Hello all, I’m 26M and I found a hard bump behind my left ear on January 8th and has not gone away as of today 1/25/25. It’s about the size of a pea, maybe a tad bigger. It feels fixed and rubbery but definitely on the hard side and the bump itself does not hurt at all. It’s been about 17 days and the lump is still the same size. Initially, I had no symptoms at all. As of last week, I can feel minor swelling under the jawline where the submandibular glands are particularly on the left side. I feel dull discomfort in my shoulders and back of neck, and chest bone where the cartilage is with no additional lumps just dull “nerve” pains. Lump swells down significantly when taking Ibuprofen but still there and firm. I have a doctor’s appointment on January 31st as I’m sure I’ll get blood work done and possible scans. I’m hoping I don’t have lymphoma or some type of metastasis. I’m truly nervous about this and I’ll be updating this thread with updates from start to finish just in case anyone else might be going through this. If you have gone through something similar, please share. I’ve attached an image below
Hi @dsmith454 a great big welcome to our forum although you might not need us.
I am so glad that you have a doctors appointment on the 31 Jan and lets hope they can sort out what is the cause of your symptoms.
Don’t forget all tests are to rule conditions in or out.
I find not knowing and waiting makes me anxious and nervous as well.
Yes, please do let us know how you get on and really be kind and look after yourself.
Hi @dsmith454
Thanks for your post and it’s understandable that you’re feeling anxious about all this - the not knowing while you wait for any appointment can be so difficult.
You may see some of the following information elsewhere on the forum if you take a look around - there are several other threads where people are worried about blood cancer. However, I’m posting it here again because it could be useful for you to get prepared for your GP appointment.
You may find our 'Blood cancer symptoms and signs’ page helpful to read - it contains information on what to look out for, as well as prompts for questions you might like to ask your doctor.
As it explains on the webpage:
"Most people who have symptoms described on this page won’t have blood cancer. But it’s worrying to have symptoms you can’t explain, and important to find out what’s causing them, if only to set your mind at rest.
If you have just one symptom that you can’t explain, that goes on for a long time, or is unusual for you, book an appointment with your GP. If you suddenly feel very unwell at any time, get medical help straight away by calling 999 or going to A&E."
You’ve already done the right thing by getting a GP appointment and they’ll be able to talk through your symptoms. The webpage above has a link to our free blood cancer symptoms guide also, which has a handy section to note your symptoms and things to think about before your appointment: Blood cancer symptoms guide | Blood Cancer UK Shop
One of the first tests that would be done to investigate someone’s health is a full blood count (full blood count), which measures the number of each type of cell in your blood: red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. We have information about normal ranges on our website, and you can read more about each of the tests that might be done to confirm or rule out blood cancer here: bloodcancer.org.uk/understanding-blood-cancer/tests-diagnosis.
Hope it all goes well at your appointment and try if you can to relax and do something nice for yourself beforehand to help with the nerves - I know it’s very much easier said than done!
Kind regards,
Ali
Thank you everyone that has replied to my post. I’ve finally saw an ENT today, and I explained my concerns and showed her my lymph nodes. She felt them, asked me a few questions. She ultimately said because of the size, and lack of symptoms I’m having, she isn’t to concerned but she wanted me to take a course of anti-biotics for 10 days to see what happens, and she also ordered me an ultrasound of my neck. Strangely, she didn’t order any blood work requests, so I guess I’ll just follow up on this posts when I go through the next steps. She said lymph nodes can swell for many different reasons, I told her I can’t remember the last time I was sick, I felt like it’s be at least 3 years since I got the cold. She said sometimes lymph nodes can “scar” and become hard and they may go away, but she suspects mine probably won’t go away and it might be like that permanently. There’s still more testing and imaging to be done to completely rule things out, but as of now she said she’s not concerned. So I guess that’s a positive sign for now.
Hi @dsmith454 your GP certainly seems to be looking after you.
Please do let us know how the antibiotics, ultrasound and next appointment goes.
Really look after yourself
Hey I just wanted to share, I was over here googling myself to death and came across your post. I also have that same exact lump behind my ear. I had my first apt with my primary doctor, I have blood work Thursday & then an ultrasound to follow. I have the same concerns as you and have been freaked out.
Thank you for sharing. I have my ultrasound appointment on the 7th coming up in a few days here. Originally I had my ultrasound appointment earlier, but I had to reschedule because of life stuff. Definitely, keep me posted.My doctor didn’t order me any blood work. She wanted me to take antibiotics, and head straight to the ultrasound, if it doesn’t clear. I’ve notice this bump on Jan 8th… and has remained the same size and hardness. The harness of the bump changes with temperature or activity. When ,it’s cold, the bunk is definitely hard, when i’m in a hot environment or working out, it definitely becomes much more softer. Hasn’t shrunk at all though. It aches, sometimes if I twist my neck a certain angle. But otherwise, no weird symptoms, night sweats or any weird signs or symptoms. Are you having any symptoms? I actually had a cold around february 14th but it went away after a week, since everybody at my work is getting extremely sick. But I got over it pretty easily.So i’m assuming my immune system isn’t struggling at all, or acting strange.
Hi @Itsme
Sorry to hear that you are feeling worried about a lump behind your ear.
It is good that you are getting this checked out as we would advise any new swellings or symptoms are reported to your GP.
Lymph nodes can be swollen for several reasons, which can vary from infections such as colds, tonsilitis, glandular fever and other viral or bacterial infections, to allergies, chronic conditions such as arthritis or lupus and cancers such as lymphoma.
Sometimes after having an infection, lymph nodes can stay raised for long periods of time, but it is important to still get this checked and to inform your GP of any additional symptoms such as drenching night sweats, feeling exhausted/ fatigued, itching, fevers, coughing, feeling short of breath or unexplained weight loss.
For our guide on symptoms and different tests, please see the above post by Ali as this may be helpful to read through/ assist with any questions you may have for your healthcare team. If you would like to talk anything through with one of our team members, please give us a call on 0808 2080 888.
Take care & best wishes,
Emma (Support Services Nurse)
Hi @Itsme welcome to our support forum.
@Emma_BloodCancerUK has given you a brilliant response, far better than I could.
I find the not knowing and waiting freaks me out too.
Please do let us know how you get on.
Really look after yourself and take care
Yeah same here, no symptoms at all besides the concerning lump. I haven’t noticed a change in mine as far as weather… but now I’ll be keeping an eye out haha. I noticed mine around November but then I caught a cold and figured it was swollen because of that and then beginning of January I noticed it was there and was slightly bigger than before and decided to reach out to the doctor. He didn’t seem too concerned but said it was an abnormal lymph node and wanted to run the blood test first and then ultrasound. Seeing your post made me feel so much better, at least not alone. I’ve seen lumps all over at this point in my online search, but yours was the most similar to mine. I think it makes it worse that we can’t really see it without taking a picture of it lol. I’ll keep you posted and will be watching for updates for you as well.
Thank you for the kind words
Hi, did you get any news from your ultrasound? I have the same thing behind my right ear for 4 weeks now and the doctor wants to wait until 6 weeks before doing anything further! I had a blood test which was all normal. Just very worried it might be something sinister. I have looked all over the internet for something similar and this is the only thing that is the same.
Hi @Kwestie welcome to our forum and I hope you do not need us.
Please do let us know how you get on.
Be ever so kind to and really look after yourself.
Thank you for sharing. It seems this type of bump is really growing in popularity for some odd reason. I wonder if it has anything to do with this recent flu.That’s been going around lately… ive first noticed my bump since January 8th which is going on 9 weeks now which im starting to belive whatever this bump is…its now permanent. Unfortunately my ultrasound got rescheduled again to March 27th so ill update when i get my scan and opinion from the doctor.
Please keep us all posted on your progress! The unknown is scary and makes you question everything sometimes in a really unhealthy way. So far no weird symptoms other than my bump sometimes aches. My theory its pressing slightly on a nerve.
That’s annoying that’s the ultrasound has been rearranged! But yeah please let us know how you get on and what they say!
I’m back at the doctors on the 2nd April and then it will be even longer for whatever they refer me to next, hopefully an ultrasound too.
I can’t remember the last time I was ill for my lymph nodes to swell, so it is very odd. The doctor did mention two spots on my hairline which are still there now and can be a little sore, but apart from that I have zero symptoms.
Did my Ultrasound today. Going to get some type of answer hopefully soon. Any updates on anyone else?
That’s good! I’m guessing they never said anything to you at the ultrasound appointment? No update here, back at the doctors on Tuesday then no doubt have to wait for an ultrasound or whatever they suggest next.
Nope. The lady didnt say anything. She first questioned where the bump even was until i put my finger on it for her. She was doing the ultrasound and i asked is it coming up on your end? She said yeah Im definitely seeing it now. I saw her drawing lines around it on the scanner probably dimensions and sizing of whatever it is… but she was pretty quiet the entire time which is kind of concerning to me even though i dont think shes 100% qualified to read and diagnose the images since shes not a radiologist.
Yeah that’s true. Definitely would have been nice to get some reassurance there and then. Fingers crossed get some positive news asap. Let me know what happens. Think I’m a while off getting any answers, which is annoying.
