Check up Time - Of COURSE I Found a Lump

Pam M
Pam M Member Posts: 2,196
I mentioned it at my appointment Friday; my doc said it's common for us (H&N patients) to develop odd neck lumps here and there after treatment, and that it's probably nothing (lump sticks out on left side of front of throat - just next to where my "firm" area from dissection is). But I overheard the injection nurse tell the appointment nurse "he said get the scans done NOW - she won't mind doing the scans in the afternoon instead of morning", so that made me paranoid. Then he called me today, to say my blood work is in, and I need to begin thyroid meds for underactive thyroid (did I mention that I've regained some of the weight I lost during treatment?). So now, the way I see it, if he thought my lump was a LUMP, he wouldn't be interested in my thyroid right now (my numbers are elevated, but not alarmingly high). All I need now is for someone to say "That's right, Pam - if he thought the lump was something bad, he'd hold off on the thyroid discussion". AND lump is in my neck, I think (the side that still has nodes) NOT in my throat, which looks good, thankyouverymuch. Ah well - I'm a year out from rads - lots of us have to go on thyroid meds. I told the appointment nurse I'd try to sleep till time to leave the house for my appointment - that way, I won't be obsessed with not being allowed to drink for very long. Sigh. Scans tomorrow (CT and PET).

Comments

  • Pumakitty
    Pumakitty Member Posts: 652
    Thinking of you
    Pam,

    I am betting that is nothing but a lump, but will send up extra prayers. Also, sending you many hugs till you hear that is nothing but a lump.

    Kathy
  • rozaroo
    rozaroo Member Posts: 665
    Pumakitty said:

    Thinking of you
    Pam,

    I am betting that is nothing but a lump, but will send up extra prayers. Also, sending you many hugs till you hear that is nothing but a lump.

    Kathy

    Pam!
    I am with Kathy on this one! Prayer's sent for added measure!
    Hugg's Roz
  • mixleader
    mixleader Member Posts: 267 Member
    The Lump
    Hi, Pam. Somebody told me that "A lump is just a lump until it's something else". I think most of us have this tendency to find something a bit unusual and then place it into the worst possible scenario. And, our doctors, being concerned with our welfare, I believe are also sometimes prone to be very cautious as well. Best wishes and prayers to you for your scan. Be clean.

    Roger
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    Lumps, Bumps and Sore Spots
    Along with various aches and pains....

    My ENT attributes them all to rads and treatment residual to be expected for awhile....

    If you are feeling particularly brave...you can usually request a desk copy of your PET/CT results and they'll have them (report and CD) for you normally within 24 hours.

    I get mine and peak at them (usually can understand enough to see that everything is good with nothing new noted)...

    I get them several days before my MD follow-up visit...

    Best,
    John
  • Glenna M
    Glenna M Member Posts: 1,576
    Sending prayers and positive
    Sending prayers and positive thoughts that it's just a lump.

    A good friend told me not to spend my time worrying about the test results as worrying won't change anything. He is a 3 time cancer survivor so he knows what he is talking about. I can't say that I've completely accomplished this yet but I am getting better at keeping my mind busy and not worrying. One more month to wait for my next scan to see what the new lesion in my lung is doing and I have many, many days that I don't even think about it :)

    Stay strong,
    Glenna
  • buzz99
    buzz99 Member Posts: 404
    Lump
    You can't help but worry. Hopefully, you won't have to wait long. Sending positive thoughts your way! Karen
  • adventurebob
    adventurebob Member Posts: 691
    ain't nothing but a lump, or a piece of steak
    Probably from treatment. Nice that the doc is on top of the potential thyroid issues. Let us hold the concern for the lump. You just keep eating steak.

    Bob
  • ratface
    ratface Member Posts: 1,337 Member

    ain't nothing but a lump, or a piece of steak
    Probably from treatment. Nice that the doc is on top of the potential thyroid issues. Let us hold the concern for the lump. You just keep eating steak.

    Bob

    "Firm Spot"
    I've never heard that area described so well before. YEP there isn't a day goes by I don't look in the mirror and try to discern if the firm spot is any bigger than yesterday. Along with what John said, mouth sores, and various aches and pains up and down the neck and head area. My last scan showed a lump on my thyroid which they did a FNA right there in the office and it came back negative. Between my lungs and thyroid they have now been tracking various bumps and nodules for around 18 long months. Point is, there is always going to be something and most of the time it's not cancer.
  • rush1958
    rush1958 Member Posts: 221 Member
    Hang In There
    Pam,

    Hang in there! I'll be thinking of you and sending my prayers your way.

    Rush
  • susan0803
    susan0803 Member Posts: 90
    rush1958 said:

    Hang In There
    Pam,

    Hang in there! I'll be thinking of you and sending my prayers your way.

    Rush

    just a lump
    Hi Pam,
    I will say your lump is just a lump and wish you the best and only good news regarding it!

    Hugs to you!
    Suzanne
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    rush1958 said:

    Hang In There
    Pam,

    Hang in there! I'll be thinking of you and sending my prayers your way.

    Rush

    Pam
    Hoping that your lump is just a lump and not anything serious.

    My neck is about as hard as oak on my right side.
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member

    Pam
    Hoping that your lump is just a lump and not anything serious.

    My neck is about as hard as oak on my right side.

    OAK
    Why do you have an OAK on your right side.... I thought you were POPLAR, LOL :)~
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    Skiffin16 said:

    OAK
    Why do you have an OAK on your right side.... I thought you were POPLAR, LOL :)~


    Budump bump! Tssh!
  • Greg53
    Greg53 Member Posts: 849


    Budump bump! Tssh!

    Good luck
    Good luck Pam. Will be thinking about you and sending positive thoughts for a clear scan!

    Greg
  • Larla
    Larla Member Posts: 28
    Pam
    Try not to worry.I discovered a lump on the right side of my neck about one year post treatment for NPC.I went to my ENT and he said it was Sialoadenitis.I had a clogged salivary duct that was draining into a salivary gland in my neck.I had to put heat on my neck,hydrate myself better and eat sour foods like lemons and pickles.I know it is hard not to imagine the worst.I regret losing much needed sleep over it.Hopefully it will be some minor issue for you as well.I hope your scans turn out well for you.

    Laura
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    Hi Pam
    I don’t know how but I missed this post, hope you are doing a lot better now and hope the lump is going down for you.

    Keeping you in my prayers
    Hondo