Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
1503643 tn?1311518238

Is cancer painful?

I have lymph nodes on my left side that are painful.  I was told that cancer does not hurt.  These lymph nodes aren't very big and have been growing slowly over the last 9 months. Some of them feel like some kind of mesh with hard tiny balls underneath. and some are elongated. They aren't larger than the size of a pea yet the ones closest to my hip bone and closest to my thigh are very painful. Do you know why?
Best Answer
Avatar universal
Swollen lymphy nodes can indicate cancer in some other place on your body. It does not mean your lymph nodes are cancerous.  Infections cause lymph nodes to swell so if you go see a doctor they might diagnose the problem and give you antibiotics to kill the infection...hence the nodes will shrink. Good Luck!!
7 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
1503643 tn?1311518238
Thanks chadman160. Those are encouraging words!  I am glad to hear you are ok?  Have the swollen lymph nodes gone down?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
hello im 12 i had painful lymph nodes in my abdomen bottom right and my doctor thought i had cancer to however she said "most" cases do not experience pain with cancer and mine were swollen and all but i went to children's hospital in Pittsburgh pa and they ran a CRAP load of test and they said i was cancer free not a cancer cell in me so i wish you luck and pray that it isn't cancer Chadman160
Helpful - 0
1503643 tn?1311518238
Thanks gavinol -

I'm beginning to think the pain comes from when they grow and are applying pressure on nerves. Especially the small ones.  The larger masses in my neck just cause me discomfort.  They give me a fullness feeling in  my neck.  When they are pushed on.  It's like you said...feels like an old bruise. Just tender and uncomfortable. They are solid to the touch though.
Helpful - 0
1503643 tn?1311518238
Thanks! Hope you find yourself surrounded with kindness today!!!  :)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Wow, you have been through a lot!  Good Luck. I wish I could help. There must be a doc out there that can find out what is causing the pain.
Helpful - 0
1503643 tn?1311518238
I have been through 6 different courses of antibiotics over the last year. I have had cervical cancer, thyroid cancer that metastisized to the lymph nodes in 2003. radiation and 5 surgeries on my neck. I was told that I no longer have thyroid cancer.  Biopsies taken back in April said lymphoid proliferation and lymphoid dysplasia. I was told that I have a virus.  Then when I saw the doctors last week.  They said the swollen lymph nodes have been going on too long to be a virus that it looks like lymphoma. We are going to do another cbc at the end of the month.

I'm still curious what is causing the pain.  I do have masses in my neck again. One the size of a walnut where the thyroid used to be. and one in front of the carotid artery where cancer was removed before. These areas don't cause me pain.  Just discomfort. But the little ones as I've described before...really cause me pain.
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Cancer Community

Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Here are 15 ways to help prevent lung cancer.
New cervical cancer screening guidelines change when and how women should be tested for the disease.
They got it all wrong: Why the PSA test is imperative for saving lives from prostate cancer
Everything you wanted to know about colonoscopy but were afraid to ask
A quick primer on the different ways breast cancer can be treated.
Get the facts about this disease that affects more than 240,000 men each year.