soft lump on collar bone

[Reanne]

Hi Everyone,

I hoping with all the expertise we have here someone can give me some info.  I  have soft lump on my collar bone near the middle of my throat. It appears to be about the size of a quarter and I just noticed it tonight.  I had bloodwork done within the past 6 months and it was okay.  Any ideas of what it might be?  It doesn't hurt.

Thanks,

reanne

[irish]

Reanne, I can not give you an answer on that. However, since the collar bone is close to a lot of lymph nodes it would be wise to have it checked out. I don't know if you mean on the bone or around the bone (as in the soft tissues) or above the bone. The geography can get pretty confusing at times. That is why the doctor's exam and possibly a cat scan will be helpful in giving you an answer.

I would not panic, I would just make sure that I made an appointment to see my doctor--whichever one you think would do the best job for you regarding this issue. Good luck and let us know how you come out. Irish

[Linda196]

Reanne, as Irish said, there are a lot of lymph glands around the collarbone, and if the lump is above the bone, in that "hollow" space at the base of the neck, it's most likely that, but I can't diagnose you of course. Close to the middle like that, it could possibly be a thyroid nodule, although your description sounds lower than that.

Sounds like a job for your GP, at least as a first assessment.

[JannaLee]

Yeah,

You gotta get it checked.  Probably nothing, but you certainly don't want to regret anything later.

Please post back when you know?  I'll be wondering and worrying a little tiny bit.

Janna

[Reanne]

Thanks for the replies.  I went to the local clinic today.  He said he thinks it's an enlarged subclavical lymph node. He is unsure of the cause, asked if I get regular mammograms and checked other lymph nodes.  I told him about a rash I had under my right arm pit that went away on it's own.  He is treating me with ibuprofen 600 mg 4 x daily and cipro 2 x daily.  He said if it's not better in a week, he will order more tests.  He didn't think it odd that I was concerned about lymphoma.  So like many of the rest of you, it's a wait and see situation.  The thought of cancer is terrifying.  Most of my mom's family died of some sort of cancer. 

Reanne

[ktfabian]

Reanne-

I'm glad you got the lump checked out and that the doctor is following you to see what happen's after the antibiotic.

I don't think it's odd for you to be concerned about lymphona (but then, Im a Sjogie).  But try not to dwell on that, either.  Just as an example, I found alump in my breast Easter Sunday.  I of course started thinking the worst.  It wasn't there the month before when I did my own exam, but it was all of a sudden the size of a marble.

I saw the doctor, and she noticed the bruising in the area of the lump (I have an 18lb cat who like to climb up and sleep on me at night and his paws often leave bruises) and suggested that it was probably a hematoma and not anything to worry about.  Sure enough, the ultrasound especially showed that it wwas a hematoma that was already disolving.  I'll see the doctor again in 2 weeks so she can do another exam, but my worries turned out to be unneccessary. 

I know it's hard not to think of the worst, but now that your doctor is on top of things, I hope you can relax and get better,
Tracy

[Reanne]

Thanks Tracy,

I'm trying very hard not to dwell on it, but it seems almost impossible not to think about it.  It didn't help when the doctor said, "when's the last time you had a mammogram?"  2 years ago   He also asked if I had injured myself.  I don't remember an injury, but.... lol, how many things do I not remember? About a zillion.  I think it's already getting bigger.  I thought about lightly going around the base with a marker so I could tell and also so when I go back I can show him the difference.  I think I would have felt better if he had done an x-ray yesterday. 

I'm glad your lump was nothing serious, but the cat... Isn't he/she a bit overweight?  lol

reanne

[JannaLee]

Reann,

I think you should do the marker thing.  It is a good idea.

Janna

[KYMOM]

Reanne,  Listen to your body.  If you think there is a problem pursue it.  It is difficult to tell sometimes if a lump is bigger.  The marker idea sounds like something that would work.  My daughter had a lump behind her jaw and under her ear.  It was the same size for over a year and the doc said that it was nothing to worry about.  About a month ago she told me that it was bothering her.  When I checked I noticed that it had almost doubled in size.  Took her to the Doc and than to the ENT.  It was a benign tumor (neoplasm) on her salivary glands.  ENT and pathologist both said that it had to come out as it would only get bigger.  Have pre-surgery appt scheduled for June just after graduation.

My thoughts are with you and I hope your lump turns out to be nothing.  Roxanne

[JannaLee]

Roxy,

Hugs to your daughter!  Would you post to us about it and let us know how it goes?

Janna

[Reanne]

Roxanne,

Thank you for your kind words.  My daughter also graduates this year.  She is our baby and has many health problems herself.  She has Graves Disease.  Her junior year of high school she had 30 absences and we had doctor notes for 28 of the days!  She had the radiation to "kill" off the thyroid (too bad they can't kill off sjs).  It's been 14 months now and they still trying to get her thyroid replacement therapy regulated. 

I agree with JannaLee, let us know how it goes for your daughter. 

Reanne

[Babs659]

Hi.  I had the same thing in 2004.  My doctor sent me to a surgeon who did CT scans.  It ended up being nothing and dissolved shortly.  It just so happens that Sjs symptoms turned up on the scans back then, but no one suggested a diagnosis.  I had scattered adenopathy, simple renal cysts and chronic swollen parotid glands.  Around that same time I developed reactive airway disease, and GERD.

[Reanne]

Thanks Babs, that is reassuring.  If anything, it's a bit larger today.  I've only been on the cipro two days though.  I am ready for Friday to be here though to see if there is a difference, which reminds me time for motrin.  Does anyone get tired of swallowing pills besides me?