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 lovely, I'm going through something similar with my breast. I'm only 22! I've sent you a friend request if you want to message me xxx

  • Thank you so much, nice to know I'm not alone xx 

  • Hi Milly,

    I'm 18 too and i've just been through a very similar thing to you! 

    Around september time i found a lump on the back of my neck on the left. i went to my doctor and he ordered a full blood count and it came back completely fine, he told me that as i had no other symptoms i should leave it six weeks to see if it went away. in this time i turned 18 and all i did was worry. it never seemed to go away, so they booked me in for an ultrasound which i had on the 21st December. the doctor that saw me in the hospital felt the lump before he started the ultrasound and he told me that he thought it was a completely normal lymph node. he then did the ultrasound and he said that it was completely normal and healthy. he also said that it may never go away. even though i've been told by doctors that i am okay, i do still worry. 

    I just wanted to let you know that worrying is completely normal (that's all i did for three months!). 
    If you want to message me then do! I'd love to help reassure you as i wish there was someone there to reassure me when i was going through what you are now. 

     

    it would also be great if someone else could reassure me once again even though doctors have (i'm a big worrier)

     

    xxx

Reply
  • Hi Milly,

    I'm 18 too and i've just been through a very similar thing to you! 

    Around september time i found a lump on the back of my neck on the left. i went to my doctor and he ordered a full blood count and it came back completely fine, he told me that as i had no other symptoms i should leave it six weeks to see if it went away. in this time i turned 18 and all i did was worry. it never seemed to go away, so they booked me in for an ultrasound which i had on the 21st December. the doctor that saw me in the hospital felt the lump before he started the ultrasound and he told me that he thought it was a completely normal lymph node. he then did the ultrasound and he said that it was completely normal and healthy. he also said that it may never go away. even though i've been told by doctors that i am okay, i do still worry. 

    I just wanted to let you know that worrying is completely normal (that's all i did for three months!). 
    If you want to message me then do! I'd love to help reassure you as i wish there was someone there to reassure me when i was going through what you are now. 

     

    it would also be great if someone else could reassure me once again even though doctors have (i'm a big worrier)

     

    xxx

Children
  • Aw of course I'd love to chat to you, I'm worrier as well. But also quite good at reassuring others, so I'd love to help you if I can, wish I'd take my own advice sometimes haha. I worry about anything, my parents actually thought it was a stress related lump before I went for tests lol.

    Milly xx