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Toddler has had a swollen lymph node for almost 2 years

GM18
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Hello, 

My son, who is three in a couple of weeks, has had a swollen lymph node behind his left ear since he was 1 and a half. 
 

We had an ultrasound done on it this time last year where they confirmed that it was a swollen lymph node, we didn't know what it was up to that point, and that the characteristics of it meant it was nothing to worry about. It's pea sized to touch and in that time it hasn't grown or changed, but it also hasn't gone down at all. 
 

I suffer from health anxiety, especially to do with my son, and despite having the scan and speaking to multiple GP's over the phone, every now and again when I check to see if it's still there I get a wave of panic and can't stop worrying about it again! 
 

I guess I am just looking to see if anyone else had a similar experience, particularly in kids, where they have a lymph node that just never goes away but is ok?  I've been told it may never go down and unless it changes it's nothing to worry about. But I don't understand why it wouldn't go down almost 2 years later? 
 

He has no other symptoms whatsoever, and I know that I need to stop panicking about this, and I do for a while, but I just can't seem to let it go! 
 

Thank you

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    Hello GM18 and welcome to Cancer Chat, 

    You've done the right thing in getting this swollen lymph node checked thoroughly and it's really reassuring that the ultrasound scan flagged nothing of concern. So I think you can trust what several doctors have told you, that it's nothing to worry about but I can understand how as a mother you will still be anxious that it hasn't gone away. Talk to your GP maybe about your health anxiety and ask whether there are strategies to help you let go of these anxious feelings. There is help available to help you overcome health anxiety, things like CBT that can help you break this cycle of worry. 

    Hopefully you will hear from other members of the forum who have little ones who also have had lymph nodes that don't seem to go away and that they will share their experience with you. 

    Best wishes, 

    Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator 

  • Offline in reply to Moderator Lucie

    Hi Lucie,

     

    Thank you for your response, that's reassuring to hear. 
     

    Yes I really need to shake this worry, it's so consuming. I am actually awaiting CBT appointments so I really do hope this helps. 
     

    Thanks again :) 

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    Hey! I have an almost 3 year old who has lymph nodes in both clavicles left one being the bigger one (as do I so I knew this was scary when I found it) he was referred to peadatrician who said it was cervical and he wasn't worried as size was small (it's not it's definitely clavicle but he was a baby and sleeping at this stage) and he's still got them now it's been over a year and I hAve loads of nodes - there's a medical website that says don't look for lymph nodes in children because you will find them and they are only really concerned with lumps bigger than 1cm in smallest diameter and children because of all the germs they are picking up sometimes even 2cm can be normal!  
     

    of course it's always worth checking - especially if growing aggressively and not going back down! I am still so upset every time I feel my sons, but my friends toddlers have nodes too! I get so anxious about both our nodes it's horrible! But that's part of being a mummy we will always worry about or babies ! X 

  • Offline in reply to Becksxxx

    Hi Becksxx, 

    Thank you so much for taking the time to respond, just hearing from another mummy who has a young child with swollen lymph nodes makes me feel a bit better! I agree, it is so stressful isn't it, I really wish it would just go down so I could stop worrying about it! I'm glad we have had the same advice from doctors too.

    As horrible as it is for us both to live with the worry, its very reassuring to hear that your child, and friends child, both have the same, as I don't know anyone else who can relate which ofcourse worried me! 


    I was always under the impression that it would have gone down in a year, but it seems I'm going to have to come to terms with the fact that it's part of him, and try not to go into a blind panic each time I see it's still there! Xx

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