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Have Lumps On Neck. Have Family History Of Cancer. Diagnosed As Lymph Nodes. Advice?
hi, i had two small lumps in the left side of my neck . The first is high up, feels bean shaped, kind of hard but movable. the second is a bit lower and further back, small and round like a pea, soft and also movable. i had these looked at when i first noticed them a year and three months ago and my dr told me they could be cysts and so i left them and thought no more about it. Recently i have stared to worry, a lot of my family have had cancer of some kind and after reading posts on the internet i fear i have it as well. they are not painful although my neck seems to ache more on that side. I saw two drs last week who said that they were lymph nodes but not anything to worry about, i also had blood work done which came back fine. But i dont know what to do, is it normal for me to feel these? i am not sure if it has gotten larger or not but is a year too long for it to still be there? I am 21 years old.
Wed, 13 Mar 2013
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
Neck area is where there is many lymph nodes groups which role is to protect the entrance of the airways from bacteria and viruses. Such lymph nodes do enlarge due to regional infection of the throat, ear, saliva glands, teeth etc. And usually there is nothing to worry about.
However sometimes lymph nodes do enlarge as a result of a cancer. Such lymph node is usually hard, not movable and painless.
If this lymph nodes are bothering you, the best way to rule out any bad things is to perform and ultrasound of this area and fine needle biopsy. This will tell either there is a cancer in this lymph nodes (most likely there isnt) or not.
Hope this will help.
Regards.
Thank you for the query.
Neck area is where there is many lymph nodes groups which role is to protect the entrance of the airways from bacteria and viruses. Such lymph nodes do enlarge due to regional infection of the throat, ear, saliva glands, teeth etc. And usually there is nothing to worry about.
However sometimes lymph nodes do enlarge as a result of a cancer. Such lymph node is usually hard, not movable and painless.
If this lymph nodes are bothering you, the best way to rule out any bad things is to perform and ultrasound of this area and fine needle biopsy. This will tell either there is a cancer in this lymph nodes (most likely there isnt) or not.
Hope this will help.
Regards.
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hi there, a non specific lymphadenopathy is most common condition for enlargement of lymph nodes but to put your mind at rest you could get an FNAC of the lymph node done to rule out any other cause and as you do have a family history of cancer tho' you have not specified which one it is always best to be on the cautious side. So do get investigated which will help in early diagnosis of any condition present and if not then at least it will put your mind to peace. Take care.
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