concerned teenager !!!! please help

[sallycinnamon4]

i’m sorry if i cause any disrespect in this post but i am a 16 year old girl with severe health anxiety and a few things have been causing me worry. i have an enlarged lymph node on the right side of my neck and have done since january. it is around 3cm x 2cm in size i would say, easily moveable doesn’t feel attached to anything and is not soft but not particularly firm. sometimes it feels quite firm and then it’ll feel like chicken meat. sometimes it is quite close to my neck so when u touch it u can feel it and then it usually sinks further in my neck throughout the day. i’ve also noticed this happens quite a lot if i drink lots of water. it’s been closer to make recently but i think this is because i have a minor cold. i saw a doctor ab this in january and feb n she didn’t seem concerned ab it in the slightest. she ordered blood tests and they all came back fine but she hasn’t asked for follow up. i’m confused bc i’m pretty sure lymphoma doesn’t show up in blood tests? well anyways i was inspecting my stomach bc sometimes i get this weird feeling of a bubble in the crease of my groin and my lower abdomen and i thoight it was from this problem i had from a rib. anyways i found what feels like a string of lumps in the left hand side of my tummy. they feel like little marbles, smooth and round there’s like two that feel pretty hard like a marble and the rest feel firm ish. my mum and my boyfriend are not concerned by this and have said it’s more than likely just muscle tissue, my boyfriend tried to make me feel his tummy cos he could feel it in his but i couldn’t feel the same thing as what i was describing. are these lymph nodes? i’m very slim so if they are is that why i can feel them? t also concerns me bc i don’t have it on the other side. i’m just really worried that if this is something bad it’s spread very far and i have no chance at all i have a severe fear of death and this is making me feel so so so depressed and anxious, i can’t concentrate on anything, i cry all the time and i feel so lonely. i don’t have ANY symptoms of lymphoma (well other than the lymph node in my neck and what i think are lymph nodes in my tummy) no night sweats, no itching, no nausea, no fatigue, no weight loss, no fever even low grade ones, no tummy pain i do get this sometimes but it’s not a constant thing and i’ve always put it done to pain and anxiety same with chest pains as they never stay and they don’t come often. i do get chills ( i heard this was a symptom) but only particularly if i’ve been somewhere cold and i’ve found it hard to warm up and i’ve always had this since i was little. surely this must all be good things ? i have no history of cancer in my family whatsoever. i’m just so worried bc i love life and i have an amazing boyfriend, family and best friend who i couldn’t bare leaving please help, i’m going to go the doctors concerning anxiety but i am going to bring this up to. i’m so worried 😞 also just a note i have very very bad periods and i wondered if the tummy lumps could be to do with that? cysts? fibroids?

[Russ70]

First if all try not to panic too much. It is best to get a seconf opinion about it. Maybe see someone that specializes in the lymphatic regions. I have larger nodes in my neck and groin. I have follicular NHL, but i have no other symptoms so i am on watch and wait for over a year. Many people live healthy lives with this, so i would suggest getting it checked out anyway just to be safe. It may be nothing. Regarding the blood tests. Usuall a symptom is affected white blood cells, so if your blood is fine that is good news.

[sallycinnamon4 in reply to Russ70]

thank you so much for taking the time to reply. i will see if i can see someone who specialises in that but if not i’ll just have to see my gp. what size are your nodes? are they easily moveable or do they feel stuck in place? i thoight that the blood tests being clear was pretty good so i’ll keep that in mind, thanks so much for your advice !!!

[Russ70 in reply to sallycinnamon4]

My nodes change in size. That is normal apparently. Nodes get swollen during and after illnesses like the cold all the time. Definitely get it checked out for your own peace of mind. If it does turn out to be something it can be treated quite successfully when needed. Some of us have not got any of the B symptoms yet and don't need any treatment. Could be decades before any of us need any. The longer people don't need treatment the better treatment becomes.

