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Worry my boyfriend has lymphoma

Today I found 2 swollen lymph nodes on the side of the neck of my better half. He hadn't notice Them before, but one was pretty large.
- Not tender
- Hard
- Not easy to move (I guess)
- Don't know for how long they've been there
- He gets night sweats

I had a friend who had lymphoma, and it's a terrible disease. I worry a lot right now, and I'm not sure I can convince him to go see his GP
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1081992 tn?1389903637
COMMUNITY LEADER
This very good site is from the association for GPs, it gives insight into how a GP would think about generalized lymphadenopathy, which is more serious than localized:
https://www.aafp.org/afp/2016/1201/p896.html
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Thanks a lot, I really appreciate you taking your time to reply!
1081992 tn?1389903637
COMMUNITY LEADER
I just noticed that you are from Denmark. Your command of American English is excellent.

The vast majority of people have got the Epstein Barr virus. Then it is forever, though for most it remains dormant. Rarely, it can cause problems over years:
https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/diseases/9534/chronic-active-epstein-barr-virus-infection

Or it could be some other infection. Or benign non-infection. A cancer is one of the rarer causes.

The things you listed are "non-specific" (could be from various causes):
- Not tender
- Hard
- Not easy to move (I guess)
- He gets night sweats
Helpful - 0
1081992 tn?1389903637
COMMUNITY LEADER
Maybe you've heard of mononucleosis (a viral infection) referred to as 'glandular fever'.
https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/understanding-mononucleosis-causes#1

If I recall correctly, when children get it, there aren't many symptoms. It's worse for teens, but then can be even worse in twenties. You'd have to check that, there's a lot of variability.
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Oh, I didn't know the english term for it.
He had it years ago, not sure one can get it multiple times?
1081992 tn?1389903637
COMMUNITY LEADER
"...one in his armpit and one in his groin"
That's important. Yes, he should go to a doctor. Yes, they are almost certainly lymph nodes. This is called "generalized lymphadenopathy".

The most common benign cause is probably mono, if he is in that age range - except then there should be symptoms. Maybe it's some other infection. Cancer is *not* near to being the most likely cause - except maybe in elderly. There are a lot of possibilities, so don't jump right away to thinking lymphoma.

Let me know how this turns out, okay? Do you have any other questions while I'm here? I'll wait around a while.

Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Thanks, I needed that!
What do you mean by "mono"?
1081992 tn?1389903637
COMMUNITY LEADER
Well, at only 1-1,5 cm and with the possibility that the nodes enlarged as a  reaction to the nick on the skin, a doctor might not be very concerned at this point. But I certainly would keep an eye on them, though without pressing a lot on them. If the large one gets larger still, or more of them pop up, then that's the time to re-evaluate.

If the nodes did enlarge overnight, that to me is a strong indication that this is not-cancer. Being oval shaped is also a sign of not-cancer, though being round might or might not be.

I don't believe that a doc would order a scan at this point, but at most might order antibiotics to see what happens... if you want to try for that.
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Yesterday I found one in his armpit and one in his groin. I think it's lymph nodes.. I'm not a doctor.
1081992 tn?1389903637
COMMUNITY LEADER
Hi, how big is the biggest one? What's your rough guess on that?

Any change?
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
About 1-1,5 cm
Avatar universal
He has not been ill lately, only got a scratch from cutting hair with a trimmer yesterday.
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