What are lymph nodes supposed to feel like? - Lymphomas Message Board

SupraMan · 02-14-2006, 05:38 PM

Assumin everythin is cool, and your perfectly healthy. Are you supposed to be able to feel them at all? Some sources say that you may, and they should feel soft and squishy. These say that "hard" nodes are really suspicious. However, other sites talk about "shotty" nodes, which basically are really hard nodes, that are really small.

So, what are they supposed to feel like normally? And what do "non-cancerous" enlarged lymph nodes feel like?

Thanks in advance.

Merimac · 02-15-2006, 08:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SupraMan

Assumin everythin is cool, and your perfectly healthy. Are you supposed to be able to feel them at all? Some sources say that you may, and they should feel soft and squishy. These say that "hard" nodes are really suspicious. However, other sites talk about "shotty" nodes, which basically are really hard nodes, that are really small.

So, what are they supposed to feel like normally? And what do "non-cancerous" enlarged lymph nodes feel like?

Thanks in advance.

If you go to various websites, the descriptions are very difficult to interpret. They are not exact and the only thing that anyone can say about a lymph node that is accurate for every one is, that if the lymph node was not there before and it is now, it may be a problem. If it was there before and it changes in how it feels from the way it used to feel, there may be a problem. The doctor would even have to order a biopsy to know whether anything was wrong. The general rule has always been anything that appears to change suddenly over a matter of weeks or months should be investigated. I have heard of people having extremely large nodes come up and they are considered reactive to an infection. I have heard of people having very tiny pea sized or smaller nodes and having terminal cancer. It depends on location, disease if any, and biopsy. Check with your doctor if you have concerns.