Worried about possible lymphoma (infected, skin, swollen, doctor)
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Today when I was applying some lotion, I felt a hard, spherical, slightly mobile, painless, approximately 1” lump just above my collar bone, close to my neck. I did not feel surprised to find it — it felt familiar somehow, as if I had felt it many times before without thinking too much about it. On a whim though, I double-checked the other side and was surprised to find there was no lump there.
My thinking is that this is a swollen or infected lymph node. But I am feeling perfectly fine and have no other symptoms. I wouldn’t really think much more about it, except that:
1) I know swollen lymph nodes in the neck can be the first sign of lymphoma and
2) Two years ago I came off of a 1 1/2 year treatment with an immunosuppressant which is known to raise one’s risk of lymphoma.
So, should I go to the doctor ASAP to get this checked out? Or should I wait 2-4 weeks to see whether this lump goes away on its own (as it recommended online)?
If you are that concerned, see your MD right away. It might be something the MD wants to wait and see, but you don't know that. MDs are used to peóple calling in about lumps and etc.
A hard nodule would not likely dissipate, so give the office a call for an appt....
I would do that if it was me.
If you are that concerned, see your MD right away. It might be something the MD wants to wait and see, but you don't know that. MDs are used to peóple calling in about lumps and etc.
A hard nodule would not likely dissipate, so give the office a call for an appt....
I would do that if it was me.
Thanks. That is definitely the sensible approach. I generally dislike being a patient, so I tend to seek every possible excuse for not going in — whether reasonable or not.
Definitely go in. It is worth it just to get checked. I have a couple of lymph nodes that occasionally swell. When it first started happening, I think there were one or two that were persistently swollen. The doctors had a few theories and I think it was probably related to a skin condition in the area, because I would usually have a flare up right around where the lymph node swelled. I had a period of around 6-8 months about 5 years ago where I had some skin issue and no one could figure out what was going on.
I just read in a reliable online source that, of all the lymph nodes in the entire body, enlarged supraclavicular nodes (what I have) are the most suspicious of malignancy. But fortunately, an enlarged right supraclavicular node (more specifically what I have) is somewhat less suspicious than a left one, or at least less suspicious for abdominal cancers (due to the asymmetrical nature of the lymphatic system). It is actually just as suspicious for lymphoma.
Also my enlarged node is large (> 2cm), hard and painless which is more suspicious of malignancy than infection.
I just read in a reliable online source that, of all the lymph nodes in the entire body, enlarged supraclavicular nodes (what I have) are the most suspicious of malignancy. But fortunately, an enlarged right supraclavicular node (more specifically what I have) is somewhat less suspicious than a left one, or at least less suspicious for abdominal cancers (due to the asymmetrical nature of the lymphatic system). It is actually just as suspicious for lymphoma.
Also my enlarged node is large (> 2cm), hard and painless which is more suspicious of malignancy than infection.
Good info-- but it represents "the average." Averages don't apply to the individual. Get it checked out sooner rather than later. Better to check it out and it turns out to be nothing than to not check it out and it turns out to be something.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
