I am not a doctor, but questions about swollen lymph occur regularly on this site.

Not every swollen lymph shrinks back down again.  Occasionally, a node swells in response to an infection, but doesn't go back to its normal size.   

You've had this node for years and said that you don't have any of the classic lymphoma symptoms, such as night sweats, itching, breathlessness, etc. It seems to me that you have no reason to think that lymphoma is a likely diagnosis, other than the fact you've Googled it.  I think we all agree on this site that Dr Google is quack who should have been struck off years ago.  Take everything you read on Google with a pinch of salt. 

Try not to worry about the ultrasound.  Please let us know how you get on.  Your feedback helps us improve our answers for other people. 

Hi Telemando,

Thanks so much for your kind reply. I hope you're right, and what you say makes sense; there's no real reason to think it's anything bad, except for the fact my doctor thought it worth a referral.

I'm trying to get on with stuff and not think about it too much; I will try to update once I've had an appointment. At least then if someone else googles the same question, it might reassure them - unless it is something nasty in which case I'll stick around anyway I suppose : )

Thanks again.

AK

Just reading through your thread as I've had swollen lymph nodes in my face for 7 months now & despite several different courses of antibiotics & steroids (prescribed by doctors whilst in Spain for the winter) the lumps are still there, and probably spreading to more places. I had a biopsy also whilst in Spain & was told it wasn't a cancer - to my enormous relief!

But now I'm back home in uk and still have the lumps (some lumps visible if you look closely) I'm sort of thinking I should stop ignoring this because of the Covid crisis & not wanting to bother the over-stretched nhs resources...

Be very grateful for your advice, & hope your situation is ok now!

Thanks - FairyNuff

Hiya. Sorry to hear you are concerned about this, and I understand your dilemma over whether to bother your GP with it at the moment.

I think first of all it is a very good thing if you have had a biopsy already and nothing was found to indicate cancer. But that doesn't mean the lumps are welcome, and especially if you think there are more of them, I would think it worth going along just to say, look, what do you think is causing this.

It's very unlikely to be anything terrible if no one has suggested a serious diagnosis so far, but it might be treatable. 

So in short I'd probably always recommend trying to get a diagnosis if you are able to, but I shouldn't worry too much about what it might be.

I hope that helps a little bit. All the best and let us know how you get on.

AK

Thank you so much for your response!  I guess it's just worrying me that after treatments with anti-bs & steroids they ENT & Dermatology in Spain couldn't really say what's going on. I will prob have to start all over again here, but as the lumps are becoming more visible & tender I will try to see my GP...

thanks again!

FairyNuff

Yes I know it's really hard when no one knows what's going on. But sometimes that's a good thing, because they are used to looking for red flag symptoms for things that are serious, and obviously you don't seem to be causing alarm : )

Also if they are tender, that is another thing that often suggests a benign or infective cause. 

Good luck, whatever it turns out to be. 

AK

Thanks ️

Hi hope all ok?? 

Can I ask what made the drs refer to ultrasound?? my little boy (just 5) has had a swollen lymph node for nearly 2 years. It started after he got chicken pox (oct 2018) and gets bigger and smaller. I've taken him to drs and they told me to go back 6-8 weeks later which I did and they just measured and monitored and blamed every virus he kept getting. He's under a few consultants for asthma, eczema and ent. and The asthma consultant said when I asked her that it was reactive and nothing to worry about but nearly 2 years is a long time when I can see it

Thank you 

Hi Lindsay59 well I requested ultrasound because we rushed to hospital when he kept getting temperature and that swollen node was huge . But specialist for throat he seen him and said is nothing to worry about he is pretty sure its because of the virus and than he said just to.make sure we will do the blood test and ultrasound.  Last week we had another ultrasound so they keep checking him it has been now 4 months and he has it very little there but still there.  So they checked and they said its all good nothing to worry about and he had even in the groin small ones but they seem.to go away slowly . I hope your little boy will be fine and you dont need to worry . I was very stressed and I dont believe doctors much but I see him happy, active, playing and eating so well so I kind of put the bad thoughts on the side and focus on him to enjoy our time together he had often tonsilitis and has bleeding from the nose as well which is quite scary but his cousin has it too so it is in the family . I hope I helped with my answer 

I have had a reactive lymph node on one side of my neck for about 18 months. No other symptoms. I went for an ultrasound and MRI and nothing found that was unusual or bad. Like everyone else, have read online how they can remain permenantly (slightly) swollen but also like everyone else still feel very anxious.

Ive had the same issue. 10 months in pain cos of the swelled lymph nodes. Biopsy has been done and scans. No cancer but i have a cavity in my lung and first they were telling me i hwd sarcoidosis in my eyes and lungs and because the steroids are not making me feel better, doctors now suspect its not sarcoidosis. Im so upset and confused

Ive had the same issue. 10 months in pain cos of the swelled lymph nodes. Biopsy has been done and scans. No cancer but i have a cavity in my lung and first they were telling me i hwd sarcoidosis in my eyes and lungs and because the steroids are not making me feel better, doctors now suspect its not sarcoidosis. Im so upset and confused