Widened mediastinum/shadow, urgent neck scan

Hello, I had a chest x ray recently, due to chest pain, shortness of breath & a brassy cough. It was assumed it was from having covid a few months ago. However, the x ray showed a widening of the mediastinum & a shadow in the area. 
 

I have been sent for an urgent neck ultrasound, which is this week. The Dr thought she could feel something in my neck too. I have been told it could be a thyroid swelling/mass, but that it could be lymphoma. I also have night sweats & my ESR & CRP levels were high on bloods taken in May but were never looked into - I'm now wondering if there is a link. 
 

Anyway, I'm really nervous. I'm only 28 & have two very young boys. Any advice or experience, good or bad, would be really welcome. Thank you so much x

  • Welcome to the forum SB28 although I'm sorry about the symptoms you've been experiencing.

    Waiting for tests is always tough and a tad scary, especially when the word urgent is involved, but I hope you can take some comfort from knowing that 9 out of 10 people who are referred this way are not diagnosed with cancer. You can find out more about urgent referrals on our website.

    Hopefully some of our members who have been in similar situations will offer their support and advice to you soon but in the meantime I just wanted to wish you all the best with your ultrasound.

    We'll have our fingers crossed the results bring good news.

    All the best,

    Steph, Cancer Chat Moderator

  • Hi Steph, 

    Thank you so much for your reply. 
     

    I had my neck ultrasound today, my thyroid looks good which is great. I have an enlarged node (I think that's what he called it) under the left side of my jaw, but he said this could be from a dental filling last year. He was very positive. 
     

    I am concerned still, as the referring Dr said that if the ultrasound of my thyroid & neck was ok, she would send for a CT scan to check my lymph nodes. I'm not sure if she will though now given how positive the ultrasound was. 
     

    Thanks,

    Stacey 

  • Hi Stacey! how did it go? 

     

    I'm in the same boat now and waiting to have my biopsy on the lump in my neck - I also have a lump in my mediastinum so abit worried!

  • Hi Eden, Thanks for your message. The dr referred to respiratory consultant, who requested a contrast CT to check for lymphoma/mediastinal mass. I had this on Monday & got upto a 3 week wait for results - so nervous. So sorry you're going through this. Please let me know you get on & good luck :) 

  • Hi SB28

    how are you now? Going through similar right now and waiting tests .