Is this lymph node on my neck a cause for concern?

Question

For more than two years I have had these two lymph nodes that I can feel on my neck, one right under my ear and one in the middle of my neck probably around the same area as my adam's apple.They have never grown at all, and when I had my doctor check it out (2 weeks ago) he said they were not even enlarged, and that there's nothing to worry about.

A week after that appointment, I found another lump under the skin under my jaw. It is lined up along with the ear, but is located directly underneath the jaw. From what I read, a lymph node is not considered enlarged unless it is bigger than a centimeter. This lump however, is smaller than that. I dont know if it has always been there and I just never noticed, or if it is a recent growth. But it's scaring me.

It is small, round and tender (you can squeeze it and it feels like a rubber ball or something). It doesnt cause any pain, nothing really affecting my movement. This also seems to be attached to the skin, but it is not portruding.

Answer 1

Your doctor is correct on some parts. I'm a physician as well and whenever a patient presents with a small lump, our first instinct is to observe it for growth. A lack of growth is a good sign.

The first thing to do is actually identify if what you're feeling truly is a lymph node. The one behind your ear probably is, but the one at your Adam's apple location could be a lymph node or it could also be a thyroid nodule. A thyroid nodule is in many cases, nothing to worry about, but they can be a sign of a more serious disease, like Grave's disease for example. You should ask yourself if you've had any weird symptoms like feeling inappropriately hot or cold, or feeling excessively fatigued beyond usual. In my opinion, you should definitely get at least that particular growth examined more in depth with an MRI or a CT scan.

As to the new growth you feel under your neck, that definitely sounds like a lipoma. A lipoma is just essentially a small ball of fat. It's not a huge cause for concern, usually more of an annoyance than anything else. It is not cancerous. If it bothers you quite a bit, go ahead and get it removed.

As for the lymph node behind your ear, its long persistence is somewhat of an issue. Lymph nodes usually swell and activate during illness and they help produce antibodies. You may have an underlying disease that you are unaware of which is what is causing the lymph node to swell. At your next physician's appointment, you should get a full physical, including blood work that also tests for sexually transmitted diseases.

I've included some helpful websites that discuss lymph nodes and other skin growths.

Answer 2

Get a second opinion. Cancer in the lymph nodes is not a good thing to have. Find someone who will check you out thoroughly, chest xray, CAT scan, blood work, etc. If what you say is true, you really need another opinion by a competent Dr. Your dr sounds like he doesn't care and isn't giving you the care that could save your life. DO not WALK but run to another physician and get that second opinion.

Answer 3

stop sqeezing them. some of us just have larger glands than others! I have had large ones from the time I was a child at times I could pop them out from the jaw bone and you could see how big they were. I have had them tested, they have removed some and checked for everything they could test for and still found nothing. Some people just have larger glands. good luck

Answer 4

It doesn't sound like anything serious. In fact, your lymph nodes can remain swollen for up to 6 months, after having a cold or flu. I think you're being paranoid. Did you have someone close die from cancer? Just asking ....

Answer 5

that is nothing to play with get another opinion