Lymphoma, an infection, or something else?
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11 posts since
12 Jun 2019
Hey, this is my first post on here but I’ve read every single story that might be similar to mine and felt like I should just post my own to get direct advice from the people on here who seem so reassuring and lovely.
So around 3 months ago in March I was on placement in a primary school and during a lesson I felt my neck and found a random lump on the left side of my neck close to my collarbone. At first I felt like it would be nothing and there would be no need to overreact but thought it was a little weird so told my boyfriend who encouraged me to have it looked at at my local GP. I am 20 years old and going to the GP is something I hardly do, I just wait for my illnesses to pass or try to ignore it instead. I ended up booking an emergency appointment the following day and when I went in I was in and out of the appointment within 5 minutes as my doctor felt the lump and told me he wasn’t worried and it would be a gland that went in a few weeks time. His reaction being so calming made me feel calm about the lump and I completely forgot about it.
Fast forward a month and a half to the end of April and I move back to university where I live in student accommodation. I was chatting with my housemate and mentioned the random lump and he suggested I go back to the doctors where my university is and have it relooked at as it is weird for the lump to stay for so long. So I did, and the doctor there said it looked unusual and referred me to the ‘suspect cancer clinic’ where biopsies are carried out. She also urged me to have my bloods taken the following day which I did, and they came back fine except they showed inflammation in the body (the lump). So I went to the cancer clinic and had a camera down my nose and a biopsy done (5 needles in my neck to take samples of the tissue) and was told to return in two weeks for the results. The two weeks went really well, I forgot about the lump and focused on finishing up university and it went by really quickly, I was okay because I knew I’d find out on the day I went back so I wasn’t fussed.
So I go back to the hospital after two weeks expecting to be told there and then what the results were – but I wasn’t. My doctor explained that they were still waiting for the results but told me they were having them looked at by lymphoma specialists. He said that is what they are testing for but that doesn’t mean it is definitely lymphoma, it could be an infection or anything else. This is when I began to feel a bit stressed and worried because I expected to be told and for everything to be over with by then. I was told to get more blood tests done on that day as the previous ones had shown inflammation and was also told that my doctor wanted me to have a CT scan done just incase the outcome was the worst case scenario then the scan would already have been done.
So I had the scan done in the following through days and shortly after my doctors associate nurse rang me to ask how I was. She is very friendly and explained to me that the reason the biopsy is taking so long is because the results did actually come back and they showed abnormal/suspicious cells in my neck but that these can be caused by anything from lymphnodes swelling due to illness all the way to disorders such as lymphoma. Since then I have rang up to see if my results are in to which I’ve been told they’re not, and my next appointment is Monday where the nurse said I will definitely get my results.
It is just a strange situation now as I’ve almost been waiting a month and am not sure what the outcome would be, I think the waiting is the worst part and just want to know what is going on.
Has anyone had a similar experience or could anyone offer any guidance? Swollen lymphnodes from illness could be possible as I was ill January time until around Feb but I just want to know now so I can deal with whatever is going on.
Hope to hear from someone soon x 
… sorry for the essay!
PS. Please reply if you’ve ever had suspicious cells show in a biopsy before…would be nice to chat
6 posts since
12 Jun 2019
Hi sparksfly
dont panic too much because there’s a lot of possible reasons for swollen lymph nodes. I was once on your shoe. Actually I just got my final diagnosis today and I am very glad its not C. Ive been through a hell this past two months since my cervical node pop up. I thought at first week that im only having mumps coz of severe pain on my left jaw. Then after two weeks abscess accumulated on my mandibular area but the pain already gone. I went to my gp and he told me its probably a lymph node. I was so scared coz Ive done lot of research of neck swelling and all i read was lymphoma, leukemia and all the worst. My gp referred me for FNAB to look for infection and malignancy. Ive waited for 8 long days for the result and thanks God no malignancy and no bacterial growth were found. I thought everything was fine since my abscess didnt fill up fluid but my gp referred me for an ultrasound. He said “we need to further investigate ” coz he’s theory is somewhat called branchial cleft cyst which is a congenital anomaly and i need to undergo surgery to remove it coz it will just recur everytime it will get infected. So the ultrasound says “infected branchial cyst”. Then I went to ENT surgeon to ask for a second opinion. He also told me that I need to undrgo surgery like what my first doctor told me. To make the long story short, I got operated and still clinical diagnosis is branchial cleft cyst, excision biopsy came, ended up with lymph node tuberculous. I need to undergo 6months medication to clear the virus. I had no cough, fever, my xray result was normal and yet I have tb. But hey im really thankful to God that its only an infection. So just think positive and pray always
11 posts since
12 Jun 2019
Hey Lana
Thank you so much for your reply!
Wow you did go through a long process too… I am so glad that it turned out to be only an infection and one that is curable. I wish you the best process with treatment and have every hope you will make a full recovery!
It is weird because at the moment obviously it’s scary but I feel quite calm and as though I will just have to wait until Monday to know anything so there isn’t much point in being scared … it’s just the waiting. The waiting is painful and such a looong process! I’m glad that yours didn’t turn out to be C, I’m happy for you.
