Ultrasound for swollen lymph node - what should I expect?

Hi all,

I've been referred for an ultrasound in my local hospital to look at a swollen lymph node on my neck which has been around for quite a while. Everything has dragged on a little bit because of covid but I finally have a date and am going for the scan in a few weeks.

I'm quite nervous not just about the results of the scan but also about potential timeframes for additional scan or biopsy referrals if the scan looks abnormal. Would I be able to ask the nurses or doctors for their interpretation of my scan in the appointment? And if they do think it looks abnormal would I be sent for a biopsy immediately or would it be a separate referral and waiting process? Realistically, if it is something more than a reactive lymph node how much longer will I have to play the waiting game before I get a diagnosis?

Feeling very in the dark right now as my GP gave me little information about the process and so anyones knowledge or advice about this would be amazing :)

  • Hey, I know the feeling! I'm also absolutely guilty of going to google too much despite knowing how unhelful it is. I have just one lump and it is a bit behind and below my left ear. It has only just grown to a size where it is making a visible lump but underneath the skin I can feel that it's already grown to about 3cm in size which is fairly big. 

    Try not to get too worked up about this which I know is so difficult to do but lymph nodes really do react to anything and everything, I've heard that even stress can make them balloon a bit! But of course if you are worried about your lymph nodes at all go see your GP and get them checked out, have you had them looked at yet?

  • Hii

    basically what happened with me was that 2 months ago I had pain in my armpit and checked it was a tiny lymph node as big as a pea and was a little tender. I waited it out for a week and the pain and tenderness went away but the pea sized lump was still there. Which I saw my GP he said nothing to worry about just keep an eye on it. Legit a whole month later and I feel like overnight it grew as big as 2 fat grapes put together but it's only one lymph node the skin around was red inflamed tender I couldn't even move my arm. I called the GP they gave me antibiotics staright away which helped massively as like 50% of the swelling disappeard and it wasn't tender or painful. But now it's the size of 1 grape and I'm still worried about it as it's not gonna away. Like I know some lymph nodes that get infected don't go back to original size but this big of a lymph node doesn't seem normal it's around 3cm too maybe more i really don't know. I'm seeing my GP for another thing on Wednesday upcoming and I'm going to to tell her I want an ultrasound and possibly take it from there. I'm just worried sick that I can't even eat anymore. I legit hate it here. I was such a happy person and now I'm in this "depressive" mood where I legit don't want to get out of bed because I don't want to think about anything. 
     

    I have so many things I'm thinking about. Like it could be leukaemia lymphoma or Breast cancer and if it is breast cancer then the fact that my lymph node is swollen because of it is not a good sign as it would be like stage 3 onwards. I'm only 18 going to be 19 in a couple of months but I'm legit getting sick and tired of being scared of everything. 
     

    I've done everything... googled every single thing under the sun. Gone on YouTube to watch story times about how people found they got cancer. Like I know I should stop but I legit can't. For the past 2 months I haven't even been doing uni properly like I legit gave up. Obviously going to do my exams but like I'm not doing anything. 
     

    so sorry for rambling. I'm just moving a little mad right now. 
     

     

  • Hey, 

    I completely sympathise with letting anxiety get the better of you, it happens to a lot of us. The fact that the swelling went down with antibiotics though is an excellent sign and redness and tenderness are more suggestive of an infection than a malignancy. Some infections can make your lump nodes massive and I think some lymph nodes can remain so big after an infection (don't quote me on that though, I'm definitely no doctor) which I'm hoping is my case as well as I remember feeling a bit unwell when my lymph node first appeared so I'm hoping mine is just a bit of residual swelling. Of course I know that being told these things doesn't make it any easier to deal with the anxiety but do try to remember that cancer is very rare, especially in someone so young and the more things that point away from it the better. Breast cancer especially is incredibly rare in someone who is 18.

