Does anyone know what this is?

[Susan2009]

Hello,

I recently have discovered some weird stuff going on with my body.  Can anyone help?  I know this is long but please bare with me! Let me describe...

ME:
- Female
- 20 years old
- Generally healthy (but I have had migraines for as long as I can remember)
- I'm not on any medications (besides Excedrin migraine here and there)
- Have never had an surgeries
- Had all my shots
- No primary family history of cancer... my aunt had Hodgkins though.  Mom is anemic and had a hysterectomy due to a large cyst in her uterus. That's all the family history I can think of.

MY SYMPTOMS:
- About 3 weeks ago, I woke up with a lump directly under my collar bone( never notices it before). I woke up with a stuff neck so was massaging the area, thats how I found it. My nek felt stiff for 2 says so I don't know if that has anything to do with it.
- The lump is hard, fixed, and doesn't hurt.  I went to the doctor ASAP and the Physicians Assistant said it was probably a swollen lymph node and set me up with a urine test, CBC, and an X-Ray.
- CBC - They said "everything is perfect" and normal
- Urine - everything normal
- X-Ray - also normal!  Showed nothing wrong with my lungs, etc. So I called and asked for a CT scan because I was worried (my uncle, a surgeon, also suggested it).
- In the meantime, I found a slightly swollen lymph node in my neck.  It is hard (I think), this time movable, and doesn't hurt.
- CT scan of clavicle and neck - The nurse called and said that my tonsils are enlarged which they think has something to to with me lymph nodes swelling.

SUMMARY:
Lump below collar bone
swollen lymph node in neck
enlarged/swollen tonsils
all tests normal
not sick at all, no night sweats, normal appetite (I do get a sore throat every once a while only in the morning, maybe due to the tonsils)

The doctor said that my tonsils and lymph nose are probably swelling because of the same thing and wants to see me in 6 weeks.  Until then... does anyone know what this is???

An infection?  Like Mono for example?
Cat scratch disease?
Or worse, cancer?

Thanks for reading!! Any answers would be very helpful!!!!!

[Susan2009]

Thank you both for your comments, and thanks Beau for your prayers, I feel better.

Yeah, nothing showed on the x-ray.  I'm not too worried about the nodes in my neck, or even the tonsils.  Its the weird lump below my collar bone! It doesn't even feel like a lymph node to me since its so hard and fixed. I guess we'll see.

If anyone else has info about ideas or similar experiences it would be greatly appreciated.

[Beau1961]

Kudows to the above 2 comments. Cancer there would be so many more serious symptoms. So relax. Sometimes you have to push drs to get results, I know I did.
So stay positive, relaxed and continue to live life. I send my prayers.

Ron

[Encephalomalcia]

Sometimes when a person has an infection the glands will become calcified, which it will usually be calcified for the rest of the person's life.  I have several big 1/2" round calcified glands due to infections.  It does show up on x-rays as calcified, though.  Calcified glands feel hard as a rock and do not hurt.  If it were lymphoma there are other symptoms such as lower legs turning red, white blood count elevated, feeling very tired.  A pet scan can determine if you have lymphoma.  Most likely the problem lies within the tonsils being that they are swollen.  If you have tonsilitis or strep, you could still feel okay.  We all had strep one year and there was no fever with any of us all 6.  Our tongues looked like strawberries and that was the only symptom we had.  Try not to worry.  It most likely is the tonsils, but make sure to go back to your doctor and if you feel worried and concern be persistent and have the tests done if only to ease your mind.  Take care.

[Susan2009]

Thank you so much for your reply and giving me peace of mind.  It is hard to stay calm for 6 weeks with a lump!  The doctor has taken care of me but only after I have had to call and beg for answers!  So I came here to see if anyone had opinions while I'm waiting.

[Pum]

Sounds like you are being taken well care of by your doctor. It is much much more likely you have an infection causing the swelling of the lymph node/s so that is probably why they are taking a wait and see approach. The cancer concern is way less due to your age, the normal tests you've had, and the likelyhood of infection being the cause.

Take care and try to forget about it all for the next 6 weeks.