Xx
6 posts since
12 Jun 2019
Hi sparksfly
I relly hate waiting too… 
Especially overthinking has been my favorite hobby eversince. XD I diagnosed myself with every form of diseases and its really a relief knowing my final diagnosis (๑-﹏-๑)
Goodluck on your biopsy result I am hoping that its only a simple infection (⌒o⌒)
God bless you…
58 posts since
17 May 2019
Hey,
Just wanted to pop by and say you are not alone, i am waiting for blood and CT scan results on the 24th of june, the waiting is pure hell. I’ve reaserched everything from blood cancer/ lymphoma to lupus im hoping for an infection rather than the big C. I’ve not had any biopsies at this point as i didn’t have any raised lymph nodes just odd blood results and symptoms.
Take care and i hope things go well for you all
128 posts since
12 Jun 2019
Hi Sparksfly – I have just noticed your post and wondered how you got on as your syptoms are very similar to mine? Where are you at with everything? I hope it all turns out to be positive for you. Here is my own post from yesterday. Heddy Bell
I noticed a large lump – not sore – on my neck about a month ago. I went to the GP immediately. She gave me a course of antibiotics which made no difference. Then she sent me for a scan yesterday. This morning my GP rang to ask me to come in to discuss the results. I was told there was ’cause for concern’. Meantime, I have an appt at the ENT in 4 days time for an examination plus a biopsy. I cannot help fearing the worst and am so anxious.
11 posts since
12 Jun 2019
Hey Sammy
I really hope your results come back clear for you! I know you’d have had them by now, and thankfully your waiting will be over (its horrendous!).
Hope everything went well
Xx
11 posts since
12 Jun 2019
Hey Heddy
I’m still no closer to finding out what is going on! I went back in last Monday and was told that I would have some of the lymph node surgically removed on Tuesday (yesterday) so have been recovering from that surgery today. The first biopsy was inconclusive so hopefully with more of the node they can give me a specific diagnosis – I’m set to find out Tuesday next week.
Docs are saying most likely lymphoma for me at this point as my CT scan showed a 7.5cm mass in my chest too. To be honest I just want answers so I can begin any required treatments!
Please try not to be anxious – I know its super hard but if you focus on other things the days seem to go quicker.
Please keep me updated
Xx
128 posts since
12 Jun 2019
Good Morning Sparksfly – thank you for your message. I am so sorry you are no closer into finding out what’s going on with you. It is such a pity that the first biopsy came back inconclusive & you had to go through that again. I hope this time it comes back with a definite answer for you one way or another. I too am waiting ‘a week to 10 days’ for my results. Well – we seem to be doing things simultaneously. I too was at the hospital yesterday getting yet another scan along with my first biopsy. After being told at the ENT department last week that it is most probably a blocked saliva gland causing the lump on my neck, I was told yesterday that there is a 50/50 chance of it being cancer. I agree with you in trying to keep busy as it helps. Thinking of you xxx
58 posts since
17 May 2019
Hey, sorry to hear that you both have yet more waiting.
When i saw the haematologist it seemed a bit rushed tbh and she was saying well your bloods are normal so she doesn’t think its cancer but she wasn’t really bothered about the symptoms i am getting which was frustrating tbh. So im looking down the lupus route as she said no biopseis were needed.
I know i should be relieved but at the same time i still feel like rubbish. Hope you are both doing ok xx
128 posts since
12 Jun 2019
Hi Sammy – thanks for your message. I can relate to all you are saying. Blood tests taken on three separate occasions, at my GP’s were ‘low white blood cells. When I told the hospital this on two separate occasions they said that this was highly unlikely to be linked to the lump in my neck. So I am none the wiser as to why my white blood cells are low. I guess until we get a result 100% we will always get an ambiguous answer. So many on here understand so well … the waiting. Oh, the waiting … . x
11 posts since
12 Jun 2019
Hi Heddy
Are you still waiting for your results?
Thank you for your reply, I have had the surgery now on the second lymphnode and that too has come back inconclusive. This is incredibly frustrating because I was told they were 99% sure it was lymphoma and so stopped working at my job and obviously university is over so I’ve just been waiting…for it to be inconclusive! It’s good that you’ve had another scan, I’ve only had one! They haven’t scanned me in a month so who knows what else is happening? The first CT scan showed a 7.5cm mass in my chest!
I have my fingers crossed that yours does infact turn out to be a saliva gland, as that seems much more easy to deal with. I hope you’re well, hope to hear from you soon.
Xx
11 posts since
12 Jun 2019
Hey Sammy
Unfortunately I have even more waiting now – after the nurse rang today and said the surgical biopsy came back inconclusive! I agree its very frustrating when you feel as though nobody is listening to the concerns you have about your own body. I’m in the same boat at the minute. I’m really glad that it isn’t cancer, I hope lupus is very treatable and you’ll be feeling normal soon!
Xx
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