[wingo22]

I am 25 years old, male. I was freaking out because I found a 1 centimetre enlarged lymph node behind my ear, its been there for about 3.5 months. I thought for sure it was cancer/lymphoma. My family doctor told it was probably nothing to worry about, but would send me to a specialist because I am worried.

I went to the Ear nose throat doctor and he told me its just a lymph node and many times said "I don't think its lymphoma, BUT if you are worried I can take it out for you". I felt great that day and the next day, but now a week later, I still have my doubts about it. Why can't I trust these doctors?

If the specialist thought it was something serious, wouldn't he have told me it is something bad?

[kim_johnson]

I would feel like you do... I would need them to explain to me why it was swollen over such a period of time if there wasn't anything wrong with me.

Maybe you can find the answer to this on google.... I suspect the fact that you are young and otherwise healthy (?) would have a lot to do with their lack of concern. Statistically... You are most probably fine.

[SnakeCharmer]

Did the doctor remove it and have it biopsied? It can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks to get the results of a biopsy back.

I have the dermatologist remove suspicious skin growths (I spent time in the sun when young.) He tells me upfront if he thinks it's anything to worry about and he sends it to be biopsied. So far, he's always been correct just by looking at it. He's a specialist in skin cancer and specialists can be quite good at knowing just by looking at something.

If you're still worried and didn't have it removed, please go ahead and do it.

***

As a side note that may or may not relate to you ... great worry or fear about health issues can be a symptoms of certain types of depression. Some depressed people get sad, others get agitated, some rage, some sleep and eat too much, others can neither eat nor sleep. Depression is not just one set of one-size-fits-all symptoms. It's a complex problem.

Feeling excessive worry about health issues, especially fear that one might have a deadly disease, even after being reassured by a primary doctor and a specialist, could indicate a tendency toward depressive feeling and thinking.

Is it possible you're depressed or heading in that direction? It's just something to think about as a possibility. Take care. I wish you the best.

[Fuzzybear]

[wingo22]

i just worry because of googling everything

[kim_johnson]

You worry because Google told you about all the reasons why your doctors wouldn't be concerned about an enlarged lymph node in a young adult male?

[kiwi33]

Hi wingo22

Like SnakeCharmer, I am not sure from what you have written whether the ENT specialist removed the lymph node.

If it was removed then (as SnakeCharmer wrote) it can take a while for biopsy results to come back.

If anything of concern was revealed from the biopsy then I am sure that the ENT specialist will be in contact with you.

In the meantime, please don't panic.