i also am 18 and am convinced i have lymphoma, i found a small pea sized lump on the left side of my neck along with no pain or any other symptoms, i am absolutely terrified and losing sleep over it, also crying many times a day, i have yet to see a doctor in person as mine just told me to to wait a week to see if it disappeared however it hasn't, i am so scared of actually going because i really don't want bad news, any advice?

Hey please don't worry, it could be hundreds of other things before lymphoma. I was also told to wait for a week after calling the GP. They said to wait and see if it changed, I called again because my lump was growing quite quickly (it's now around the size of a ping pong ball lol) that's when they wanted me to come in for an examination and then have some blood taken for tests. If you are asked to go in for examination please don't be scared. They will just prod your neck about a bit, looking at the size and texture and how it moves. They may find your lump isn't even a lymph node, it could be a cyst or something similar. They may give u a blood test but I'm pretty sure they do this to look for infections (swollen lymph nodes are often just a sign of infection) the only way you will get conclusive results is if u have a biopsy taken from the node. most lightly you will go to the doctors, have a blood test and find out it's nothing more than your body fighting an infection or it's not a swollen lymph node at all. Hope this helps :) 

Hey please don't worry, it could be hundreds of other things before lymphoma. I was also told to wait for a week after calling the GP. They said to wait and see if it changed, I called again because my lump was growing quite quickly (it's now around the size of a ping pong ball lol) that's when they wanted me to come in for an examination and then have some blood taken for tests. If you are asked to go in for examination please don't be scared. They will just prod your neck about a bit, looking at the size and texture and how it moves. They may find your lump isn't even a lymph node, it could be a cyst or something similar. They may give u a blood test but I'm pretty sure they do this to look for infections (swollen lymph nodes are often just a sign of infection) the only way you will get conclusive results is if u have a biopsy taken from the node. most lightly you will go to the doctors, have a blood test and find out it's nothing more than your body fighting an infection or it's not a swollen lymph node at all. Hope this helps :) 

Hey,

So so sorry to hear what you guys are going through, it is such a scary experience and I honestly hope and pray that you get your answers and get better! 

I feel a bit crazy being on here too but I'm kind of having the same experience in a sense. I'm 25 and in October time I had a little bit of acid reflux and then started to feel like I had lumps in my throat and I couldn't breath or swallow at time it was a really horrendous experience! 3 months later I now have been to the doctors about 4 times had numerous phone calls with nurses as they kept fobbing me off with 'it's just your anxiety' or an infection in my mouth but I just know it isn't. I finally got a blood tests one thing came back abnormal which is something to do with my immune system fighting something.. but the doctors thought maybe I have IBS or celiacs, celiacs came back negative but they aren't concerned as my white blood cell count is good. So I've now been waiting and waiting for a my scan which is due to happen on the 12th as I have quite a few lumps on both sides of my neck one of them is quite big. And I can also see a growth in the back of my throat which feels like I am going to end up choking on it soon.. I couldn't put into words how scared I am right now. 
My number one advice is to go to the doctors and really push for everything you need I think that's been my mistake I've just been agreeing with whatever they say regardless of how bad this seems and now I'm just stuck in limbo for 3 months with no answer and only getting worse by the day. 
 

Anyways just thought I would share my experience as you are both not alone at all and if you need someone to speak to I am here!

Take care

- Becca x
 

Thank u so much for replying,

Omg that's sounds awful what you're going through :( Im so sorry, I really hope you get your answers soon. You're just like me, I usually just go along with the doctors advice and minimise my problems. It was actually my mum who pushed me to keep calling and pestering them. Being Christmas and all I knew they'd be busy so I've just been waiting for them to call, but you're right, I'll call tomorrow just so they know I'm on their case. I've friend requested you, please let me know if u get any answers for your diagnosis.:)

Milly xx

hey, thank you so much for the reassurance, i really hope that everything's okay and we both get good news!! mine hasn't grown at all but also hasn't gone so it's frustrating, also no pain other than aches but i feel that may be a little anxiety based as when i'm not thinking about it i don't notice it, i'm going to ring doctors again tomorrow and hopefully be seen to and stop worrying! again thanks so much, i'm sure my boyfriend has had enough of my crying to him so it feels nice to know i'm not alone:) 

hey thanks for your reply:), it's so frustrating not knowing what's going on and constantly being told not to worry by family, but i too need to push to get answers as i am a total wreck atm! i literally can't go a day without crying about it and even at work i'm going to the back to search it! i really hope we all get the answers we want and can stop worrying as it's not the best start to a new year! 

OMG are we the same person?? 

I am really struggling with trying to get my GP to take me seriously and they keep fobbing me off with a H Pylori test which I have to come off Lansoprazole for 15 days before I can do that. My problem is  I don't think I can wait 15 days as I'm struggling to swallow and it feels like food gets lodged in my esophogus. I'm in a dark state of mind atm. How did you manage to push for the tests? Should I call 111 or just go straight to a walk in centre? 

Hope all you other ladies are well. An update would be great x

Hi,

I had an ultrasound which looked fine so no more can be done, obviously I'm greatful the ultrasound was good but I'm still having other symptoms so worrying still

One of my symptoms was neck pain which got bad one weekend and called 111 who then booked me in at the urgent care centre, I think if you called and explained you were struggling to swallow they would definitely see you quickly, however with me it was nothing serious that needed urgent attention so just had to go home and wait for my upcoming appointments x

Hey,

oh I am sooo sorry to hear you are going through this! It's honestly so awful. 
Have you found that you've had acid reflux? Or it gets worse with certain foods or anything?? 
 

It's honestly took me months to get blood tests done and finally the Ultrasound - I have lymph nodes with reactive features so not looking cancerous thank god. But as for the inside of my throat I have no idea, it's still hard to swallow and it's tight and uncomfortable. But I just have to keep pushing through. I've just been really stern with my doctor and made it clear that I wasn't going to go home without some answers or tests, I just kept telling him about the lumps and the feeling of not being able to swallow etc. I've had soo many blood tests now and I have a phone call with an ENT specialist next Wednesday but they won't let me come in yet until they have more information. It's just so hard at the moment doctors are obviously reluctant to look in throats and stuff because of Covid. 
I found calling 111 really helpful and they ended up sending my details to a doctor in a walk in centre who then sent a letter to my GP saying I need an immediate referral to ENT. So that kind of worked. I would say going to walk in clinic isn't helpful, they really only deal with things they can give you medication for... just keep calling your doctor - tell them it's becoming serious and affecting your mental health etc and request more blood tests or an ultrasound? 
 

I hope this helps a little, at least to know you are not alone. I'm still very much going through this all and it's a challenge everyday but just stay positive, it could be you've had bad acid reflux that has irritated your throat or you've got an infection. But definitely try and get some for tests done and don't walk out of the doctors without feeling like they have done all they can! 
 

message me if you need more help or just to talk to someone about it all x