Lump In Throat / Neck

[kvalidir]

Hi ideally Sqad or anyone else. Can anyone tell me what they think about this. My boyfriend is 49, (male obviously), in good health, very fit and active, some slight arthritis in his hands and lots of allergies, but otherwise in good health. Moderate drinker, heavy smoker 30 years +, some significant drug taking in teens and early 20's but not since. He has a large lump in his throat / neck on his right hand side directly between his trachea and his jaw bone, slightly smaller than a billiard ball, but very deep into the tissue. It's firm but palpable and does seem to change size and prominence slightly but is large enough to be slightly noticeable on photographs if you look for it most of the time. Doesn't hurt or bother him or affect eating or swallowing.He has a persistent cough and back ache, but he is currently working in very physical conditions so the backache isn't really surprising. He's due a full medical in October but is it something I should nag him into getting looked at before that do you think please? Any thoughts gratefully received. Thanks x

[LadyCG]

Could be an enlarged lymph node. The fact that it is painless bothers me slightly.

Sqad will have a better idea. That's the region of the body he specialised in.

[naomi24]

Yes. Nag.

[Sqad]

First of all, thank you for that full and helpful history and description....most appreciated.

In a nutshell, it could be anything.
Evens favourite: Submandibular gland tumour..benign.
2;1 Lymph gland.........various causes.
Bottom line: he needs to see a surgeon...E.N.T or otherwise.

[kvalidir]

Thank you all. I will nag him to an inch of his life. He's really lax with himself health wise, and assumes it's just a gland or something trivial but it felt totally wrong for that to me, so I will tell him what you said Sqad. Thank you all x

[Peter Pedant]

billiard ball - the GP will refer him - wont have to pay
please keep us informed

[kvalidir]

Willdo Peter, he's in the States so no GP as such, but after nagging him to death and having a row about it he is going to see a Dr on Thursday who will doubtless refer him. I'll keep you updated x

[kvalidir]

Quick update for those that wanted to know. He's been referred for an MRI next week and to a specialist, and had a massive raft of blood tests. Dr wasn't keen on discussing what he thought it might be but told him not to worry it was 'probably nothing to worry about' :/

[Tilly2]

That's good. At least it's being attended to now. Best wishes.

[Mamyalynne]

Glad he's seen someone about it Kval.

[kvalidir]

Thank you both, I'm just quite worried because he's such a heavy smoker :(

[hereIam]

Of course I can't enlarge on what Sqad the expert says, but I had a close relative with something very similar and it was an enlarged lymph node. Hope all goes well.

[Sqad]

The advantage of the health care system in the U.S of A is that of instant referrals and investigations.

Not so in the NHS.
Thanks for your feedback.

[Sqad]

Just to reassure you Kval....the lump in his neck is extremely unlikely to have an connection with his smoking habit.

[kvalidir]

Yeah it's very instant over there, which is great I'm be going nuts if it was months to a referral. Sqad do you know wy the Dr might be interested in his allergies and the fact he has very swollen eyelids, he seemed to be more interested in that apparently than the lump itself?

[sanmac]

I was a similar situation about ten years ago, and I thought that it was just sort of a double-chin and part of getting older. But the GP wasn’t too happy about it and sent me to an ENT guy to do tests. Turns out it was a malignant thyroglossal duct remnant and was removed. Everything worked out fine, and I had no chemotherapy or radiation treatments. I’d had this “growth’ for about 4 months prior to going to the GP. So yes, nag your boy-friend to get it seen to as soon as possible as others have said.

[kvalidir]

Thank you Sanmac, nice to know it worked out well for you x

[naomi24]

So pleased he's doing something about it. The chances are it isn't going to be anything too worrying. He's getting it sorted rather than ignoring it - that's the main thing. I wish him the best.

[Sqad]

kvali.....lymphadenitis may be associated with asthma and other aspects of allergy, but in these cases, more than one gland is affected.
We now await the results of his tests.

Sanmac case is interesting and unusual but does not apply to your BF's case.
Thyroglosssal cysts or remnants are mid line ( dead in the centre) your BF's is way off the mid line..

[sanmac]

That's right, Sqad, mine was situated in the under-chin area just above the Adam's apple...Mid-line as you say.

[kvalidir]

Thank you Naomi x

Sqad, he suffers badly from swollen eyes, dry nose, no asthma, but he has a dry mouth sometimes and he's dog tired a lot of the time, but then he's working in extreme heat a lot, very physical long hours, so I think he's kind of discounted a lot of that, is that relevant to lymphadenitis as well? He was in an accident and had some facial surgery a long time ago so has had sinus issues related to that previously too and he suffers from headhaches. I think he's put a lot down to that, being knackered, and having allergies, the lump has been quite a catalyst (well me having a screaming row with him about it has) to him seeing a Dr.