A Little worried - Lymphomas Message Board

rookiecrd12 · 01-07-2006, 04:48 PM

Hi, just had a quick few questions. To start of I am a 24 year old male phsically fit. I have no symthoms really beside having a small lump on my neck in the spot where the posterior cervical nodes are. It's only on my left hand side a little under my ear/hair line. The node is approx 1.2 cm long by .7 cm wide (i am guessing). I noticed it when I was using two mirrors to shave. I turned my head one way and it popped out a little. The node seems to move under the skin, is a little hard but has a little give to it. As for how long it has been there, I sort of remeber feeling it there as long as 2 years ago or more but can't be positive.

Should I be concerned?

If it was cancer, how long would it stay there before enlarging or me getting other symthoms?

Merimac · 01-07-2006, 05:31 PM

If you are concerned about the node check with your doctor. These are a few general facts that I can give you but are not a substitute for a medical check by your doctor.:

A node that has been consistently the same for 2 years is probably not a problem. A node that does happen to be there can contain cancer cells but generally one the size you described if completely accurate, does not.
Finally, indolent lymphoma can lie silently for up to 15 years without symptoms and then flare up for no known reason in response to a flu, or other immune system lowering event.
There is no way to know any thing without having a biopsy to tell if there are cancer cells present. Generally an enlarged lymph node is a response to a former cold, a current virus or is a normal part of the anatomy that is just larger than normal.
Again, there are not any clear answers that can be given here.