Dear Bee, thanks for telling us the history of your swollen lymph nodes.  I haven't actually got any personal experience to share with you but am hoping someone will contact you.  If you type the words "swollen lymph nodes" in the box above your post headed "Search Forum" you will find previous posts on the subject.  I hope this may be of some help to you but I don't know enough to be sure.

My best wishes.  Annie

Hi,

I'm a bit surprised they didn't send you for an FNA sooner.  I had a lump in a similar place, and was told initially that it was nothing to worry about, but to go back if it didn't go down.  It carried on growing so I went back and was sent for a scan and FNA; the doctor who did the FNA referred me straight away to an ENT specialist just from the scan.

Until you get the results back, there is not a lot you can do, so you should try not to worry.  Lumps in the lymph nodes can occur for a number of reasons (not just cancer). 

I've been through the googling the internet to try and work out what I had, and was convinced I had incurable brain cancer at one point (I didn't of course)!

Try not to assume the worst until you have the results!  Even if it is cancer, you will get treated and chances are you'll be OK (I'm now free of throat cancer).

The waiting is the worst!

Two weeks it took for my FNA results. I got them back today and theyre inconclusive. My lumps grown, almost doubled in size and has now become uncomfortable/painful. I've been urgently referred to an ENT and for surgical removal of the node/s for a proper biopsy. So back to waiting for tests and results. Sigh!

How annoying!  When you go to ENT they may have a look inside your throat with a camera.  The camera goes up your nose and is quite uncomfortable (I have it done every two months).  It's only recently I realised if you try and completely relax it's actually not too bad.  My consultant could tell straight away from the camera that I probably had throat cancer and told me there and then even before the biopsy confirmed it.  You may be completely clear and the surgery may be all you need.

Really? Thats amazing that he could tell just from seeing it via camera. Honestly, I just want to know what it is as this point so whatever it takes for them to confirm or rule it out is fine by me. 

Did you have other tests before hand or did they refer you straight to the ENT?

When I went for my FNA, the doctor who did the scan/FNA said he wanted to refer me to ENT straight away so I guess he saw something on the scan that looked suspicious.

I saw the ENT before the FNA results came back (they do take a long time!).  The ENT told me it looked like cancer (even though my throat felt fine; all I had was lump on my neck).

The FNA results came back positive for the lump.

I then had an operation to take a biopsy from my throat, this also came back positive (the lump was a secondary cancer, my throat was the primary cancer).

I then start the treatment (I didn't have an operation to remove the lump on my neck, they used  radiotherapy to remove both cancers).

The whole process is a rollercoaster of emotions, but I know what you're going through - not knowing is horrible.  Once you know what it is and what the treatment will be, you are able to try and prepare yourself mentally for what's to come.

At least things are in motion and you will be getting the lump removed.  Hopefully the ENT may be able to give you move information.

Wow that does sound like a rollercoaster of emotions. Did you have any other symptoms like fatigue or anything? Cancer is so bizarre, it really baffles me how and why it happens and how it's so different in everyone. 

Can I ask why they didn't remove your cancer surgically? Was it too risky? 

The only the other symptom I had was my tinitus got worse; apparently nerves in your neck can affect your hearing!  So the lump may have been having some affect on that, I don't know for sure.  But really, other than the lump I was quite fit and didn't feel like there was anything wrong at all!

I don't know why they didn't surgically remove the lump.  Maybe it was deemed unecessary with me have chemo and radiotherapy?

As you say, cancer is bizarre.  At this point you don't even know if it is cancer.  I just hope you find out more when you see the ENT.

Well at least youre a walking success story! 

I really really hope the ENT gives me some answers. I feel so frustrated, I feel like my case has really been mishandled by the GPs ive been going to - it's really bothering me that were testing for cancer and ive been getting told to ignore this for MONTHS or just getting antibiotics and sent on my way. I feel like thats what's bothering me the most. Ive been so persistent with them, and they just havent been taking me seriously. Only now that the lump is growing are they taking me seriously and I can't help but wonder if we left it too long. This is all so scary! 

Yes, I hope you get to see ENT soon!  Don't assume the worst though, it could still be a number of other things.  If it is cancer, they spread at different rates.  I was told that the type I had does not spread very quickly.  I know it's hard, but you're doing all you can, so try and be positive.  I wish I could do more to help you, do you have family or friends who can support you while you're going though all this?