My wife has a lump in her neck... - Lymphomas Message Board

bobcat74 · 08-09-2008, 12:48 PM

below her neck. It's on the left side, about a quarter inch wide. It seems hard to the touch, doesn't seem to move much. She says it is painless. It's been there for about 5 weeks, came on rather suddenly. Right around the time it appeared we were in Florida for vacation and I got very ill with a virus for about 3 days. It seems to get a bit larger when she works or is stressed, but it hasn't really gotten any bigger or smaller. She is 30 and has no history of lymphoma, she's in good shape.

She has no other symptoms. She took antibiotics but that didn't make it go down. I assume it is a lymph node.

She visits a surgeon next week. Should I go with her and demand that it be biopsied? My wife is the type who doesn't take this kind of stuff seriously.

sluggodog · 08-13-2008, 07:48 AM

Yes - get a biopsy. Most nodes are benign. However, Thyroid cancer is also more common. I know. I have it. Deal with it now. The sooner the better in any prevention.

beth67 · 08-13-2008, 10:08 PM

You could start with a regular dr.. They will probably palpitate it and run some tests. An ultrasound may be good. If it comes down to getting a biopsy I would find an endocrinologist that has experience with thyroid biopsies. Thats what I did and I really trusted her. She had a good reputation and does 600 biopsies a year. Also you may want to have the endocrinologist do the ultrasound because their familiar with the anatomy. My dr. sent me to a regular ultrasound person and they told me everything was fine but my dr. wanted me to see an endocrinologist who did another ultrasound, saw something odd and did the biopsy right then and there. Turned out to be cancer and had to have surgery. If she does get a biopsy go with her and hold her hand. It's fairly painful and pretty freaky having 7 needles go into your neck. Good luck.

dee62 · 09-04-2008, 08:43 AM

Hi Beth67

I have had many questions also. I too have been to my gp and my hematologist. My hematologist has done bloodwork at each of my visits and has always come back normal. He said that my lymph nodes are too small to biopsy, even though my gp saw that they are very noticable and showed some concern. Indeed I have had an ultrasound & 2 MRI's and of course show the nodes.I have about 3-4 nodes in my neck that you can feel, but the ones below my left and right ear are the ones that concern me. They have been their since August 07, no pain at all in the nodes, just causes pain in my head. I recently cancelled my last MRI, for one it is very expensive even w/insurance and what is the use if this is of no use. My question is were your lymph nodes of noticable size or visible? I try not to worry, but don't know what to do, feel like I am stuck in between a rock and unanswered fears.

Thanks
Dee

rosequartz · 09-04-2008, 08:48 AM

it's probably nothing to worry about. lymph nodes sometimes get enlarged after a cold or a virus.....a doctor should try a course of antibiotics first......why is she seeing a surgeon? That's a little drastic at this point.