    If the anxiety is getting so much to bear though then I would absolutely encourage you to discuss it with your GP and get them to explain all the symptoms that you're having and what they mean. Be open about your fears regarding cancer and hopefully they can help you by discussing it in detail with you and referring you for further tests. Fingers crossed it's all nothing and hopefully this is all resolved soon :)

  • @melissa I am a third year uni student, get a letter from your doctor it sounds like you are also suffering from health anxiety like me and it's horrendous trying to focus on uni during a pandemic with health anxiety - they should be relaxed and understanding for you. You are very young it's unlikely to be breast cancer or even any cancer. Ask for an ultrasound. I thought I had one lymph node turns out I had two in there but can't feel two unless

    mt one is two stuck together - I think an ultrasound is a good start but it's not been there long. If you shave it could cause inflammation etc so many things can! Wishing you all the best x 

  • Hi

    Thankyou for the reply back. Means a lot to me. I just want this swelling to go so I can feel well in myself mentally because at the moment with the way I'm living my life I can tell it's not healthy for me physically and mentally and I also know this is not me as I'm the most social person full of energy but because of this I just don't want to talk to anyone I just want to be left alone. 
     

    i have an appointment with the GP on the 31st March and 9:45 and I'm going to tell her everything. But Thankyou so much. You have managed me to calm down to an extent which I haven't felt this calm in like 3 days. Hopefully the swollen lymph node you have too resolved on it's own and it's something not serious at all. 

  • Hi

    i will be doing that in the upcoming Wednesday as I've legit never felt like this. I've legit forgotten about uni it's the least of my worries which I know is bad because I should still care but I can't even make myself do my lectures. Like I'll start them and 3 minutes in I'm thinking about the swollen lymph node and I'll just breakdown then and there. I legit hate this type of anxiety it whatever it is. 
     

    that area of the armpit I don't grow hair on so I know it's nothing to do with shaving and I've chnaged my deodorant to a natural one for a month but I can't lie it hasn't helped. I'm just hoping it's an infection or inflammation that hasn't resolved. Thankyou for replying. Means a lot to me. 

  • Hey,

    I remembered it was your GP appointment today, I just wanted to ask how it went and if you got any reassurance? Hoping it went well :)

  • Hey,

     

    Thankyou for following up. I went to the GP but the swelling of the lymph node legit decreased overnight which is *** me off mind my language as she said oh I don't think it's that big. 
     

    basically for the past 7 days both of my breasts were extremely tender which tends to happen to me a week before my period but I don't know if I was paying more attention to pain and tenderness but I feel like it was worse this time round. I got my period yesterday really lightly which is also not normal for me and then I slept and I woke up to check the lymph node again like I always do in the morning and it was way smaller than usual. Which seems like such a good thing but if it fluctuates every month I'm gonna be in panic mode. 
     

    My GP did say she will send me to an ultrasound and the hospital will call me in 2 weeks to give me an appointment which is such a long wait but better than nothing. I'm just scared for everything. 
     

    I've read so much on the internet done so much in depth research that i know that sometimes when lymph nodes are extremely swollen and the swelling decreases it could mean that the cancer is reproducing at a slower rate. And I know I'm thinking of the worst but I legit can't help myslef. I'm legit so sorry for being depressing. I'm generally the most positive in the room this just took a toll on me. 
     

    how are you doing? 

  • Hey,

    I'm glad your lump has shrunk! Those things you've read online probably aren't very common and seeing as the lump has already gone down a bit with antibiotics cancer seems a bit less likely which is great, although I'm glad you got an ultrasound referral anyway for peace of mind.

    As for your period, hormones released during periods of extreme stress can really mess with it so it could related to that and if your breasts normally ache around your period then I'm sure the pain this time is benign as well. Anxious minds just pick up on a lot more, I know from first hand experience! The waiting for scans and tests is the worst part for sure, did your gp recommend anything for the worries?

    I'm doing alright by the way, thank you for asking :) a bit stressed but I'm sure things will work out for the both of us 

  • Hey

     

    im keeping you in my prayers. Hopefully everything works out with the best outcome. 
     

    I just have a feeling that this lymph node is going to increase in size every period and then come back to how it is now which I don't know is normal. Currently I'll be waiting to get an appointment for the ultrasound and I'll keep you updated on that

    ive been trying to get myself to feel my lymph node today but I can't do it physically. I generally check like 5-6 times a day but since the morning I found out it's a little smaller I just don't want to touch it and feel it be big and then be in panic mode again. I want to try in a few hours. This sound so dumb and stupid I hate the way my brains working.