Lump on back of Jaw on neck

[canadian_ebayer2k5]

I'm 23 years old and have had acne since about age 13 or 14...it's been getting better, mostly just scaring left to get rid of now or help clear up, however about a year ago, maybe a little more I started to get a little lump on the back of my jaw
I thought it was a pimple or cyst maybe and would go away but it didn't puss or anything and it doesn't hurt at all.  It's about half the size of a marble.  Anyways, the dr. gave me some tetracycline, for 1 month then some other huge pills for infections that i took 3 times a day for almost 2 weeks, then back on tetracycline again and it's still the same size and hasn't gone away.  I'm starting to get self-conscience about it and my g/f worries because she doesn't want it to be somethign cancerous.  However, I feel it may be an infection or related to my acne but not sure what it is, I don't think my dr. knows either.  But it doesn't get any bigger or smaller.  Any ideas what this might be?

[gundamunda]

A related discussion, Lump Below ear and knot on neck was started.

[BT909]

I am 21 years old and I have had a lump behind my jaw, on my neck, for about 5 or 6 years now.  My lump, however, is internal and does not feel like cystic acne.  I have been to several doctors and none of them can tell me what it is.  I think it is possibly a swollen gland.  I try so many things to make it go away, but it just won't.  Does your lump seem more internal (like a gland) or external (like acne)?

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

If it's a true cyst, it won't go away unless you have it cut out, which I doubt would be worth it.  Medication is unlikely to help.  I'd wait it out for a while and see what happens.

Dr. Rockoff

[canadian_ebayer2k5]

but in time it will go away? should i go see about getting more medication for it maybe to help?  would tetracycline even help in this matter?

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

If you can move it around freely, it's probably a regular cyst, or even a lymph gland.  These may stay there, but it is not necessary to remove them, and doing so would leave a scar.  Best to ignore and leave alone.

Dr. Rockoff

[canadian_ebayer2k5]

P.S... this may be an infection, i can move it around freely, it moves with my skin, i'm guessing it may be an infection but it's been there for like a year or more now so I'm not sure how to get rid of it or if there's somethign that will make it go away.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

The chances of this being cancerous at your age are really small.  It's probably an acne cyst.  These take months to go away, even after antibiotic therapy, especially if you play with or squeeze them.  I suggest you forget about this for 3 months and leave it alone.  If it gets bigger or persists at three months, show it to the doctor again.  But I doubt any treatment will be needed.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff