Lumps in neck have tripled over the past week

A month ago I noticed my right occipital node had a hard, painless pea sized lump. Two weeks ago it became more swollen and two more showed up (one tiny & hard behind my left ear and the other halfway down the right side of my neck). Five days ago I showed them to my dr and he said he's not concerned and that my CBC was fine. Five days ago I had three. Today I have ten, all on the back and sides of my neck, above my collarbone. This afternoon the part of my forearm close to my inner elbow felt very bruised, but it's not. It feels like there's a lump down in there. My neck and back are KILLING me. I'm 36 and otherwise very healthy. Should I trust my GP and wait a while or should I do something asap. Having been on google (bad idea), I'm not sure if I'm overreacting and feeling irrational or if it's a legitimate medical concern.... Advice?

I would get a second opinion from another doctor. My mom was diagnosed via a biopsey from a node her left neck.

Thanks for the advice :) Combined with waking up sweaty, constant cough, fever and chills, you're probably right. I didn't really mention to the dr about the lumps possibly being anything other than lumps; I was surprised he didn't try to give me an antibiotic lol (oddly, he sent me to get an mri on my brain... in hind-sight maybe i should think about looking for another GP LOL)

:)

I guess I should have listened, now I have a string of marble-like ones starting behind my ear going down to the center of my neck. There are a couple more that are visible when I pull my hair out of the way. I've been on an antibiotic for several days, my cough is all but gone, but the lumps are growing, not going away. The original ones are still there, too. The ones that were sticking out last night aren't as noticeable today. Are they supposed to go up and down like that? I didn't know there even were nodes up in the hard parts behind the ears!

YOu have lymph systems all over in your body, night sweats is another red flag to get checked out.   My cbc never showed anything and I had stage four lyphoma, def get another opinion or insist on a cat/pet scan, either will show what you need to know.

good luck

On Feb 09, 2012 2:41 PM nonnah wrote:

YOu have lymph systems all over in your body, night sweats is another red flag to get checked out.   My cbc never showed anything and I had stage four lyphoma, def get another opinion or insist on a cat/pet scan, either will show what you need to know.

good luck

Thanks for your help :) I went this morning and he found another all the way down in my groin area (one, like a kernal, he said). What would cause neck/ear/groin nodes, but skip over the underarm nodes?? I'm confused by that.

He's referring me to an oncologist.

ok, you have lymph systems over your entire body.  I had three that were enlarged, one on back of neck, one on collar bone, and one in groin.   If he is referring you to an onco, must be suspicious that it is lymphoma, but don't put the cart before the horse and panic.   Sometimes depending on how advanced it is you can wait and see what happens for years and not need treatment.   Try to stay positive I wouldn't worry til you know what is goin on it might be something totally different.

Thank you.... I'm not panicking, but researching like crazy. I'm a firm believer in "knowledge is power." Other than that I'm pretty much not saying much to anyone and just focusing on everyday stuff. Online is my venting zone for questions and what-ifs :)  I'm not a very emotional person so it's easy to keep it quiet while I wait :)

Thank you for helping - it's helpful to have a place to get advise from people who know what they're talking about! I'm staying positive because I know that even if it IS something bad, it won't get me ;) 

Dear Knxgrl;  hello from a gentleman who was told by his family-doc in '03 that "the lump" was "nothing to worry about".  I believed him until I met an ENT-doc in Charleston, SC where I was residing who felt the "node(s)" IMMEDIATELY stating..."I want a scan on that tomorrow".  We did & a week later I was being set-up for surgery to remove non-Hodgkin's lymphoma-involved right-side lymph nodes & salivary gland.  Within two weeks I was lying there with radiation beams "burning me" to "help me"...because my supposed "care-giving physician" in Pa. did NOT investigate the obvious symptoms!!!  Don't spend any more time on internet....but, call ASAP your doc/med ctr of "choice".  I guarantee after just battling another cancer (Stage 3) at the Philadelphia-based "Cancer Treatment of America" (CTCA), that WHEN YOU CALL THEM (24/7), CALL TODAY!!!!....that, THEY WILL GET YOU TO ONE OF THEIR FACILITIES AT THEIR EXPENSE & ASAP!!!!  You posted, I see, on Jan 20th....you should have been "walking in a "CTCA-facility" to experience the VERY-BEST CARE (termed, "Mother Care"), THERE!  Promise.  Bill Sheely,angelswatchinu@comcast.net& a CTCA "volunteer/"Ambassador" that truly cares.   ( :     

I agree with Bill. My doc told me the lump on my neck was normal for 2 months. Then I had to  request a specialist myself and a week later surgery to remove the  node and have it biopsied, then said we will see you in 30 days..forget that. I was at CTCA in 6 days. Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the head and neck. They took dam good care of us. I would'nt go anywhere else. I wanted time on my side, cancer waits for no one...

GOD SPEED

Keith