Dear Worried Mommy,

I wish I could answer you differently, but yes, my 15 year old daughter had a lymph node in her neck right under her jawline swell up too.  It was about the size of a pecan by the time we had it needle biopsied (time span May-July).  The result came back benign reactive lymph node.  The ENT suggested removal due to the size but also offered anitbiotics as an option to see if it would go down.  We chose to have it removed.  When the mass was tested again after surgery we got the completely different report of lymphoma. Within 2 weeks we had diagnosis and staging complete and started chemotherapy.  We are 4 weeks in and have 5 more weeks to go.  Doctors are positive at this point that this was caught very early and is localized at the site of the lymph node removal.  It sounds like you are on top of the situation though, by coming to this site and seeking advise. Best of luck to you and your child.

Caity,

My daughter had no symptoms, just the swollen lymph node that started to be more visible while we were on vacation during the July 4 week.  She has always been very healthy, maybe a cold once a year and chicken pox about 3 years ago.  Other than that, completely healthy.  She was just tired of the knot in her neck and wanted to find out why it was there and growing instead of getting smaller.  We had it removed because she said it was uncomfortable under her jaw (especially when she would lie down to go to sleep.  The only reason we didn't wait was because we didn't want to end up having surgery during the first trimester of high school.  Her ENT didn't think it would reduce in size since it had been big for a couple of months so he was all for removal too. Her blood work was normal, chest x-ray normal,nasal/throat scope normal, biopsy was benign.

Regarding the excision, the ENT performed it at a surgery center in the morning and we were home by around 1:00.  It was a simple procedure and of course general anesthesia, but the incision was small (less than 3/4 of an inch).

I based my decision on the ENT recommending removal either immediately or after a round of antibiotics--either way he was pretty sure it would be coming out.  Plus, my daughter was just ready to get it over with too.

MollysMom

Hi Caity,

So sorry i haven't responded to your question about the size.  My daughter's lymph node was between pecan and walnut size when we had it removed. I'm glad you and your daughter have decided to go ahead and get hers removed and tested.  I'll keep you guys in my prayer's.

Did your daughter have the lymph node taken out?  I'm hoping that she did and that you haven't updated because you got good news.

I was wondering how she tolerated the surgery.  I have a couple of swollen lymph nodes that nobody is making much out of but I want them removed because they've been swollen for too long.  The anxiety that this is causing me is becoming too much to handle at this point and I just want them taken out to be sure that what I'm being told about these lymph nodes is true.  I also had a FNA but the ENT warned me that it's not very good if I'm trying to rule out lymphoma as a cause of the swelling.  The biopsy came back as reactive but the pathologist had a hard time seeing all of the cells because of the way that my doctor processed the slides.

My parents and husband are warning me about the risks of having my neck cut open especially when all of the doctors that I've seen (primary care, 2 ENTs and another more "academic one" soon, hematologist/onc, and endocrinologist - due to my specimen being labeled as a thyroid FNA by mistake but was finally corrected after I made a lot of noise about it) tell me that these lymph nodes are benign.  They say that I will have a scar for the rest of my life and do I really want that if everyone is saying benign.  They say that I will be in a lot of pain afterwards.  Right now, I'm willing to deal with that so I don't risk letting this go on any longer if I actually do need treatment and if I don't need treatment so I don't destroy my mental health and overall well being for any longer.

Thank you.

Caity, I am so thrilled to find out that your daughter's lymph node was benign.  Yaaaayyyy!!  I bet you and her are so relieved.  Liquid vicodin sounds great.  We had to go the route of sprinking the capsule contents into some applesauce, but it did the trick.

Wishing you all an early Happy Thanksgiving!