Can a cancerous tumour stay the same size for years?

[jambo53]

I have had a hard immovable lump behind my ear for 4 years that I think is a sarcoma. My question is I will a cancerous tumour grow or change shape in 4 years from the time I first felt it?

[jambo53]

To anybody who ever reads this in the future with a similar problem with a hard immovable lump that has never grown, don't read that top comment as the person was obviously trying to make me worry sick as I just asked a doctor who had knowledge on encapsulated malignant tumors and he told me that the encapsulation has little effect on the growth of a tumor but can have an effect on spread of cells so that person at the tops comment was clearly just trying to worry me and don't listen to him

[TheLightSeeker]

Most lumps behind the ear are not cancerous!
I have  such a lump behind my right ear since as far back as I can remember.
If it has not changed in 4 years and if it's not causing you any symptoms don't question it and if possible don't even think about it!
Best wishes,
Niko

[jambo53]

Definitely not a swollen lymph node, it's in the groove near the back of your ear and it's hard and immovable. I have had an oncologist actually feel it and all she could tell me is that she didn't think it felt like a cancerous lump. And about the encapsulation thing, every story I've seen about people with encapsulated tumors, they still grew and a lot had tumors that were about 15-20cm big... Mines is about an inch big and always has been. I even had somebody on another site tell me she had an encapsulated sarcoma in her thigh and it still grew to 15cm in 18 months. I have had mine for 4 years without any change and I mean ANY change. I'm still convinced it's cancer unfortunately and this date to see a specialist can't come quick enough so I can find out what's going on once and for all

[Jumong]

Given the location, it's probably a swollen lymph node. Sometimes it takes a long time for a lymph node to shrink back to its initial size after an infection. Or maybe you have an infection somewhere in your ear and you're unaware of it.

[jambo53]

I might literally be a bit of medical history, an encapsulated tumor behind the ear. I mean what are the odds

[jambo53]

???? I believe you now, I'm so screwed

[jambo53]

I just searched this up and apparently malignant tumors aren't encapsulated. What was your point about encapsulation?

[jambo53]

Sorry I have just searched this up and every place says that malignant tumors are not encapsulated and have a lack of growth control so keep growing

[jambo53]

Does this mean it is a cancerous tumor that isn't being allowed to grow? I'm so scared now I'm only 19 I don't want to deal with this cancer! If it is encapsulated and my lymph nodes are swollen then maybe it has spread to the nearby lymph nodes allowing it to spread

[jambo53]

Hi there what do you mean by encapsulation? Everyone that I have asked has told me that in nearly 4 years if the lump present has not grown it almost definitely cancer

[caregiver222]

A difficult question. The encapsulation is part of the immune system. Some tumors remain encapsulated indefinitely, and some spontaneously burst and spread the cancer. We don't know exactly why. Immovable lumps are not necessarily malignant. They can often be removed quite easily. Get a consult from a physician.