[sallycinnamon4 in reply to Russ70]

ahhh right i see i see. is an indolent lymphoma common in younger people ? i thoight that grew more common as you got older. im confused as if it was something serious i would have expected symptoms by now but i haven’t had any other than the lumps obviously. surely this must be a good thing ? thanks once again ☺️

[Russ70 in reply to sallycinnamon4]

It's usually more common in older people, but that's not to say it can't. Get it checked out just to make sure and you are allowed to get a second opinion if you are not sure. Sometimes you will not see any other symptoms and yes that is a good sign (if it is lymphoma). Once you get it checked out you will know for sure.

[sallycinnamon4 in reply to Russ70]

thanks so much for your advice ☺️

[Shar0n Volunteer]

Definitely make an appointment to see the GP - not because there's anything serious going on - but just to investigate a bit further and put your mind at rest. If what you feel is a raised lymph node in your neck it could be for a variety of non serious reasons. The GP is trained to examine your abdomen and notice anything suspicious so have a bit of trust in him/her judgement.

I won't say stop worrying because that is not useful to you at the moment but try to entertain two ideas in your mind - (a) you might have an illness that needs investigation and/or - (b) there might be an innocent explanation for the symptoms. If ( b) turns out to be the case, then you can ask your GP for help with the health anxiety - which can really spoil your enjoyment of living. If (a) turned out to be true, there's every chance that treatment would be successful.

[sallycinnamon4 in reply to Shar0n]

thank you so much for your kind words. i want to go to the doctors but my parents don’t think there is anything wrong with me and my anxiety is too bad to make an appointment myself. sometimes i can’t feel the lumps in my tummy as though they have disappeared and i can only feel smaller muscle tissue lumps and bumps. surely this must be good? thank you for your reply

[wmay13241]

Listed below are common lymphoma symptoms. They vary by type and locations of the tumors. {lease keep a daily log of your symptoms to share with your doctor.

•Painless and persistent (1-2 months) lump(s) in the neck, armpit or groin

•Drenching (change the sheets)night sweats

•Unexplained persistent fever

•Unexplained weight loss

•Red skin patches

•Chronic fatigue

•Low blood cell counts

[sallycinnamon4 in reply to wmay13241]

i don’t gVe any of those symptoms apart from the lump in my neck and ones in my tummy. i must mention sometimes i cannot feel the ones in my tummy at all and can only feel what i think is muscle tissue ? this must be a good thing ? thanks for you reply

[Felix_2010]

Please try not to panic. Lymphoma (if you have it) is treatable and not always a death sentence.

I have marginal zone Nodal lymphoma and my symptoms are similar to yours. Mine doesn't show in blood tests. If you have a parent or another adult who can support you to go to the GP I suggest you ask for a biopsy of one of the lumps. This was the only way I was diagnosed. The biopsy was not painful and the scar faded quickly. I can't emphasise enough that being active and eating a healthy diet will help you to deal with it. Good luck x

[sallycinnamon4 in reply to Felix_2010]

thank you so much for your kind words. did you have classic symptoms of lymphoma or just lumps and did you have any in your tummy? it’s the weird abdominal lumps that are scaring me the most. thanks again ☺️

[Felix_2010 in reply to sallycinnamon4]

Hi again. I really don't want you to be scared about this. Even if you do have Lymphoma, you'll be ok. Like all health issues the sooner you see someone the better ☺️

I had a lump on my tummy, they removed this because it was a bit painful and getting bigger. They tested it, and that's when I was diagnosed. Up to this point though I had been feeling unwell, like I had flu all the time, and had night sweats sometimes. I also felt tired and a bit 'foggy' headed.

The Lymphoma I have is indolent which means it can't be totally cured by chemo. So I still have lumps (on my side, on my thighs) and sometimes I feel rubbish. I had a course of chemo which really helped, but I might need some more in the future.

