swollen lymph nodes in neck
Posted , 2 users are following.
Hi all
i've had a firm swollen lymph node for some time under my chin and in the last 3 month have felt really ill and noticed other nodes popping up all over my neck that go down during the day leaving the two large ones at either side of the jaw bone inflammed which is pretty much constant.
The doctor really doesnt know what to do next and seems to look to me for suggestions which i have made (but are dismissed)I.E, biopsyct or mri......i"ve had the usual ultra sound which showed inflammed node and bloods were "satifactory". no obvious signs of infection.
just wondered if anyone else had any similar experience or advice?
0 likes, 6 replies
JoyKF53 ra66772
Posted
Hi. If your doctor doesn't know what to do next it's time he referred you to someone who does. You need to get a biopsy done as soon as possible. Cancer can not be diagnosed with a blood test, all my blood tests were "normal" before diagnosis, during treatment and post treatment. An ultrasound will show which nodes are inflamed but not why.
ra66772 JoyKF53
Posted
Hi joy
He referred me to start with to a useless ent consultant who didn't even examine me apart from a quick feel of the neck?
So I'm going to go back again and see if I can get another ent.. unfortunately the sad and shocking reality that's clear to me now is that unless your symptoms are painfully obvious you get nowhere with the NHS
JoyKF53 ra66772
Posted
I'm so sorry you feel like that, I have had wonderful treatment from the NHS. I found a small pea sized rubbery lump behind my left ear. My G.P. immediately referred me to hospital, biopsy done, lymphoma diagnosed at stage 1a, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, CT scans, MRI scans, PET scans, treatment finished nearly 19 months ago. Be assertive, don't take no for an answer and if you find you're getting nowhere contact PALS online, they will help you.
ra66772 JoyKF53
Posted
Thanks for the advice... it sounds like your gp was well on the ball.
I've had countless appointments just to get the basics but that been said the gp did refer on first appointment.
It was the utterly negligent NHS ent consultant I got referred to who couldn't even feel it, ask a couple of questions then sent me away but previously I'd paid private to see a ent who found it straight away and agreed with the gp... thus meaning as I get worse day by day I now have to first get an appointment to see the gp and convince them to refer back which because of the first cock up will take months to get an appointment as it can't be a two week one as I've had that.
all the bad things I've heard encountered and seen on forums its sounds like you had a positive experience from the NHS which is nice to hear when I'd all but given up hope.
Also I'm glad your on the mend it must of been a big shock.
JoyKF53 ra66772
Posted
Yes, it was a shock and after treatment was finished I went for a routine CT scan and they found a meningioma ( tumour on the covering of the brain). That really knocked me for six. But they are very rarely cancerous so that's something positive, and if I hadn't have had the cancer it may not have been found til it was too late to do anything about it. I think if I was in your position I would take myself to A&E at my nearest hospital and get seen by a doctor there. But I think you will find that despite the fact that you've had one "2 week appt" if cancer is suspected, especially as the ent doctor was useless, you will again be eligible for a fast track appt. And don't forget, you can always contact PALS (patient advice and liaison services). Keep in touch, I'm happy to help.
ra66772 JoyKF53
Posted
Thank you, I'll post up how I get on later in the week.