Lump under the skin on my neck - really worrying me a lot

A

amelia83

New member
A few weeks ago I woke up from a bad dreams all hot and sweaty, and although this wasn't a proper drenching "night sweat", I knew this was a symptoms of lymphoma and started checking my lymph nodes.

I have noticed a 1 - 1.5cm swollen node on the right of my neck.

It's behind the diagonal muscle down my neck, meaning it is a posterior cervical lymph node.

It doesn't hurt (or it didn't until I started poking it loads), it is hard, rubbery - I can't tell if it's movable or not, it's certainly not locked into place but I can't move it up or down or move it side to side very much.

I can't find any other swollen nodes and the equivalent node on the opposite side is far far smaller.

I have read that the posterior cervical lymph nodes are among the most commonly affected by lymphoma, and I honestly have never noticed a swollen node in this area before.


I'm really really really worried, I saw a nurse who did a really quick and general feel of my neck and she said she couldn't feel a lump, and whilst it's not obvious and doesn't stick out of my neck, if you palpate for it it is very easy to feel.

Tough, rubbery and like an elongated oval in shape.

So freaked out by it......
 
You might want to go to a doc who can do an ultrasound which would really allow them to see if there is an enlarged lymph node. I have had several neck ultrasounds in the past year for thyroid issues. It's painless for the patient and can provide a lot of information for a doc. If a node is considered suspicious, a biopsy can be done. Peace of mind is a good thing.
 
I went to a nurse who did a quick general check and said she couldn't feel anything, but if you specifically palpate for this node you can tell it is swollen in comparison to the one on the opposite side.

At what point do you worry? It is probably about 1cm by 0.7cm, it is firm, rubbery and slightly mobile. It's not a visible lump on my neck but it is a palpable one beneath the skin.

I have been poking and prodding it so much that it got a little bigger though.
 
Quit poking at it to start with. You do know that lymph nodes swell to take care of infections in the body? It can be sometrhing as minor as a scrape. their job is to absorb the bad stuff and process it down. Sometimes it can remain swollen for weeks.

If you are that worried about it, go into your doctor. But i bet he will tell you to leave it alone and let it be for several weeks. Do you have a history of lymphoma in your family? Is that why this is concerning? Do you have any other signs of lymphoma?

My boys growing up often had swollen lymph glands that I rushed them into the doctor only to be told that it will go down on it's own......
 
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