I hope you have someone you can talk to about this.xx

[sallycinnamon4 in reply to Felix_2010]

aww right i see i see, i’m sorry to hear about your diagnosis but glad to hear that you seem to be doing well at the moment ☺️ i have a little bit of a cold right now (just sneezing a bit, a small cough and some phlegm in the back of my throat) but i haven’t felt full with the flu or tired, no night sweats or anything like that. the lumps in my tummy are kinda weird cos sometimes i can feel them and at other times i can’t. you cannot see them through my tummy at all, even when i suck it in as far as i can they’re still not visible only palpable. they definitely have not grown and they’re not painful, sometimes the lumps/the area around them feels tender but this is bc of how much i am prodding around with my fingers. i’m not sure if i am able to feel them as i am very slim, i thoight it might just be a normal part of my anatomy like my colon or lymph nodes or as i have very bad periods i thoight it might be fibroids. the thing that bothers me is the weird bubbling/ pressure type feeling. it’s that that reminds me the lumps are there. does any of this sound concerning to you? i’ve tried to talk to my mum and boyfriend about this but both of them think it’s normal and nothing to worry about. my mum said if she had any instinct that something was wrong she would take me to the doctors but she thinks i’m fine and that it’s just a normal part of my anatomy and due to how slim i am (i am not underweight). i just feel a bit lonely bc of my anxiety i assume that every tiny thing is something bad and even though both my boyfriend and mum think i’m fine i just feel like nobody is listening to me even though they’ve reassured me a lot. thanks for taking ur time to read this and i’m sorry for rambling ☺️xx

[Felix_2010]

I understand completely. I understand your Mum might think that it's nothing, my GP told me that I had cysts. The best advice I can give is to trust your instincts. If you're really worried, have a talk with your Mum. It might be nothing but it might be good to know for sure. Xx

[sallycinnamon4 in reply to Felix_2010]

i tried to talk to my mum about it and she got pretty angry at me and told me that my anxiety was beginning to bug her 😞 then she felt my tummy and still said it wasn’t concerning to her and that people won’t believe me if i has smth wrong w me bc i think everything is bad but now i just feel in the way of everyone and a waste of people’s time but then again i’m glad she isn’t concerned , i’m thankful for your advice xx

[Felix_2010]

I understand how difficult it must be when your Mum feels you're just making a fuss. I'm sorry my advice ended badly for you. Do you have strategies for your anxiety? Mindfulness? Sometimes just walking and counting your steps can be helpful. I would suggest you don't dwell too much on your lumps / bumps unless they get very big or cause pain. I had lymphoma for years before diagnosis, and I'm fine. Look after yourself xx

[sallycinnamon4 in reply to Felix_2010]

hello sorry for taking a while to reply. i’m not really sure when it comes to anxiety, sometimes i try nap it off or hang out with someone but i’ve found listening to peaceful sounds like rain to be calming but other than that i’m not very sure. deep breathing doesn’t work the best with me but i’m not sure if i have found a good enough strategy yet. yeah i’m going to try not worry about them too much because i don’t have any other concerning symptoms. were any of your lumps visible to the eye? thank you so much again, it’s nice to know someone cares ☺️xx

[Felix_2010 in reply to sallycinnamon4]

Not visible to the eye, no. A bit painful and I could feel them. Fingers crossed you're ok - try not to worry x

[sallycinnamon4 in reply to Felix_2010]

sorry for a late reply ! i haven’t been to the doctors yet as i have been busy but i just want to say thank you for taking your time to reply to me, i found your replies to be very comforting and helpful. i hope you are doing well and i will try update you as soon as i can take care !! xx

[Felix_2010 in reply to sallycinnamon4]

Thank you for the update. I was wondering how you are doing. Let me know what happens. Hopefully it will be nothing xx

[Maltipoo]

I am so sorry about your worry. Do you mind if I ask you about your diet? What do you eat during an average day?

[sallycinnamon4 in reply to Maltipoo]

i probably don’t eat as good as i could because i’m pretty fussy but i do eat fruit and veg everyday, cereal or toast, and for dinner i have like chicken/stir frys etc it really depends to be honest but it’s probably not as balanced as it could be

[Maltipoo in reply to sallycinnamon4]

In your original post you mentioned that you didn't believe lymphoma did not show up in blood tests. In my case, the blood tests definitely showed the doctor that I had some type of blood cancer. He checks my blood every 3 months to see if it has come back. So in your case since the blood work came back good, don't worry and be happy!

