Hi,
I'm a 24 yo, normally healthy male, non smoker, not a big drinker. Over five weeks ago, I came down with what I think was (and what was diagnosed as) tonsillitis. I was given antibiotics. Had usual symptoms of very sore throat, white covered tonsils, fatigue, mild fever/chills for a day or two. The whiteness of the tonsils subsided soon into the antibiotics, but about five days into antib's, my throat started to go sore again on one side, and I noticed a lump in my neck, underneath and behind my ear/above the angle of my jaw.. I think this is the paratid gland??
The lump seemed to grow a little over a couple of days, but has now been the same size (I think) for a couple of weeks. It feels quite hard, doesn't really move, it isn't really visible to others but I can feel it (it might be around the same size as the last joint on an index finger, i.e the one with the finger nail on it) . My neck has also been feeling swollen and very painful/tight on the same side, like the muscle of the neck is swollen almost.
At the weekend, I noticed the area just above my collarbone on the same side now feels a bit swollen too, and the node in it feels more prominent than the other side. I've still been getting a sore throat on and off since the tonsillitis, which only just seems to be easing now, but still flares up sometimes. Occasionally I get stomach pain, but not all the time, and it is more a quick sharp pain than a prolonged one.
I've been to the docs a couple of times, they said the inside of my throat looks fine, doc felt my neck, round my collarbone, stomach, groin etc last thursday and said she couldn't find any major cause for concern, that it was probably a virus working it's way out of my system. I'm waiting on CBC and monospot blood test results this week.
Does anyone think any of this could be a sign of lymphoma or some other cancer? Is it normal or possible for something like that to start with (or start by looking like) tonsillitis? And does anyone think it could be glandular fever (mono) still in my system (do these symptoms match mono after 5 weeks or should it be going if it's that)? I really hope it's glandular fever (mono) but it's been over five weeks now and my neck ache and swollen node don't seem to be going away, and with this new one round my collarbone I'm starting to convince myself I've got lymphoma. I'm really worried, I can't sleep, and keep having panic attacks. If it was lymphoma would it be much more prominent swelling than this? I've felt a bit tired over the five weeks, but apart from the tonsillitis stage I've not had any other symptoms.. no nightsweats, weight loss etc.
Any advice would be appreciated, anyone, please just tell me something. I feel like I'm on the verge of a breakdown. Should I wait for the blood test results to rule out mono before getting so concerned?