very worried

[Cathy911]

I am a 35 year old white female.  About 4 months ago I noticed a lumb on my neck.  When I first noticed it, it was sore.  After a few days the soreness went away but the lumb is still there.  It has not changed in size.  IT does not feel to hard.  It seems to be moveable.  If you feel about 2in. below your ear lobe and 1 in back, that is where it is located.  I do not have any other symtoms. No fatique, loss of weight, cold or flew systoms or any thing like that. Can you please tell me if this is something  should be worried about?  It is consuming me. It is all I can think about.  I did not go to the doctor right away because I do not have insurance.   Can you give me any peace of mind?  Thank You!!!!!!!!!!

[Kevin Pho, MD]

Other than cancer, there are several other diseases to consider that can cause enlargement of lymph nodes for an extended period of time.  Examples can include HIV, mononucleosis, or rheumatological disorders.  

Four months is a long time however, and should certainly be evaluated by an ENT physician for consideration of a biopsy.  

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
Medical Weblog:
kevinmd_b

[Cathy911]

Can a swollen lymph node that is not sore and been there for three months be anything other than cancer?  Is is any better sign that it has not changed in size?

[pandora9048]

Hi,
   If it hurts or started out hurting, chances are it's an infection.  When a lymph node has cancer in it, it's usually very hard and doesn't move.  Also, as I'm told by my doctors, sometimes once a lymph node becomes swollen, it doesn't ever return to its normal size.
   I'm not a doctor, so you may want to get checked out for your own peace of mind, maybe an ultrasound of your neck or a biopsy.
   They say normal size for a lymph node is about a centimeter.  anything over that is considered enlarged.  By the way, if you keep playing with it, it will never go down!
Jen

[Cathy911]

Thank you for your comment.  I went to the doctor and had everything checked out.  My blood test came back normal and the Doctor said the lymph node was fine.  It is a little large but he said just keep an eye on it and as long as it did not change in size or become hard it was fine.  I feel so much better.  Thank you, Cathy911

[planetmars]

Oh my gosh...I am having the same problem!!!  I just posted last night and am waiting for my response.  I have one in the exact spot and another one under my jaw on the left side below my throat.  I was first told it was a salivatory gland by my Int doc, than a lymph node by my ENT.  All my blood work has come back normal as well, but I noticed mine in January and they are still there.  I am getting my yearly physical this week and am so worried that since they have not gone away, that something else could be at play.  Did your doctor say anything about checking them out again if they do not go away???  Sometimes mine are soar, and my left ear pops alot.  I do have annoyning allergies, which is what my doctor chalks up to the ear popping thing.  It is quite aggravating not knowing why my nodes are swollen, and I seen my internal doc & an ENT, and both had no concern!!!

[Cathy911]

I only have the one swollen lymph node.  The doctor told me to just check all of my lymph nodes once a month just as you would a breast exam.  As long as they do not change in size and are not hard and they are moveable there should not be anything to worry about. Just the same as you, all of my blood work came out OK.  By the way,  he told me to stay off the internet and quit looking up stuff. He did tell me that the lymph node that was swollen only funtion is to drain the scalp.  He said that I probably had an infected hair at sometime and the swelling just did not go away.  I still worry sometimes because my Mom died from Leukemia 6 months ago.  The doctor said that that was where all my worry was coming from but I was fine.  Hope you find some answers.

[planetmars]

Thanks for the insight...I was told the same thing about the internet and stop looking on it...it scares me to death.  I am hoping that since this has been ongoing and I have had completly no other symptoms of all the bad things that it could be that they are just enlarged due to the gum desease I have, or the sinisus.  I guesse I will find out more when I go for my physical Wed.  I will keep you posted as what he has to say this time. I don't know if I am being paranoid, but it feels as if the one behind the lobe has gotten slightly larger, but it is hard to tell...it is small, and I am not sure.  I just know it is larger than the other side.  I also get ear popping on that side...I don't know if that may have any significance.  Hopefully he will say I have an ear infection.  My only consolation is the bloodwork that came back normal and the fact two doctors said I shouldn't worry, but that's easier said than done!!!  Oh yeah, is yours still there, enlarged?  I'll post again after I see the doctor!!!

[Cathy911]

Yes,  Mine is still enlarged.  IT is the same size as before.  Ii had been there for 4months before I went to the doctor.  He still told me it was nothing to worry about.  He said it was not very big at all.

[planetmars]

Hello again, well I went for my physical...He said he was not concerned due to the gum desease and said I had alot of drainage in my left ear & nostrils (due to horrible allergies).  He said once I get my root scalling done he'll see me again & then re-evaluate.  He stated again that they were not pathological glands (desease-able glands), just infection reacting.  My physical was quick, and I was out the door with a clean slate of health (barring blood work),.  I won't rest until those results come back though...Well, thanks for your input.  Please e-mail me if yours ever get larger or you have a need for concern again!!  Your situation helped me to feel a little more relieved knowing someone else was kind of in the same situation!!!

Maria
***@****

[Cathy911]

I am glad you had your exam.  I was so worried for myself that it was comsuming my life.  I was so releived after I went to the doctor.  Let me know if you have anymore devolpment.

[sungrl]

I am having the same problem, I really noticed your message when you wrote about your ears popping. I have a swollen throat gland on the right side of my throat that has been persisted for a couple months now. It's not painful, but on top of that i have a tiny lymph node on my jaw that is somewhat moveable (also on the right side). I get all this pressure by my ears and have to pop them frequently. A couple months ago I had an ear infection in the right ear, as well as a tooth infection that went away quickly. Everything is on the right side of my face/throat! I have totally worked myself up into a state about it, and am scared. It's good to hear that your bloodwork came back ok with similar symptoms... I wonder what this is. No fatigue or weight loss here either.

[planetmars]

It is best to get it checked out...more than likely your ear infection may have caused the glands to swell...did you get any antibiotics?  There are scarry reasons why glands swell, but there are far more reasons for them to be swollen because of something as non terrifying like an infection, or scar tissue or dental issues, etc...the bloodwork coming back is a sigh of relief for something to be not cancerous, but there may also be benign tumors, and your doctor may just keep checking to make sure they (your glands) haven't gotten larger or started to be painful...he may want to do a CT scan, but the bloodwork thing is a sigh of relief!!!  Go get them checked out & good luck, try not to worry!!!!

[LINDAFLOR]

HOW MUCH DID THE DOCTOR CHARGE FOR THE EVALUATION OR TEST? ANYONE WHO HAS THAT INFORMATION PLEASE LET ME KNOW THANK YOU.

[planetmars]

It cost my normal Doc office fee $60.00...the bloodwork was outrageous though.  That was up there to like $700.00, Out of my pocket was close to $300.00 after my crappy insurance paid for that and the doc fee cost $15.00...ENT Doctor $125.00

[radAd]

I just had to laugh when I discovered this web page.  I to have a hard, moveable lymph node under my ear / behind my jaw on the left side that is very small.  I also live with a cat that I am allergic to, have frequent ear infections, and my left ear pops a lot (quite annoying).  I am quite relieved that others are describing symptoms matching mine and discovering that they do not have head and neck cancer!!  My doctor tells me not to worry.  I am also a self diagnoser via the internet which causes me to worry undually.  However I am glad I found this page.  There's no blood test for hypochondria but if there was I'm sure I would test positive.  Peace, Ad