Lump on side of neck

[neil74]

I have a small lump on my neck, it is on the right side about halfway up. It is quite small, probably not much bigger than a pea and it feels like it is located on the neck muscle (of course I suppose it could be behind it and pushing the muscle, I am not qualified to say but I don’t think so).  I have played sport before and it feels to me exactly like the kind of scar tissue you can get after a pulled muscle.  

I have over recent years ‘ricked’ my neck more than once which could point to it being scar tissue however I honestly cannot remember what side I did this on.  I have also lost some weight recently (2-3 stone which planned so it was not unexpected) so it is possible this has been there for years but has been covered in ‘padding’ and not as easy to feel.    I went to the doctors with it about 6 weeks ago and they were not concerned however whilst I am maybe being unfair the doctor was a newly qualified one and did not fill me with total confidence, nethertheless I took the advice and other than make a note to keep an eye on it have not given it another thought until the last day or 2.  I felt it again, I do not think it has changed in size but it is definitely there and after a few minutes of prodding it I noticed later that the my right ear and right gland area around my throat felt a little sore, nothing major but probably no coincidence and I wondered if it had been irritated by me poking around?

So it is worrying me again, I have recently moved house and have just registered with a new GP but it will be a week to 10 days before I can see a doctor.

Advice appreciated.

[neil74]

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply.

I will stil be glad to get the tests done however I am feeling much better about it.

Thanks again.

[Ken_PA]

Here you go, I found this thread with an answer from a doctor:
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Undiagnosed-Symptoms/bump-on-the-sternocleidomastoid/show/1229860
"bump on the sternocleidomastoid"

Also, wrt your upcoming sonogram: during the scan, I'd ask the tech if they see a "fatty hilum". The results of a scan can suggest many things, but when there is a fatty hilum present, that pretty much means "no cancer".

Also, be aware that the size of the bump that you describe is still fairly small. A reactive node can be, but doesn't have to be, painful or tender.

[Ken_PA]

- Most infections cause enlarged glands near the site of infection. But cat scratch on an arm, e.g., can cause enlarged nodes on the neck.

- My guess is that you'll maybe have recurring minor ear problems whenever your immunity is down. Speaking of which, the stress caused by a betrayer can be enormous and that weakens immunity. It's primarily related to increased cortisol. (For instance, a synthetic cortisol-like drug called prednisone is used to intentionally depress the immune system, such as when a person suffers from severe allergies or autoimmunity.) The number of immune cells doesn't decline (and can even increase), but their activity does decline as they just sort of hang around but don't fight invaders. Other things like alcohol and sugar weaken immunity - even too much exercise.

- STD? I don't know but anything is possible. There is an STD forum here to ask. Some infections have brief symptoms then disappear, but the actual infection might remain without current symptoms.

My guess is that your ear infection caused the node on that side to react. The throat got sore because of the immune signalling chemicals swirling around. An actual throat infection would likely make nodes on both sides swell. I wouldn't spend another minute worrying about cancer.

[neil74]

Thanks, I have had my fair share of cat scratches over the last 10 years.

It is about level with my Adam's apple, maybe half an inch higher.  I do not recall it ever being tender.  

I have in my (distant) past had a lot of problems with my ears starting with a perforated ear drum when I was a baby,  I also had (never 100% confirmed) glandular fever when I was 16.

Also something else just occured to me....my marriage ended this year as I caught my wife cheating on me, shortly after which I had some (minor) red spots on  the tip of my penis, they came and went and eventually cleared up but never progressed to blisters or anything but I suppose there is the chance that I caught an STD from her?  Too much info I info I know but maybe relevant.

[Ken_PA]

If you mean that it's right up near the jaw, then that probably makes a lymph node more probable. If it's down about the level of the Adam's Apple (which is where I thought you were referring to), then less probable.

A node on or next to the SCM muscle and up near the jawline would indeed be reacting to an ear infection. Most ear infections are viral. But as always, any infection could be virus, bacteria, fungus, parasite.

[Ken_PA]

Cat scratch fever is known to cause scarring within nodes. However, it's usually painful. (An actual scratching is not necessary.)

I think it would be unusual to have a lymph node right on top of the sternocleidomastoid - but I suppose it could be possible, as an ectopic kind of situation. The location is probably why the first two docs thought it wasn't a node. (I agree with you that it wouldn't be possible to feel anything beneath that muscle.)  Nodes are generally in protected places so they don't get injured from bumping, etc.

The location on top of the muscle would rule out a salivary gland.

Maybe it's fibrosis that occurred from some unknown process. Maybe some kind of fibroma.

A lipoma moves up as a possibility. It would usually be softer than fibrosis. That's a harmless bump made of fatty tissue, a benign tumor. Do you take a lot of zinc?

Was it ever tender? I wouldn't worry unless there was some sudden change. Do you have an appt date for the sonogram?