Random Lumps?

[lauralou155]

2 years ago I saw a doctor about two abnormal lumps in my neck. Both lumps are on the left side, one is more on my shoulder. The doctor didn't think anything of it so neither did I, though I did notice the lumps change in size sometimes. I also developed a lump in my right arm, just above my elbow and thought nothing of it. 2 days ago I woke up with a large lump in my groin that is much bigger than the other ones I have so I went and saw the doctor yesterday. She took blood and did an x ray, and now I am online looking at all of the horrible things that could be happening to me.
If this is a serious condition shouldn't I have other serious symptoms? I've been reading online about possible symptoms including fatigue and weightloss and I'm not sure if I've had any of them. I'm 22 and in a very important semester of college so fatigue and weightloss are pretty much normal to me. My question is if I should be worried or not. As of right now I'm terrified and I'd really appreciate a medical opinion. My doctors office is extremely busy and I don't know when they're going to get back to me. Any advice would be really helpful. Thanks

[fury6]

what i think and have heard is that since the lymph nodes is one big chain they are all connected so if one is benign they all usually are benign.  They arent going to biopsy each lymph node that test the largest one.  In my situation i have 4 enlarged nodes on my ct scan and they biopsied the largest one and it was benign.  I didnt have the node taken out like u did i had a FNA aspiration guided by ultrasound and a core needle and it was run through something called flow cytometry.  I know how worrisome this is i think about it everyday but if you had it biopsied it is fine.  some people can feel their lymph ndoes and thats a normal thing.  I will always be able to feel mine and its something i am just going to have to live with as long as they dont grow.

[lauralou155]

i was just reading some of your posts about your lymph node issues and I feel i have the smae concern as you. I had a lymph node biopsied from my groin only a week after it swole up, when the nodes in my neck and arm have been there for a long time.

Can swollen lymph nodes in my neck and arm be unrelated to a reactive node in my groin? One doctor said the nodes could be swollen because I have bad skin...

[lauralou155]

2 years ago i found the one small node on my neck about 3 inches below my left ear and a larger node on the left side where my neck meets my shoulder, about 2 inches below the highest part of my shoulder. 5 days ago i found two small nodes in the same area on the right side.

Since the biopsy was negative for anything significant the doctors don't seem too concerned, but the pain from surgery is still pretty intense. the incision doesnt hurt very much, but for at least 5 inches in every direction around it hurts to the touch, all the way to the top of my hip and down into my thigh. the surgeon said to monitor the pain and see if it changes and it hasn't. he suggested i might have to see a neurologist or pain management, which wasn't comforting.

[fury6]

I know its normal to feel certain lymph nodes. I wouldn't worry but im the same way. Where on your neck can u feel your nodes?

[lauralou155]

i never had a CT scan. The only things i had done were a blood test and a biopsy. And now it seems the biopsy was for nothing, i just had a simple infection that cleared on its own. I'm frustrated because the results from the biopsy showed a simple staff infection of the skin that required no treatment, and i'm frustrated because of of how long this is taking to heal and how much pain i'm in.
The doctors prescribed me a general antibiotic to see if the swelling in my neck goes down and told me monitor them.

[fury6]

I'm so glad your biopsy came up benign for cancer. All lymph nodes are basically conected the doctors aren't going to biopsy every single enlarged node. In fact my ct scan showed 4 enlarged nodes and they only biopsied 1. My doctors as well as the American cancer society has explained to me usually if the largest is benign the rest are and same goes for u. What did your ct show? Just because your neck nodes are palpable doesnt mean they are enlarged what did your ct scan say exactly

[lauralou155]

my biopsy results came back today and they doctor said the cultures showed i had a skin staff infection. i have to take antibiotics.
but i don't understand. i've had lumps in my neck and arm for years then one pops up in my groin and they biopsy that one, and it shows a staff infection. could the lumps in my groin and my neck be unrelated? or have i had this infection for years and not known? i'm really confused.

[lauralou155]

i had the biopsy today. they cut me open about 2 inches and took 3 or 4 nodes out of my groin that were swollen. they didn't touch any nodes in my arm or neck, and i'll be waiting the next 5 to 7 days for pathology to let me know whats going on.

I cannot thank you all for your care and concern. It means the world to me to have people that will listen to morbid questions and give me honest answers. I'll be posting more updates when I speak with pathology. Thank you everybody, so much.

[fury6]

Did you get an excisional biopsy done or core needle? Let me know how it turns out but dont worry some people just have permanently enlarged nodes.

[Dennis MD]

Hi.
I understand what you are going through.
Perhaps you may want to undergo blood tests and other ancillary procedures while waiting for your biopsy schedule.  You can have a complete blood count to see if an infection is a probable cause.  A gynecologic consult can also be done to check whether a genitourinary tract problem can be causing the groin lump you mentioned.  A chest x-ray can be done to see if there is a lung problem that caused the lump in your neck.  
Good luck on your biopsy.
Please do post your updates.  

[lauralou155]

--Heres an update--
I've been to an internal medicine doctor who seemed concerned and she sent me directly to a surgeon to talk about a biopsy. I went to the surgeon this morning and he didn't seem very concerned at all and scheduled me for a biopsy on Friday, but only because I started sobbing. The lump on the right groin is smaller now, like a grape, and the internal medicine doctor found a smaller node on the left side that I didn't feel before.
I feel really stupid because I was under the impression that the biopsy would be done today and I spent the whole weekend worrying and now I have 4 more days to wait. I'm doing everything I can to keep my mind off this stuff, and i'm starting by not checking this board until after the procedure!!

[Dennis MD]

Hi.
How are you doing?
The lumps on your neck and groin could be enlarged lymph nodes.  Those areas have a large number of lymph nodes.  Infection is a common cause or lymph node enlargement.  A chronic and recurrent infection can cause progressive enlargement of lymph nodes.  You should have further tests done like a complete blood count.  However, there are other conditions that can present with enlargement of lymph nodes.  Lymphoma is an example.  Biopsy can help in the diagnosis.
Relax and take care.  

[fury6]

I'm 23 and going through the same thing. Check out my posts if ur interested in my story. If u wanna chat about it more message me