Need Some Help... Could this be Hodgkin's???

I am 19 years old and in college.  About a year ago, I noticed that there was some swelling under my right breast toward my underarm. I could feel a lump of some sort, which caused a little concern because my grandma had just been diagnosed with breast cancer, but I really just brushed it off as being nothing important. 3 months ago, however, I felt a rather large knot behind my right ear that extends about 3 inches towards the back of my head. THAT, I will say, kind of set an alarm off in my mind... because I happen to know that swollen lymphnodes are usually tender and sore to the touch when caused by infection and aren't supposed to be swollen longer than a couple of weeks. Well, being the need-to-know type of person that I am, I started researching lymphnodes and possible reasons for swelling. Once I ruled out the simple, more common, possibilities, I hesitated but moved on to lymphoma... and, again, I started researching. My mom had told me when I first pointed out the possibility of cancer that it's not very likely, because I am too young. I was feeling good about this piece of information, until I came across Hodgkin's, of course. Low-and-behold, I find that this particular cancer happens to occur often in a younger group, as well as older ones. It was not until I read into the symptoms, that my worry really increased. The itchy skin, that I've been told is psoriasis for the last few years, actually started to mean something. I found that bronchitis is often a misdiagnosis... I started being hospitalized about twice a year with bronchitis around 4 years ago. The cough would just never completely go away. The fever for no apparent reason, the occasional night sweats, the back pain, and even the low iron levels.... it ALL started to fall into place. About two weeks ago, I started having pain and numbness in my left shoulder and arm, not until today did I find out that it could also be contributed to Hodgkin's.

Now, I'm a reasonable, rational person. And I'm really not one to jump to conclusions...  So, am I saying I KNOW I have Hodgkin's??? NO! But am I concerned about the possibility??? DEEPLY.  I would just really like to know if the pieces do fit as well as I seem to think they do... how real is the chance that I could have this? Please help in any way possible. Thank you all so very much.

I think your first port of call should be to your doctors,

nobody can do a diagnosis without examining you, so please

go to your doctor's.

Rita

Nitney,

Go to the doctor.  Then you can quit worrying and begin to deal with it.

hi, i am a survivor of hodgkin's disease.. i am gunna tell u what my oncologist told me believe less than 50% of what u read on the internet. Secondly, hodgkin's disease tumor are painless.. if ur feeling a bump that is sore.. its not hodgkin's disease. Hodgkin's disease usually occurs in pre-teen early teen years. and the elderly. From what u have said i would suggest that its a infection hidding in ur body not being treated completely that keeps coming back.. hopefully this helps.. go see ur doctor, ur family doctor should pretty much be able to tell by feeling the lump what it is. i still have lymph nodes that have been swollen for years i have been re tester over and over again i have no cancer. Go get a second or third opinion until u feel that u have exhausted all ur opinions, or until u feel comfortable. 

Thank you ashtensmom. I know that you cannot believe half of what is on the internet and I also know that sore lymphnodes generally indicate infection. However, my lymphnodes have been swollen for quite sometime and I have been on antibiotics at least 3 times in the past year. The swelling has yet to go away and there has never been any pain, in fact, I don't think I would have noticed they were there if not for the fact that I can feel the physical difference. I found the one on the back of my head after brushing my hair one day. I felt a bump on one side where there wasn't one on the other. So I decided to feel around with my fingers, and it was noticeably larger. Same with the one under my breast... I could see that my bra didn't quite fit right on one side, so I started to feel around and that's when I found it. I've had family members with Hodgkin's, although not immediate family. And a couple were actually 2 to 3 years older than I am when diagnosed. I've always had asthma, but the chronic bronchitis didn't appear until my 9th grade year, which would put me at 14. I was hospitalized several times, given breathing treatments, put on oxygen, and given cough medicine, but it never seemed to go away and they could never come up with a real reason for its appearance. I was also diagnosed with shingles and mumps, both at some point last year, which seems quite odd considering my age. I've known my immune system is pretty bad for quite some time now, but I have no explanation. Can't blame a girl for being curious, can you? :)

I do have a doctor's appointment scheduled for Jan 17. This will be my 2nd one just on this particular matter. I'm not the type to try and figure things out all on my own. I just like to be informed, to know the possibilities. So I am not asking anyone to diagnose me, just simply wondering could Hodgkin's be a possibility?

Glad to know you are a survivor and that you have the chance to move on with your life. It's always good to hear that someone's won the battle, no matter what they are fighting! Thank you so much for your help!