It is great that you eat fruits and vegetables every day! I wish I had done starting at your age but better late than never. Since October I have drastically changed my diet. No meat, no sweets, no wheat and no dairy. I am eating whole food plant based diet. Population studies show that groups of people who live the longest eat mostly whole food and plant based diet. Continue to eat your fruits and vegetables and eat the best that you can. If you can, try eliminating dairy from you diet for a month. Everything I read says if you want to improve your health, the one food you should give up is dairy.

As for anxiety, my daughter's biggest source of anxiety was the internet. Whenever she felt like she had something, she searched the internet and she always imagined that she had some terrible disease. She wasted many days worrying needlessly. She now joined a local running club and is getting good exercise and limiting looking up sicknesses on the internet. I always tell her to be more like our wonderful maltipoo. "Dogs live in the moment. They don't regret the past or worry about the future" Cesar Millan. Try not to worry. I was a big worrier throughout my life and it is negative thinking. I now talk myself out of negative thinking and feel so much better.

Good luck, peace, and good health. Don't worry, be happy! Please let us know how you are doing.

[sallycinnamon4 in reply to Maltipoo]

i’m sorry for such a late reply i’ve been on holiday and pretty busy ! ahhh right i thoight it was only advanced stages that showed it in the blood but maybe im wrong it must be a good thing that mine were clean anyways. i’ve been eating a lot more fruit than usual recently, especially apples i can’t seem to stop eating them hahaha. i really want to try this but i feel like it’s kind of hard considering i’m not the provider of food but i do want to try eliminate as much dairy as i can. thanks so much for your advice it’s very helpful !! i have wasted too many days worrying and it breaks my heart thinking about it. thank you so much and i will do !! i hope you are doing well xx

[pet1]

Hi Sally

You definitely need a second opinion just to put your mind at rest anxiety is a horrible thing in itself . Even if it is Lymphoma there are so many different treatments out there and you are young and otherwise healthy by the sounds of things .There are so many people on the watch and wait and living perfectly normal lives. Go and get second opinion and live your life . Fingers crossed for you let us know how you get on as sure we will all thinking of you .xx

[sallycinnamon4 in reply to pet1]

thanks for the reply, i’m sorry for such a late reply i have been on holiday and been rather busy lately ! i haven’t been to the doctors again and since i’ve been so many times in the past 6 months i don’t want to bother them again. my parents, boyfriend and doctor all believe nothing is wrong with me which is obviously good but bc of my anxiety i always think the worst. the lumps in my tummy turned out to be my colon but i’m still dealing with the lymph node, no other symptoms. do you think it is likely this is lymphoma considering the lump is moveable and ranges between firm and more soft firm but not entirely soft. the top of the node is actually squishy and i’ve been able to compress it by pushing down on it. thanks again !! xx

[tonytheartist]

I had similar they sent me to the dentist who gave me the maximum dose of penicillin possible and a week later it had subsided. My diagnosis of non Hodgkin lymphoma follicular was 6 months late I w.ent to the doctor at Xmas and he brushed me a.side. i had lump on the other side and that fixed in the saliva glands still part of yhe lymphoma. Some of this not to different to mine though i had it all over. I would go to casualty and explain what you have written on here because itherwise it might take several more weeks to get an answer. I was fast tracked when they realised there mistake. I think I am right in saying that if it's not all over your body it maybe be easier to treat mine was stage 4. One other thing it might be a different type of cancer or something else with similar symptoms. It is a really difficult cancer to diagnose imwoulDnt delay trying to get it dealt with.

[sallycinnamon4 in reply to tonytheartist]

thanks for your reply ! sorry for such a late reply. were your lumps fixed and hard? or were they firm /soft and moveable ? my parents don’t think i need to do go to the doctors and believe that nothing is wrong with me. did you have any other symptoms or just the lumps? i’ve discovered the lumps in my tummy were from waste in my colon so that’s that cleared up. thanks again !