swollen lymph node under chin

[SweetP]

I have never been one to poke and probe around for lumps, but 3 days ago I started coming down with a cold and felt my nodes in my neck. I'm not really sure what is considered a swollen node.  I haven't really paid any attention to them in the past so I don't know what is considered "normal" for me. I noticed I have a small lump under my jaw below the left side of my chin right next to my trachea. It feels pretty small (about the size of a small pea) and doesn't hurt. I concerned since I don't feel one on the other side and for the fact that it doesn't hurt.  If this node was lymphoma, would it continue to get bigger, or can a cancerous node stay the same size. I have never really had lymphoma fears in the past and I'm trying to avoid googling and freaking myself out, but I'm a little worried and wondering if I need to see my doc. I just think that if it was normal, there would be one on the other side.

[hamsterswheel]

Hi Sweetp

Our bodies are not exactly the same on both sides. I have one lymph node under my chin/cheek on left that is a bit bigger than the right. The right is teeny tiny. The left is about 1cm. I've had my doc feel about 1 year ago and she said there was nothing unusual to feel. The size has not changed. If I poke around at it, it gets swollen and I even notice a slight swell on that side of my face when I do it. It makes the node sore.

I asked my doc about this the other week that if I poke at it, will it get bigger and tender and she said yes. The thing is though if I leave it alone the tenderness goes away and so does the swelling.

I did go through a lymphoma scare and went to the er. The er doctor told me that lymphoma lumps keep growing and when its gold ball size then you need to worry. Also she said that they grow fast. Even then it doesn't mean its anything sometimes.

I have had re-ocurring bouts of tonsilitis all of my life, I'm 31 so I imagine each time I had this the nodes in my neck would swell. When this happens through infections, the nodes don't always go back to a tiny size.

I've had this node same size for a year. Even though at times I worry that it is bigger, I just try to tell myself the above.

[SweetP]

Thank you sooo much, you really helped ease my fears. I guess I'll just watch it and if it gets bigger, I'll have it checked.

[JohnCase]

Hi Sweetp

Our bodies are not exactly the same on both sides. I have one lymph node under my chin/cheek on left that is a bit bigger than the right. The right is teeny tiny. The left is about 1cm. I've had my doc feel about 1 year ago and she said there was nothing unusual to feel. The size has not changed. If I poke around at it, it gets swollen and I even notice a slight swell on that side of my face when I do it. It makes the node sore.

I asked my doc about this the other week that if I poke at it, will it get bigger and tender and she said yes. The thing is though if I leave it alone the tenderness goes away and so does the swelling.

I did go through a lymphoma scare and went to the er. The er doctor told me that lymphoma lumps keep growing and when its gold ball size then you need to worry. Also she said that they grow fast. Even then it doesn't mean its anything sometimes.

I have had re-ocurring bouts of tonsilitis all of my life, I'm 31 so I imagine each time I had this the nodes in my neck would swell. When this happens through infections, the nodes don't always go back to a tiny size.

I've had this node same size for a year. Even though at times I worry that it is bigger, I just try to tell myself the above.

Hi Hamster,

Hopefully you are still on the site and monitoring your posts :-)

I have just one question really. When you were at the Doc and she said that the lumps grow fast and big, did she mention any sort of time frame the nodes would grow? I've had this small pea sized node about an inch under my jaw for the last two months.  Its moveable and I would assume a half inch or less...

Im currently on antibiotics for an upper respiratory infection.  Maybe that could be the reason for the node swelling up?

[Fenway77]

I've had one on the left side of my jaw since at least May.  I have to really kind of push up into the flesh...but it's still there (last time I checked).  I've had two doctors look at it...and neither one was concerned in the least. 

[hamsterswheel]

Hi John

I realise you posted this last month. Just to say she didn't mention times frame but anotherdoc told me it can be sudden or weeks.

How is the lymph node now?

Funnily enough I'm going through a setback just now and I still have that node, exactly the same size over 2.5 years later. Seeing my own post and how long ago I posted has given me reassurance.