I’m 18 and think I have Lymphoma

I feel like I shouldn't be on here but I don't know what to do. I'm 18 and relatively healthy but I think I may have lymphoma. A lump appeard on the left side of my neck about a month and a half ago. Before Christmas I went to get it checked by a GP, I may be wrong, but it felt to me like they were concerned. They took blood tests the same day and they came back normal. I then got a call just a few hours later that I needed and ultra scan and they confirmed it was a swollen lymph node. I was quite relieved until they called me in again for a second scan and a biopsy. This time I saw the scan and it didn't look right. All the nurses were extremely kind, but to the point they were treating me as if I were a child? Maybe they sensed I was sh*tting myself. But again, it felt like they were concerned, I'm not sure. I had the biopsy on Christmas Eve and I understand that it's New Years and people are busy, but I'm so scared. Everything was happening so quickly and urgently and now there's no news. I just need to know what I'm dealing with here. I can't think about anything else, I can't get out of bed. But that might be because I'm really tired all the time :/ which I read is a symptom. Apart from being tired, the only other symptoms I have is a rash on my stomach, itchy skin and when I drank last night at New Years, the lymph node ached like hell. I feel selfish being so worried, my grandad died a few days before Christmas from cancer and I haven't been in the right mind space to support my dad or even be a positive influence. I can tell I'm draining everyone and i hate it. Although 2020 was horrendous, I was so ready for 2021. I would be going into it with a new relationship, I was ready to finally pass my driving test, see friends again and get my diploma. But all that could change with one phone call and I'm terrified. Sorry for rambling.

Milly

Parents
  • Hey Milly,

    Ive just turned 19 and am going through the same thing you are ,it's so draining! I have a lump on the left side of my neck and also on my lower back. I have itchy skin and struggle getting out of bed aswell. My Dr wasn't concerned at first but I was then told I needed to get an ultrasound and got bloods done the same day too. I'm still waiting on my blood results and an appointment for the ultrasound. Like you, I just want to know now what's happening right now rather than waiting for news. I'm constantly looking online for statistics, survival rates etc and I just want it all to be over with. I hope yours turns out okay, and I'm always here if you need to chat :)x

  • Hey Cam,

    I have just replied to Milly but also wanted to extend that to you. I had Hodgkins Lymphoma last year when I was 20 and I am now over a year in remission. In the worst case scenario it is still completely curable and survival rates are very high. I am surrounded by friends who had the same cancer that are also well into remission!

     

    Hope this offers some reassurance x

  • Hey Sparksfly!

    Thanks for replying, so glad to hear your doing better now! It's reassuring to know that you beat it so quickly! Apart from your lump did you notice any other symptoms before your diagnosis? And at what point were you told you were possibly dealing with lymphoma? I'm so scared the Dr misses something as I don't think they are looking for lymphoma at this point Xx

Reply
  • Hey Sparksfly!

    Thanks for replying, so glad to hear your doing better now! It's reassuring to know that you beat it so quickly! Apart from your lump did you notice any other symptoms before your diagnosis? And at what point were you told you were possibly dealing with lymphoma? I'm so scared the Dr misses something as I don't think they are looking for lymphoma at this point Xx

Children
  • Hi Cam

     

    Of course. Yeah with lymphoma (Hodgkins) you tend to have ABVD chemotherapy and halfway through the sessions you have a scan which tells you if you're in remission or not. If you are, you still have the other chemo sessions to make sure it doesn't come back. I was told it was 'most likely lymphoma' after my CT scan results came back and showed a mass in my chest. Don't be scared, if they're checking you with scans, blood tests and feeling the lump then they are unlikely to miss anything lymphoma related. Have a look at my page on here as I documented my diagnosis process and also wrote a blog if you ever want to look at that. Feel free to message me, the waiting is awful but it could be something else such as an infection!

     

    xx

  • Hi there,

     

    ive just got some questions please. 
    1) was it painful

    2) was it big 

    3) did it grow 

    4) did you have any other symptoms? Even if you didn't think so at the time?
     

     thank you x