when it comes to lymph nodes, how big is bad?

susie76 · New User Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Posts: 1

Does an enlarged lymph node have to be very big to be a bad sign? For the last few months i have been very fatigued, and the last couple of weeks have sometimes had chest pain an felt short of breath. Also for at least two months (that's when i noticed them), i have had a swollen lymph node under my jaw,on the left, which is still small (about the size of a kidney bean), but the corresponding one on the other size, which is normal is only pea sized. I also hav a bean sized one on the back of my neck, by my hairline, on the right side but not on the left. I have not had any infection that can account for any of this and tests for glandular fever (mono) came back negative, and my blood count was ok. The doc said it was stress, which it isn't, then said chronic fatigue syndrome, but i'm not convinced. Are these large enough to worry about, or am i being a drama queen? Any advice would be good.

dawn39

hello susie, if you are feeling worried which is quite normal in the circunstances go back to your doctor and ask to be seen by a haemotologist if nothing else just to put your mind at rest, i may be wrong but what i have been told by the lymphoma association is that it basically didnt matter what size the gland was, i dont think glands come up through stress i cant see how that can work, but i may be wrong, perhaps he meant that the chest pains and fatigue can be a result of stress, i hope so because i am feeling extremely fatigues and have been for months and like you was told by my doctor that my gland was nothing to worry about, but i insisted on going to see haemotologist who i have seen who referred me to a surgeon who has booked me in for a biopsy tomorrow. so i am glad that i didnt listen to my doctor. my gland is bigger than a kidney bean but cant think of anything of a similar size to compare it to at the moment! i have another one on other side of neck that is about the size of a bean both ben there for at least a year maybe longer. dont let your doctor fob you off go back in there and say that this has you very worried and you need to be reffered to a specialist. its probably nothing, and i hope that mine is as well but the worry alone can make you feel extremely unwell. good luck dawn
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i have been ill for two years now and am awaiting a biopsy on an enlarged node. i have been told by many doctors that there is nothing wrong and it is all in my head, so now even my family believe this i feel hopeless and very scared/

DougW16

Hey suzie, Dawn is right. It may not be cancer but something is causing your symptoms and a good doctor will find out what. If he or she are just going to assume a diagnosis without facts, its time for a new doctor.
Your lymph nodes are doing their job and we need to find out why. Good luck to you and keep us posted, Doug.

tanidp · New User Joined: 28 Nov 2005 Posts: 1

Hi Dawn

Just wondering what your biopsy results were? I'm in the same predicament you were: nodes enlarge for 6 mos.-drs say it's nothing.

thanks
Tani

dawn39

hi tani, my biopsy results came back clear, thank god, no explanation as to why so many nodes are enlarged or why the big one was so big !
am seeing the surgeon in january just a routine follow up appt, i will be asking hime why some peoples glands get big and stay that way, because im curious!!
im still feeling really sick daily and still have no answer as to what the cause is.
forgive me i just read your last post asking what my biopsy results where but dont quite no what your situation is. have you had any blood tests or xrays/scans, as i do know that blood tests do come back clear even if there is a sinister reason for the glands being up.
the only sure way of knowing is a biopsy, for definate.
hoping your turns out like mine.
keep me informed and best of luck
love dawn xxx
_________________
i have been ill for two years now and am awaiting a biopsy on an enlarged node. i have been told by many doctors that there is nothing wrong and it is all in my head, so now even my family believe this i feel hopeless and very scared/

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