bothering me; I've been able to see it through the skin for a couple of years, in certain positions, and I don't like it being there. So I went back and she could feel it this time, and said she would send me for an ultrasound. And I had blood tests which have come back more or less fine, so I'm just waiting for an appt and freaking out a bit.

Having searched it up, it seems as though it would fit the profile for Follicular Lymphoma quite well. I can't feel any other lumps anywhere, and I haven't had any B symptoms.

I suppose I'm trying to find a differential diagnosis for it other than FL, but I can't seem to come up with much - everything seems to be either about reactive nodes, which are softer and go away after a while, or malignant ones - it doesn't feel hard like I imagine a metastatic node would, and it isn't fixed. So if it isn't an indolent form of lymphoma then I'm not sure what else it could be.

If anyone else has got, or had, a weird solitary (I hope) node like this, for years and years, I'd be really interested to hear from you - even if it was malignant. Just going a bit mad I suppose.

Thanks for reading if you got this far : )

 

Parents
  • Offline

    Hi AngieK, 

     

    I was just reading through this thread and I'm not sure what stage you're at with things but I thought I'd share some reassuring words. 
     

    I've had a swollen lymph node in my neck for atleast two years (to my knowledge) and this thing is BIG. It's about an inch or so long on the right side of my neck, quite hard, but still remains moveable. I started getting it looked at in October 2019 but showed no symptoms typical of lymphoma so I was given a few blood tests and everything was normal. That was that.

     

    I've seen three different doctors since then about this as unfortunately two members of my family have lost their lives to cancer in the last three years so the idea of it terrifies me. None of the doctors ever seem concerned which, considering how large it is, I always find confusing. I've had blood test after blood test and a chest X-ray (suggested by the third doctor to shut me up I think) but everything is fine.

     

    I've always been really susceptible to tonsillitis, getting it around 4/5 times a year for as long as I can remember, and the doctors always say it's simply a reactive node and will most likely stay that large as it's always preparing for the next infection. 
     

    I have another blood test to take in August just to monitor my chronic inflammation but aside from

    that, the doctors are really not fussed. They always end with saying 'if you start losing massive amounts of weight without trying, or you start having night sweats, you must let us know' which, is a bit scary, but they say it so flippantly that it doesn't cause much concern for me. You just have to think matter-of-factly.
     

    I guess what I'm trying to say, is a swollen lymph node, especially if there are no symptoms, seems to be pretty normal so don't think the worst!! I really hope everything works out for you!! 

  • Offline in reply to boylan96

    Hi boylan96,

     

    My 6 year old daughter has had a swollen lymph node on the right side of her neck for over a year. Then she had some pop up on her groin back in July 2020. So a trip to the doctors, & a referral to the hospital has come back that she's had the EBV Virus.

     

    She's had chronic, acute tonsillitis, which we suspected since she was born. She is now awaiting an Adenoidectomy & tonsillectomy. Hopefully, once she's had them out, all her troubles will go.

     

    The doctors are confident that the swollen nodes are trying to fight the tonsillitis, even though she never complains of sore throat. (Just so you know, she has VERY swollen tonsills since she was a baby & suffers sleep apnoea because of it.)

     

    Hope you get it sorted.

    Tendra157

     

  • Offline in reply to Tendra157

    Hi tendra my daughter is going through the same she's 3 she's had swollen lymph nodes in her groin and neck for a year I'm really worrying as she's always poorly and tired :(

  • Offline in reply to SammyMummy

    Hi SammyMummy. My daughter was supposed to have her tonsils & adenoids removed, but she's now been moved to the back of the list! I'm furious with how they are treating people now; it seems COVID is the excuse for EVERYTHING now!!

  • Offline in reply to Tendra157

    My daughter suffers with swollen tonsils to, I think they need to take them out and biopsy them. I can't help but think she has a slow growing lymphom :( this covid is getting ridiculous is there any way u can make a complaint xx

Reply Children
No Data

Speak to a nurse

Quick links

Follow us

Registered with Fundraising Regulator (logo)
Cancer Research UK is a registered charity in England and Wales (1089464), Scotland (SC041666), the Isle of Man (1103) and Jersey (247). A company limited by guarantee. Registered company in England and Wales (4325234) and the Isle of Man (5713F). Registered address: 2 Redman Place, London, E20 1JQ.