DD has lump on back of her neck

[Anonymous]

Tonight after my DD told me she had pain in her neck today I felt her neck. There is a sizable lump just to the left of her spine up near her hairline. Over the past few years she's had periodic shooting pains in the same area but the ped couldn't detect anything. So of course I'm freaking out and will be calling the ped first thing in the morning (right after I have a biopsy for a lump in my breast. This isn't helping my stress). Of course I got online and most things I've read says it's most likely benign but lymphoma does come up. I'm beside myself and pretty sure I'm not sleeping tonight. Has anyone had this happen with their child. I'm hoping for some positive stories.

[Anonymous]

I don't know how definitive this is, but conventional wisdom is that painful lumps are generally nothing to worry about. Usually it's a swollen lymph node that has come about from a virus. They take forever to go away. Also, most childhood cancers don't take years to develop (unlike adults). If it were cancer, and this is related to the pains she's had in the past, she would have developed other symptoms by now. Good luck on both fronts (ped and biopsy)!

[Anonymous]

I've had a small lump in almost that exact spot for 25 years and it's been fine. I saw a doctor years ago who said it was a cyst and didn't worry about it.

Caught a quick consult when I was at the ENT with a family member this year and the doctor said it should be removed and biopsied as it's grown larger in the last year or so. Said it could be lunchtime in office procedure unless it grew larger, in which case I'd have to be put under. Good news--insurance would pay and I am still around with no ill effects. Mine is dead center--perhaps DD's is pressing on a nerve?

[Anonymous]

Thanks PP's you're making me feel better! When I touched it earlier the blood drained out of my face. I'm going to go into the ped right after my biopsy tomorrow. Appreciate the feedback!

[Anonymous]

My son had the same thing in tbe same spot. Lymph node

[Anonymous]

Remember too, that if she had lymphoma and it was related to the shooting pains, she would be much sicker by now.

[Anonymous]

That is the exact location of a lymph node. When mine there swell, they hurt a lot because there isn't much room to expand up against the skull. I know lumps are scary, but keep reminding yourself that there are hundreds of completely innocent things that it could be.

[Anonymous]

swollen lymph node. Read up on it on the internet. Usually the course of action is to monitor.

[Anonymous]

My DS had one for a long time. When it didn't go away on its own they did an ultrasound, and it's just a lymph node.

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone. Everything I've read online leads to swollen lymph node. Of course Lymphoma also comes up which is exactly why you should never refer to Dr. Google. We have an appointment at 11:00 today. I'm sure they will relieve be stress.

[Anonymous]

Oh, OP, how scary - good luck to both of you on your checkups!

My friend had a lump (that a masseuse found, of all people) and it was a fatty deposit - literally just a lump of fat. She had it cut out. Hugs and best of luck!

[Anonymous]

A friends son had that and it was lymphoma. The nurse they first saw said it was "nothing", then the pediatrician ordered a biopsy and then they found out.
Wish I could tell you it's nothing.

[Anonymous]

Good to have it checked. I had horrible allergies as a child and my lymphnodes would get really swollen to the point I couldn't turn my head. Hope it's just an infection!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh, OP, how scary - good luck to both of you on your checkups!

My friend had a lump (that a masseuse found, of all people) and it was a fatty deposit - literally just a lump of fat. She had it cut out. Hugs and best of luck!

My brother has gotten a couple of these on his head and neck.

OP, good for you for getting this checked out (and taking care of your own biopsy). You're taking the actions you need to take for now, and (I've learned) there are no bonus points for worrying. Try to keep busy and think of other things until you hear results. Wishing you well!

[Anonymous]

Op here with an update. 9:32 I really hope your friends son is okay. That makes me so sad.

Well my day started with lots of tears on my end. Woke up in a cold sweat about DD but couldn't care less about my own biopsy. Was such a mess I actually drove to the ped's office and completely forgot to pick up DD from school. Wth. Anyway, went back and got DD. So it was swollen lymph nodes with were due to LICE!!! Had no idea she had lice at all. But there were little bites on her head and apparently that kind of skin irritation is linked to swollen lymph nodes and drainage. I'm probably the first person they've ever seen in that office jumping up and down because I'm so excited she has lice. My DD now thinks lice is an awesome thing because I've been so over the moon about it Of course I'm going to keep a close eye on it but my ped is very confident that this is the cause of the lump. So thank everyone for the kind words! Now just need to wait for my own biopsy results.