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hodgkin's Lymphoma

Tezhughes05
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Can anyone help? I've got a lump on the right side of my neck just under my ear (to me it looks swollen but my husband says it's my imagination. I'm know to be a bit panicky). I haven't lost my appetite but have lost weight. And my lymph nodes seem to become painful when I have an alcoholic drink. My stomach and feet are itchy especially when I get out of showers, and I get dizzy spells. I'm 24. Is it Hodgkin lymphoma?? I'm to scared to go the doctors incase it is, I've had these symptoms for at least 18 months.

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    Hello there,

    I'm sorry you have found a lump and are worrying. I am no medical expert or cancer doctor and I am new to this forum, but I have just been diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma for the second time, so I know quite a lot about Hodgkins. It could, quite simply be an infection and your lymph nodes are swollen because they are fighting infection. But please, please, please go to your doctor to get checked out, who might then refer you to a haematologist. By no means do I want to scare you, but both times it started with a lump in my neck on the right side. I had no other symptoms. 

    Good luck and I really hope it's nothing, but please get yourself checked out.
    Helen x
     

     

  • Offline in reply to helenk74

    Hi Helen.  Welcome to the forum. 

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    Tezhughes05.  Welcome to the forum.

    We're not doctors here and we can't give a diagnosis.

    As [@helenk74]‍ says, this might simply be an infection. Sometimes a lymph node doesn't go down after the infection is cleared and remains harmlessly swollen. 

    I would hope that since you've had this for 18 months already, if it was anything too serious it would have blown up by now.  You're not showing the classic lymphoma symptom of drenching night sweats, and there are a number of possible reasons for the other symptoms you mention.  However, you won't begin to get better until you see your GP, and you really should go soon.

    I know you're worried about cancer otherwise  you wouldn't be posting here, but ignoring a possible cancer is never a good idea.  I'm not aware of any cancer than just goes away because you don't see the doctor, and in delaying then you're running a risk of it getting much worse.  So please control your fears long enough to see your GP and get yourself checked out. 

    Please let us know how you get on.  Your feedback helps us improve our answers for other people.

     

  • Offline in reply to helenk74

    Hi

    Sorry to jump on the post. Can l ask you [@helenk74]‍ how long between your diagnosis there was? I had hodgkins age 22, now am 51, and l found a lump in my neck about a month ago. Have had antibiotics and bloods done, which showed a raised white cell count. Lump has remained the same after antibiotics. Have been having night sweats, but could be hormonal due to my age.  Waiting on appt to hospital as dr has referred due to history.

    Thank you x

  • Offline in reply to Blackie2410

    Hi there

    I received my second diagnosis 2 years after my first. I was 44, currently 46 with second diagnosis. More than half of relapses occur within 2 years and 90% within 5 years. The occurrence of relapse after 10 years is rare.

    Good that you're getting referred to consultant, they might do a PET ct scan to see what's going on. 
    Good luck and I shall keep my fingers crossed for you.

     

    Helen x

  • Offline in reply to helenk74

    Thank you for your reply [@helenk74]‍  I thought that reoccurence was rare, but you know yourself how you panic when you find any kind of lump. Have spoken to consultant today, having more bloods, ultrasound and needle biopsy done.

    Thank you for your good wishes. I hope things are going ok for you and your treatment is successful. 

    Blackie x

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