10-month swollen left supraclavicular lymph node (Hodgkins?)

Hi there, first time posting here. I'm a 27yo man. Wondering if any of you can shed some light as I feel paralyzed with worry. Here it is.

 

Oct '19 - I had a bacterial infection for which I took penicillin for a week. It helped but seemed like it wasn't enough.

Nov to Jan - I was basically on and off being ill, taking paracetamol and coughing but no fever.

Early Nov - That's when I first noticed a had a swelling perched on my left collar bone that has to this day not gone down.

Jan to Feb - About of month and a half of being healthy though that supraclavicular lymph node stayed swollen.

Mid March - Fell ill practically overnight with mild to mediocre shortness of breath and extreme heaviness in my chest. I thought it was Covid and talked to 111 about 5 times but was never tested and had no fever and almost no cough at all though I did have sore throat. 

May - My shortness of breath (which came and went on episodes followed by sharp chest pain) got worse and I was prescribed doxycycline which helped almost immediately, but then I relapsed and was again prescribed more doxycycline. All this was done over the phone and I hadn't had any contact with a doctor nor been tested for Covid.

June to July - I was more or less healthy, no shortness of breath or pain but my lymph node was still large as always.

Late July - Finally met with a doctor, specifically for that lymph node. By then I also had a swelling around the lower end of my sternum - don't remember when I first got that but it's rather large (maybe an inch in diameter) and I mismissed it as Xiphoid process. I never felt it as being at any point small - rather, it seemed that a bone piece that had previously been hidden was now visibly protruding. The doctor arranged for a blood test on that day (the results of which were all normal) and said that the lymph node swelling warrants an ultrasound check. Interestingly my blood test included a check for Covid antibodies and it turned out I had none. Of course I may have had them earlier since as far as I understand they only linger for a month or two. 

 

The situation now is that I cough occasionally, wake up sweaty sometimes, and sometimes have mild shortness of breath, especially at night, along with some pressure on my chest. I have not had any fever this whole year. No apparent weight loss either. My lymph node has sometimes been very swollen to the point where you can see it in the mirror, but then it would return back to its normal swollen size over the course of a day. It feels immobile and hard to the touch. It turned out that the doctor had forgotten to book me for an ultrasound *rolling eyes* and so I'll be having a phone appointment with him on Sept 9th. Usually I am very healthy but these past 10 months I've repeatedly been up and down which annoyingly overlaps with the pandemic. My worry is that these infections might be due to a Hodgkin's lymphoma because it's been 10 months and even when I've been healthy in that time period my lymph node has remained swollen.

 

Any thoughts? Thanks for reading this long-winded post...

  • Hello MKA19, 

     

    Gosh I feel for you. I'm going through a similar situation. The worry of waiting is just awful. I'm 35 years old. I have been having pain from my neck up my head (especially after alcohol), found lump on neck and throat, chills/night sweats, rash on fingers, on an immune suppressant for Crohns disease, also have calcification in my ears. Saw doctor and getting emergency referral to ENT cancer specialist. I'm still in shock. Has anyone else on here had similar experience? Thank you. Stay positive MKA19 

  • Hey MKA19, 

     

    sorry to hear what you are going through. 
     

    to help my timeline. 
     

    Day 1 - GP phone call - and referral to US 

    Day 4 - US 

    Day 5 - GP Refferal to ENT on 2ww Referral (also booked in for MRI - 12th December booked in for)

    Day 15 - ENT Consultant phone call - Confirmed had seen US results and recommended Urgent Referal for MRI.

    Day 17 - MRI with Contrast performed.

    Day 19 - Letter for FNA Biopsy arrived 

    Day 25 - (will be Monday coming) FNA Biopsy day. 
     

    That is my story so far and a little bit in to next week. 
     

    Im lucky it's all progressed so quickly but it's also very frightening. It feels like it's been so much longer. 

     

  • Hello Essex85,

     

    Thank you for sharing. I hope things go okay for you? Have they indicated what they think is wrong? I only saw Doctor on Tuesday. Feel like it's been an eternity already. Hoping I get a call soon to go for scans or ultrasound. X

  • Can I ask what immunosuppressant you are on for crohns.  From 2005 to 2009 I was on mercaptaprune and I'm convinced that's why I'm sick now..

  • Hey, I'm on Azathioprine. What are your symptoms? Have you been seen by doctor? X

  • Hey. 
     

    I can't fault the NHS so much done and so quickly. 
    my GP and The ENT consultant have both been very quiet on what they think is going on, I haven't got a load of other symptoms so I think they want all the information before they put their cards on the table. 
     

    my main enemy was Dr Google, try to stay away from it. 
     

    Keep us updated and most of all stay positive! 
     

    Alex 
     

  • Glad to hear things are moving along quickly. I hope you get the answers soon. Let us know how it goes. X

  • I've been diagnosed with a secondary cancer primary unknown.... it's day three of the news I suooose I'm in blame game mode......I await further tests next week

    swollen subclavicular lymph node which was thought to be hodgkins, now told it's not, secondary squamous cell in thoracic area and neck.. PET scan showed no other tumours.   I'm not confused. Ignore me xx

  • This is me.... ENT don't think it's hodgkins and that ENT is not the primary source... as far as Dr Google is concerned I've got about a week, maybe a year or twenty.... but it's so hard to stay off... went for a walk today and baked a bloody great chocolate cake which I'll eat with icecream this evening........  cancer , time is so important and yet it all takes time to get to the point of a true diagnosis and treatment plan. 

  • Awh MegsMum, 

     

    That's awful. I hope they put a plan on place quickly for you. Wish I could give you some advice. I'm in such early stages that I've not been to the hospital for any tests. Sending a hug. If you ever need a chat feel free to drop me a message. X