Hi, I ve been very worried recently about possible lymphoma. I became worried after reading that pain caused when drinking alcohol is a symptom of Hodgkins. I have experienced shoulder pain (usually dull and nagging and recently quite intense) after drinking wine. I recently tested whether I would experience the pain while drinking beer and vodka, and I was able to have a small glass of each without any symptoms. I have also had a chronically itchy scalp for many months which I previously just figured was due to dry skin and the winter weather, but became concerned about after reading about lymphoma symptoms. I ve also been quite fatigued (which could also be explained by my high stress lifestyle as a lawyer and mom of 2 very young children). I advised my GP of my symptoms and she had never heard of the connection between alcohol pain and lymphoma and advised that in the absence of any enlarged lymph nodes she did not want to send me for any scans looking for cancer but did agree to refer me to a haematologist. My CBC from about 3 weeks ago was normal. Flash forward a week and my lymph nodes in front of my ear (parotid?) are both palpable. I actually didn t know there were lymph nodes in this region so never mentioned to the doctor that the right one has been enlarged for quite some time and I previouslu thought it was muscle related to TMJ problems from grinding my teeth. My doctor sent me for an u/s and the lymph node on the right is measuring 9x7x3 and the left is slightly smaller. She also ordered another CBC and I now have a low platelet count at 137 (at the time the test was taken I was on the first day of menstruation and I have very heavy periods since my daughter was born 2 years ago). I also began have night sweats three nights ago (admittedly on the same night I discovered the parotid node). I actually wonder if I ve caused them with my own anxiety, but I have never had them before and I have awaken totally soaked on my chest, neck and all the way down both arms, including sweating on my wrists. My doctor s plan is to wait a month and follow-up with my blood work. My questions are: 1) does this sound like an appropriate course of action? 2) could this be lymphoma? 3) if not lymphoma, what else could be causing the raised lymph nodes and low platelet count? I do have a broken tooth which is asymptomatic but I have not yet been to the dentist for. I also wonder if I have type II diabetes given that I had gestational diabetes in my pregnancies. Could either of those conditions be related?