Bump on back of neck. please help!
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Bump on back of neck. please help!

› Forums › General Melanoma Community › Bump on back of neck. please help!

  • Post
    • April 29, 2017 at 4:14 pm
    HU
    Participant

    I was diagnosed with stage 1a melanoma on my upper right back 5 months ago. It was shallow, .30mm and I had an WLE with no further treatment.

    A couple of days ago, I discovered a hard, immovable lump on the back of my neck. it is just about an inch and a half  or so to the right of the very middle of the back of the neck and is perhaps 0.5 to 1 inch above my hairline.

    the size is small, and it feels somewhat smaller than a pea. to give you a better idea, if i am sitting with my neck up, and if i pass my hand over the region, i feel nothing. even if i move my neck in all directions, and just pass my fingers over the region, nothing can be felt. but if i tilt my neck to the bottom and press hard, it can be felt. if i tilt to the bottom and to the left, it can definitely be felt even more.

    it's not causing any kind of discomfort so far. but if it is pressed hard on and off for a 10-15 seconds, there is a level of pain sensation, though nothing excruciating. it does, however, seem to be embedded deep within.

    I am scared as I have been told if melanoma spreads, the first place it can go is the lymph nodes in neck or armpit. I am otherwise healthy and fit and have not recently been ill or had any infections. . Have made an appointment to see the doctor but wondered if anyone here has any experience with something like this

    Thank you so much

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  • Replies
      • April 29, 2017 at 5:47 pm
      Marksa2570
      Participant

      Hello… someone else on here can give you better advise than me but I always assumed most of the lymph nodes were along the jaw line and the behind the ear.     

      I am also about 5 months out from a 1A diagnosis and share your concerns about any potential recurrence.   

      Getting it checked is always the best thing to do.     Let us know how it goes.    

      • April 29, 2017 at 9:57 pm
      casagrayson
      Participant

      There are cervical lymph glands at the base of the neck and occipital lymph glands in the back of the head right below the ear.  Given the location of your WLE it seems to me (not a medical professional) that those glands would not be the ones to show metastasis.  Also, there are many reasons for swollen glands — so don't jump to assume melanoma!   That being said, if they didn't go down in a week or so I would have to see my doctor for my own peace of mind.

       

      • April 30, 2017 at 3:28 am
      Janner
      Participant

      Your armpit and clavicle nodes are more likely than neck nodes.  And yes, you can have nodes swell for something as simple as a little infection and never return to their original shape (reactive nodes).  And something as simple as a cyst or ingrown hair could also happen in that area.  Just not likely to be melanoma but like everything, it doesn't hurt to get it checked by a doc.

      • May 1, 2017 at 3:05 pm
      UBContributor
      Participant

      Just to ease ur mind: my mom OVCA survivor had very mild throat pain for almost 12 months, One visible and feelable bump on her neck, scan showed several enlarged LPNodes,  every dr gave different Dx, but all resolved itself over a year without any treatment…so ur bump can be MM or something totally unrelated. Good luck, keep us updated!

      • May 1, 2017 at 8:02 pm
      HU
      Participant

      Thank you all for your replies. It makes such a difference to be able to communicate with others in this forum. I Just came back from the oncologists office.  They did a biopsy on the lump and it is benign! Probably a minor infection or an old reactive node.

      such a relief! 

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