Lump in neck for 5 weeks, just been referred for investigation

Going solo is not ideal but if you have no one else then it cannot be helped. Take a pen and paper with you, ask all the right questions, plenty of advice on this forum about questions to ask. Be firm and polite.

Overseas? The last thing you need is more pressure, you have mega pressure at this time, and  travel  insurance will be difficult to arrange, apply for a GHIC  card.

Hi Katydid

I had very similar symptoms - a nasty cold/virus followed by a neck lump.

It didn’t occur to me to take someone with me to my first appointment or any of the scans. The consultant had a Quick Look with a scope and took a needle biopsy. But when he decided to go ahead and book CT, MRI and PET scans I did ask someone to come with me for the results. so at this stage you may feel comfortable going on your own. But if you feel you need support you may need to be a bit more explicit about why you’re concerned. Perhaps your OH doesn’t realise or this is their way of coping. 

As for a holiday - waiting for tests or results may invalidate any insurance you already have or make it difficult to get new insurance. So perhaps suggest you at least wait until you’ve seen the consultant?

good luck with the appointments

Thanks, Woodz, I think I’m going to be OK going along for the first appointment solo, but if it shows something that needs further investigation I’ll enlist reinforcements for subsequent appointments. So far it’s been 8 days since I saw my GP and got the referral; it’s another 8 days until the clinic appointment, so I’m halfway there.

I’m starting to compile a list of questions - fairly obvious ones such as “what did you find?” and “what happens next?” - I tried searching the forums to see if I could find some recommendations but drew a blank. I guess I must have been using the wrong search terms. Any suggestions for appropriate questions gratefully received!

I’m a bit worried about the scope that they’ll use to have a look - I have a rather over enthusiastic gag reflex. Do they go in through the nose or the mouth?

The scope goes up your nose. It’s weird but doesn’t hurt and it didn’t make me gag at all.

i think it’s important to know what the next steps are and when. If they recommend more tests make sure you know how long you need to wait, how long it takes for results etc. 

as everyone on here says remember that for the vast majority of people lumps turn out to be harmless. 

I don’’t think I’ve ever known 2 weeks to pass so slowly. Today it’s 2 weeks since I saw my GP and she made the 2-weeks referral. Wednesday this week is when I have the clinic appointment, so just 2 more days of suspense. 

Good luck on Wednesday. Let us know how you get on. Have you managed to find somebody to go with you xx

Best of luck. Hugs

All the best for Wednesday lovely.  Fingers crossed for a positive outcome.  Hugs xxx

Thanks all for the good wishes. Much appreciated.
I had the appointment late this afternoon and the doctor took a history, then had a good feel of my neck and had a look at it on the inside using a camera up my nose - he tried up the left nostril first but couldn’t get the camera up it, but thankfully my right nostril was rather more accommodating.

He said that it all looked normal, and that the lump might be an infected salivary gland, but I would also need to have a biopsy and an ultrasound and as it was late in the day I would have to come back some time in the next 2 weeks for those. 

So, I’m partly relieved that he didn’t find anything obviously sinister today, but now have another couple of weeks of uncertainty until I’ve had the biopsy and ultrasound. Ah well, onwards and upwards.

Katydid said:

He said that it all looked normal, and that the lump might be an infected salivary gland, but I would also need to have a biopsy and an ultrasound and as it was late in the day I would have to come back some time in the next 2 weeks for those. 

Heavens......fingers crossed