Hi I've had a swollen lymph node on the right side of my neck for I'm sure almost a year now, it is completely painless, feels rubbery and feels like it is attached to the skin. The lymph node is visible but probably less than 2cm
I'd like to provide a small amount of reassurance. I am a 23 year old woman, otherwise very healthy. My symptoms were similar to yours - I had a soft, painless, pea-sized lump on the central left side of the front of my neck. It was moveable and felt slightly deeper (i.e. not just below the skin). I had not had any reason to believe this was due to infection as I had not been ill for ages. I had noticed it only recently, however alongisde noticing it I had been waking up recently with severe night sweats (soaked bed clothes in the morning) - another early symptom of Hogkins Lymphoma. I panicked and imediately concluded I must have cancer. All the signs added up, I was absolutely convinced. I was also sure it wasnt a fatty lump (Lipoma) as it was too deep and too small, which led to two possible diagnoses: a cyst or an enlarged (and possibly early cancerous) lymphoma. I suddenly panicked and had never felt more terrified in my life. I read this thread which I admit, panicked me to a greater degree. I was lucky enough to be able to pay for a private GP who saw me instantly. She said it was concerning enough to have bloods taken and to have an ultrasound (which I had that afternoon). I am pleased to say that it was not cancer. They couldn't say exactly what it was, but it is either a very small cyst or a lymph node which - for an unknown reason - was slightly closer to the skin and had very slightly enlarged (again, for an unknown reason). There was no evidence of it having a small - if not any - blood supply (which is characteristic of a tumour). Cysts can sometimes remain in the skin until they're removed surgically. Could you describe to me all of your symptoms?
I am posting this to demonstrate that whilst you might freeze in panic and automatically expect the worst, it does not mean that you have cancer. That being said, it is worth getting checked in case as the doctor told me that if you are diligent (like me) and catch it early, the prognosis is excellent. She has a friend who survived it, even at a slightly later stage, and now is living a perfectly normal life with two youg children.
