Lumps on jaw and behind ear

I agree with GKH, get it checked out.  Hopefully it's nothing. 

Tasha-vaf said:

Thank you both, I'll see what

Thank you both, I'll see what gp says when I go back. If he says it's nothing to worry about then I'll insist on getting them checked. Do I ask for a biopsy on them? 

If you are referred to an oncologist, they will probably want a biopsy.  They will probably want more tests as well.  I hope you find some answers.

Hugs

Tasha-vaf said:

Thank you. I recently had

Thank you. I recently had blood tests done after going to the doctor with back pain and fatigue. It only showed that I was low on folic acid. Would something else have shown up if I did have something sinister? I hope so too, would just like to put my mind at ease. I have worries with my cervix too after abnormal smear tests as well as osteoarthritis of my thoracic spine so got a bit going on! 

Tasha,

Blood tests for lymphoma vary in usefulness from life-saving to worthless, but they are the cheapest means of determining whether you need further tests or not. The value of the tests is based upon which tests your doctor ran.  At a minimum you would need a CBC, but adding a metabolic profile is valuable as well.  The fiirst things an oncologist looks at are when checking for lymphoma are WBC, RBC, and normal platelets levels.  Sedimentation Rate and creatinine and albumin are also very indicitive.  LDH (NOT "LDL") was the most accurate indicator of my disease of any of the tests my oncologist ran.  I have no medical training, but I know it absolutely tracked with the size of my tumors, based upon CTs and PET scans.  ALWAYS get a paper copy of your lab results from your doctor.

Lymphoma is not one disease, but over 30 differing diseases.  Some people get labs back that are perfect, yet have advanced lymphoma, while others get out-of-wack results and have no cancer.  But labs are the usual starting point.

You mentioned fatigue, night sweats, and itching. All three are classic symptoms of lymophoma, but can be caused by other conditions as well, especially hormonal imbalances. They are common symptoms in menopause, for instance.  I agree with the other guys that further face-time with doctors is suggested. 

If your family doc does not agree to move forward in resolving your issues, go see another doctor.  I cannot count the number of writers here who went forever on antibiotics, because their doc (usually an ENT) did not want to believe that the issue was more serious than an infection.

I wish you negative results (meaning no cancer), and  you need to know that lymphoma is almost always very treatable, and most strains are even "curable."  Be calm, and move forward in a systematic manner.  No one is in charge of your medical care but you.

max

Tasha-vaf said:

Hi max. Thanks for your

Hi max. Thanks for your reply. I'm not sure exactly what tests were done, didn't even look at the form. I'll keep track of them in future. I did think I may have a hormone problem as I also lost a patch of hair recently for no reason, just discovered a bald patch the size of a large coin. Thyroid was included in my blood test though and that was normal. I'm only 31 so don't think it could be the menopause just yet. 

im staying quite calm, not panicking as I'm sure it's nothing but cancer isn't as rare to me as it once was, so many people I know are being diagnosed. So I guess I'm quietly worried. Off to get my antibiotics today so I will take those and then go back and see what my gp says. I worry that he thinks I'm a bit of a hypochondriac as I have been seeing him for problems with my back and with my cervix quite a bit lately. I had cin3 2 years ago and am having symptoms of that again and find that I'm constantly trying to get somewhere to find out why.

thank you for your advice and well wishes.

 

I'm having similiar symptoms, I'm just wondering what your outcome was? I have a lump on sumbandibular gland about 1cm, a 2cm lymph node above the gland, another posterior cervical 2cm lymph node, 1cm occipital lymph node, then yesterday I noticed 2 pea sized posterior auricular lymph nodes.  Everything started about 2 years ago and more lymph nodes seem to slowly becoming noticeable to feel. I've had a needle biopsy, 2 ct scans a year apart, ultlrasound, scoped twice, and seen 4 different ENT's "last one was about 6 months ago". None of them seem too concerned but cannot give clear reason why lymph nodes on only my right side of neck are swelling up. Doctores have mentioned nasal cancer and lymphoma possibilities but say I'd have more symptoms by now so I'm kinda left at a dead end. I feel like submandibular cancer is another possibility since that was the orignal lump but doctors say symptoms would be different and saliva would not be clear. If the two pea sized lumps do not go away within a month I'll probably make an appointment with a oncologist. I'm happy to hear any other else's advice or opinion also. Thanks.