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Could tiredness, swollen lymph nodes and itching mean something serious?

Hi. I have been a tired lately and a few weeks ago I noticed a swollen lymph node on the right side of my neck. It's about 1,5cm. I can't feel lymph nodes on the other side of my neck and the lymph nodes on my joints feel a lot smaller. I have also been itching a lot for a month now on my arms, shoulders, legs and chest. I didn't think it was abnormal until i got really tired and noticed the lymph node. Moisturizing it doesn't work for it. Should I be worried or go to the doctor?
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1081992 tn?1389903637
COMMUNITY LEADER
Oh, and for the groin nodes... they tend to be larger but I don't think that normal groin nodes would be palpable unless you are very lean.

The most likely cause there would be infection, even from stepping on something outdoors.
Helpful - 0
1081992 tn?1389903637
COMMUNITY LEADER
"Im 19"
Then if it were lymphoma, which it probably isn't, then it would probably be Hodgkins Lymphoma and not non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. You likely know that itching can go with Hodgkins, but then again it can come from immune cells just reacting to something.

The size can go either way.

But all in all, a doctor can see you in person and know if things are suspicious for a cancer, while this talk online is just theoretical and is meant to give an insight into how a doc might think about it.

I would go to a doc without being overly alarmed or worried, and see that as the chance to rule out lymphoma.
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1081992 tn?1389903637
COMMUNITY LEADER
The following things say what probably points to cancer or to not-cancer. The only way to be sure is to have a biopsy where they take out the whole node and examine it. But still, a scan such as an ultrasound can tell a very lot, without requiring surgery.

being moveable = probably not-cancer

it feels a bit hard = either way

popping up overnight = probably not-cancer

not getting bigger and bigger = probably not-cancer

but being rounded tends to being cancer, except if it's under the jawline

some pain tends to probably not-cancer

==============

A doc might ordinarily say "let's wait 2 weeks to see if it goes down on it's own". But you've already done that.

A doc might give an antibiotic to see if the node goes down. Any possibility of infection in your head/mouth? Any impact as in a sport? Any new medications being taken?

Or a doc might order an ultrasound of the node.


"English is not my native language..."
Your English is very good :)
Helpful - 0
1081992 tn?1389903637
COMMUNITY LEADER
Hi, Alan. A cancer is not the most likely cause, but it is a possibility.

Is the node freely moveable if you try to push it around?

Would you guess that it might have grown slowly, as opposed to popping up almost overnight? Has the size changed since you noticed it? Any pain or tenderness?

What is your age?


"the lymph nodes on my joints feel a lot smaller"
I'm not sure what that means. You can feel bumps on your joints?
Helpful - 0
1 Comments
Thank you for your answer!

The node is moveable when i press it slightly from it’s side. When i press directly to it, it feels a bit hard.

I think it has been growing slowly, because I usually notice changes in my body pretty easily. The node has been pretty much the same size since a noticed it, but it has been getting a little more ”ball shaped” instead of a bean I would say. When i push it, it gets a bit sore for a few minutes but it goes away. No other pain.

Im 19.

English is not my native language so I messed up a few words there. I meant groin, not joint. Sorry for that and my other grammar mistakes if I made them.

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