Hello klyds,

I'm sorry to hear you're feeling and can understand waiting is difficult, especially when you're not at home. It's important to look after your wellbeing at this time and mindfulness can help calm anxieties. You can read more about referrals here and there are also some tips here that can help, whether you're waiting for an appointment or results.

I hope this helps,

Moderator Anastasia

Hi Kylds,

The first most important thing is that you've had your referral! If there is anything that's a concern, you're now under the right people!

I'm in my late 20s so hopefully a bit of my experience below can help prepare you or ease your mind.

I was diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkins Lymphoma earlier this year (now in remission!!). after finding lumps on the left side of my neck, just above my collar bone. I also had night sweats, sickness and fatigue for a while. After speaking to haematology, they advised it was highly likely I had lymphoma, this was confirmed after a painless biopsy, a PET scan and CT scan.

Between finding the lumps and my diagnosis, I was super anxious and it helped researching and preparing myself 'just in case'. Managing my mindset and assuring myself there's not much I could do except carry on having fun and let others do their job really helped.

At the moment, I'd advise staying vigilant, keep an eye out for any other swelling, side effects or symptoms. Night sweats, weight loss, pains, sickness, itches - as small as you might think.

Speak to your university as they can be really supportive

Discuss with haematology that you may also consider heading home if you do require treatment as you might be transferred between NHS trusts (I'm not sure how I'd have handled chemo without my parents support). With that said, Chemo hasn't been as terrible as I expected, its a few rough days but pretty much all the side effects are managable

With all that said, as above, swollen lymph nodes aren't always cancerous! Hoping all goes well and happy to answer any other questions you might have about my experience 

Hi, 

Thanks so much for your reply. Sorry to hear about your diagnosis but sounds like you're dealing with it as well as you can, glad to hear chemo hasn't been as awful as you expected. 

Yes I'm driving myself mad with the waiting! So was the haematologist able to advise you that lymphoma was likely just from a quick chat and examination before the tests were done?

Like you said though, I am relieved I've got this referral even if it does take a while. I've been in constant discomfort with various sore throats, coughs, congestion, ear aches on and off for months now so will be good to get anwers even if they're not the answers I want. Thanks again :)

He said based on the location of the lumps (left side) above my collar bone,  and the night sweats it usually turned out to be HL - but they needed the biopsy results to confirm, turn around was really quick!

Hi

just thought I'd write an update on here

saw ENT today finally. He felt my neck and said he thinks they're probably benign lumps. He also stuck a camera up my nostril (which was not pleasant lol) and said that looked fine too. But he's organised an ultrasound too just in case. So overall feel reassured but still a little stressed.

hope you're doing ok

Hi 

I'm in same boat as you , I'm in my 30s have night sweats , sickness , bone pain and enlarged lymph nodes in left side of neck and groin , dr did bloods including proteins and (globulins) I think , em bloods all abnormal doctor did check me and thinks is lymphoma so been referred to hematology urgently (2week cancer pathway) I'm very anxious but what ever it is I will fight it 

Hi 

I'm really sorry to hear you're both having such a worrying time, the waiting is the absolute worst thing in the world and google is definitely not helpful!! 
I had my ultrasound last week and the doctor doing it was able to tell me straight away that she couldn't see anything suspicious - she said the lumps I have may never go away, and to only be worried about future lumps if it gets really big (she said golf ball sized) and then doesn't go down, and is hard and cant be moved around at the base (mine are pea sized and havent changed in a year.) I'm obviously feeling very relieved that this chapter of worrying is closed for me now, but hopefully your scans will be reassuring too - I really convinced myself that every twinge, ache in my body was cancer as every time I googled the symptom + lymphoma it would say it was caused by cancer, so i know it feels impossible but try not to stress too much! I think my huge levels of anxiety were actually causing symptoms after a few weeks of waiting too. 
good luck, hoping all goes well for you and you can relax a bit over xmas

That's good that yours are nothing suspicious and definitely reassuring that they could tell you there and then. It's so hard not to Google everything or think that everything is because you have cancer. 

I'm currently really nauseous and can't face eating but I think this is probably more down to worry but I'm still questioning it. 

I read last night that the covid Jab causes swollen lymph nodes and I had my booster 2 weeks prior to mine swelling so I was reassured by that however the night sweats started a few months ago. I really hope it doesn't take too long for the appointments to come through so I can get some answers either way.