Scared, nervous, and confused...

dmiller21892 · New User Joined: 21 Dec 2007 Posts: 8

Hi, I'm a 15 year old male, and I just don't know what to do. I noticed about a year ago a very small lump in my neck (about a half-inch in diameter), and I haven't done anything about it since. I hadn't developed any symptoms in addition to this, until I read online about lymphoma, and that it can sometimes affect your nervous system and cause tingles. At this point, I began feeling small tingles at random times all during the day. I can't tell if I'm tricking myself into believing I have this disease, or if I actually have it, but I'm too scared to tell my parents about it. Since the lump is so small, I don't actually know if it's the right size, or if it is too big. I also don't know if I'm just suffering from the pain-in-the-ass teenage angst.

Right now I really just need some advice. I haven't seen a doctor about it yet, but I don't know if I even need to do that. If there's anymore information you need, please let me know.

Thank you very, very much,
dmiller21892

dmiller21892 · New User Joined: 21 Dec 2007 Posts: 8

I'm reading these other posts, and it seems that all the other people have around 3" masses, while mine is so much smaller... This makes me worry less, since I've had it for so long and it hasn't changed sizes. Should I still be worrying at all?

dmiller21892 · New User Joined: 21 Dec 2007 Posts: 8

NEW UPDATE:

I read that if the lump is small and freely moving it is a cyst, and is nothing to worry about. I played with mine for a little while and realized it isn't attached to any of my internal organs, it's just floating in the skin, where it has been for about a year. I am no longer worrying about it, but please, if i should still get it checked out, tell me.

brainman

Hi dmiller, I am sorry about your health concern. I do not think you should worry but you should still have it checked by a doctor. Have you told your parents about this lump?

Best wishes.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

dmiller21892 · New User Joined: 21 Dec 2007 Posts: 8

I haven't told them about it yet; should I?

brainman

Yes, unless there is some overriding reason not to, you should always tell your parents when you have a health concern. By "overriding reason" I mean things like abusive or negligent parents.
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

dmiller21892 · New User Joined: 21 Dec 2007 Posts: 8

Oh, another new update. I just remembered about 3 months ago I went to the doctor to see if I had strep throat (it turned out I just had a cold; this bit is probably unnecessary), and the doctor felt my neck, my armpit, my abdomen, and (unfortunately) my groin, and none of my lymph nodes were swollen; and this was at a point where I had the lump.

brainman

I am glad you updated your story. I do not know how common it is for people to develop swollen lymph nodes so long after a cold. I would still go to a doctor and have it checked. I do not know if you will get any replies on the forum for the next couple of days from someone who knows more about lymphomas but hang in there.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR
_________________
Jim
Site Administrator and long-term cancer survivor
1992 Astrocytoma grade 2, left motor strip
2005 Recurrence this time said to be an Oligodendoglioma grade 3, same location.
My Story Part 1: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?p=7350
My Story Part 2: http://cancerforums.net/viewtopic.php?t=8029
Blog http://jimhawkinsport.blogspot.com/

umbleweed · Regular Joined: 22 Nov 2007 Posts: 25

I dont mean to frighten you but thats exactly how my "lumps" started out, same age 15-16 and i didnt bother to do anything about it until i started getting sick 8 months or so ago, And this has pretty much being the worst 8 months of my life, I have not being diagnosed with lymphoma but i have most of the classic signs of it, and most of my blood levels are now on the verge of abnormal from only a space of 3 months, i am also mildly netropenic. The past 8 months my life has crashed before my eyes. Regardless if whats going on with me the moral of the story is that you should always address your health concerns promptly. i regrett everyday now for ignoring them "lumps" when i should of clearly visited the doctor 5 years ago.

Tell your parents/gaurdians - and book a doctors appointment. Nobody on here can give you any better advice than that.

Best of luck
Umbleweed

dmiller21892 · New User Joined: 21 Dec 2007 Posts: 8

My lymph nodes aren't swollen. Isn't that a requirement to have something like lymphoma?

dmiller21892 · New User Joined: 21 Dec 2007 Posts: 8

In a nutshell, here are my current symptoms:
- Small (.5 in) lump in neck, which is easily movable (it's fun to roll around in my neck) and isn't that hard, but it isn't soft
- NO SWOLLEN LYMPH NODES
- NO NIGHT SWEATS
- NO FATIGUE (I know this because I am an active soccer player who plays 2 varsity sports at school, and club soccer during the off-season)

In other words, I'm just totally fine except for the small lump, WHICH I'VE HAD FOR ABOUT A YEAR (a little more)

umbleweed · Regular Joined: 22 Nov 2007 Posts: 25

What you are describing sounds like a lymph node they are small bean shaped glands found throughout the entire body and most palpable in the neck, armpits, and groin, If anything the fact that it is movable and not attached to surrounding tissue is a good sign, lymph nodes which are hard, fixed to underlying tissue or matted together are generally a sign of malignancy, and lymph nodes which are firm and have a rubbery concistancy can be a sign of lymphoma. Lymph nodes within 1cm ranges are concidered normal, Mabye it isnt a lymph node... But you need to visit a doctor to find this out.

"B" Symptoms (night sweats, fevers, weight loss) are generally a progression of the disease, Not everyone gets these symptoms. There are people who are diagnosed with adolent lymphomas who are symptom free and on watch and wait programs for years before any treatment is needed.

You are obviously concerned about this particular disease otherwise you wouldnt be hanging around asking questions related to it, The only advice i can give you is visit a doctor because nobody on here can tell you what you do or dont have over the internet.

Corvette · Regular Joined: 13 Nov 2007 Posts: 29 Location: North GA

It seems odd to me me that you reluctant to tell your parents. A quick diagnosis and treatment is imperative if it is cancer. You must tell your parents.
_________________
Wayne
Male 56 years old
NHL Folicular Large Cell
Two years of Chemo followed by a SCT
Cancer free for almost two and a half years!

face10101010145 · New User Joined: 07 Jan 2008 Posts: 4

It can't hurt to get an appointment with a doctor. I'm guessing it would be a huge relief to hear that you don't have lymphoma, and if you do it's better to catch it early.

	Cancer Forums Forum Index -> Lymphoma - Hodgkin's and Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Forum	All times are GMT - 5 Hours
Page 1 of 1

A website for discussions about any type of cancer, including lung cancer, breast cancer, mesothelioma, prostate cancer, laryngeal cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma and others