Hard lump in upper neck

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Hello, I was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer a year ago at 25 years old. I had chemotherapy, double mastectomy, radiation and I am still continuing my Herceptin treatments. Just this past week I discovered a hard lump on the side of my neck just under my ear and jaw line, it's not tender or anything just hard. My oncologist prescribed a Z pack and eardrops to rule out any infection. It's been almost a week and a lump has not gotten any smaller. If it is still there when I see him into weeks and he will order and ultrasound and biopsy. Has anyone had a similar problem? I'm so worried that its cancer

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  • Tomboy
    Tomboy Member Posts: 3,945
    edited October 2015

    I am dealing with that now too. But since I was also having head aches, Bs ordered brain scan, overkill in my opinion, but everything was fine with my head. Bs said to stop tamoxifen for two weeks, it's been 5 days, and I am still having head aches. She thinks its an overworked muscle. I don't think so. Tomorrow I go see PCP, see what he says, he has known about this for a couple months now. Then, if he doesn't order any ultrasound or anything- I will be calling my friends ear nose and throat dr, because I also have a lump on the front of my neck, off to the right side, weird. Good luck, hope it's nothing. Wow, you are so young. I hope they can get to the bottom of it for you soon.

  • HMarieP
    HMarieP Member Posts: 8
    edited October 2015

    Thanks for responding! Since I am technically in menopause now I was switched from tamoxifen to Aromasin. I too get headaches that freak me out. My oncologist didn't seem too concerned. When he felt my neck he acted like the lump was very small. But I don't think that we were feeling the same thing because it The same size if not bigger than the port I have in my chest. It is very hard and seems locked in place. it feels like I have another one in the front of my neck. I just have a bad feeling about it. I really hope it goes away before my next doctors appointment but if not I guess and ultrasound is what's next.



  • Tomboy
    Tomboy Member Posts: 3,945
    edited October 2015

    Wait. You are in menopause? At 25? Did you have your ovaries out? I am surprised he was willing to take them out at 25. Or did you just do ovarian suppression?

    I hate it when I ask them to feel something, because i feel like they are never feeling where I am feeling. I sometimes put there fingers right on it, and sometimes they couldn't feel it still! Grr. And I am the one who found mine.

  • HMarieP
    HMarieP Member Posts: 8
    edited October 2015

    i'm doing the ovarian suppression right now with a monthly shot just until I get my ovaries removed. My oncologist said I definitely need them out since my cancer is triple positive. I also got a second opinion and they agree with him. He said I don't have to be in a rush but that I should get them out sometime soon if I wanted to be as aggressive as possible.

    Yeah I found mine as well. So that's why this lump on my neck is freaking me out so bad. It's just in a weird spot, it's under my ear wedged between where my neck and the edge of my jaw bone meet. It can mostly br felt when I tilt me head to the side I really hope that is just an infection!

  • Tomboy
    Tomboy Member Posts: 3,945
    edited October 2015

    I have two. One is on the front of my throat, on the right side, more on the front than on the side. Not really where a node would be, but where the voice box would be, or adams apple. But it's not the adams apple its to on top of it and to the right. it feels so much bigger, that it makes the left side seem concave. And the second lump is behind my ear, lower than the ear actually, towards the base of the skull, and neck. I did have a brain mri, but it only does to the base of the skull. not the neck anywhere. I am going to see my pcp tomorrow see what he says.. An ultra sound should be able to show them more for you.

    Weren't the doctors worried about what the lack of ovaries would do to your bones and brain and cardiovascular system? (usually what they give as reasons for menopausal women to do HRT for). You are still building bone!

  • Tomboy
    Tomboy Member Posts: 3,945
    edited October 2015

    You don't need them out, you can do tamoxifen. Or ovarian suppression with an aromatase inhibitor. You may not like aromatase inhibitors, plenty don't. I am not a fan. Of them, OR Tamoxifen. But I am doing tamox, cause I must do something. I have tried them all.

  • HMarieP
    HMarieP Member Posts: 8
    edited October 2015

    Yeah I was reading up on the effects of no estrogen so young and brought some questions up for my Oncologist. He said he can give me bone shots and Calcium but that all be mentioned. I know estrogen plays an important role in women's bodies so I'm kind of afraid for it to be all gone. It's been almost a year in "menopause" and I can feel it in my joints.


    I was on tamoxifen for a few months and he switched me to an AI because he said there was a study done that shows its more effective than tamoxifen when inmenopause. I have been getting ovary suppressant shots for a year too, so when he tested my blood estrogen levels I guess it was low enough to for me to take the AI as long as I continue the shot.


    I met with a gyno oncologist and she said the suppressant and removal of the ovaries are pretty much they same thing. So with that said I'm probably just gonna take my time before I have that surgery.

    Please let me know what your doctor says about your neck lumps! I hope they are nothing!!

  • Tomboy
    Tomboy Member Posts: 3,945
    edited October 2015

    I am glad you are going to wait a little! I started feeling kinda stupid yesterday when I told myself, ' I am sure she is aware of all of this stuff!'. I will let you know what I find out. I just woke up with another massive head ache...

  • kathleen1966
    kathleen1966 Member Posts: 793
    edited October 2015

    If I put earings in, and they are not pure metal of some sort, I will get a hard lump in this exact area. I think it is more likely ear related in that area, just my two cents....

  • HMarieP
    HMarieP Member Posts: 8
    edited October 2015

    I just saw my ENT. He said he is thinking it is a parotid mass, I have a CT scheduled for Friday morning. He said once we get those images we will do a biopsy if it's needed. He said most masses are not cancer but can't rule that out completely. I'm super nervous!!!

  • Tomboy
    Tomboy Member Posts: 3,945
    edited October 2015

    Crossing fingers eyes legs and toes for you! Let us know. I go to see ENT on friday. I just am wanting to know what it is...

    Kathleen 1966, thanks! I hardly ever wear earrings, but they are usually sterling silver, or surgical steel. I am a silversmith, though, and I guess I could make them all sterling, or gold wire.

  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited October 2015

    Keep us posted. The waiting game sucks. Thinking good thoughts for you!

  • leftduetostupidmods
    leftduetostupidmods Member Posts: 620
    edited October 2015

    Few people know that actually the salivary glands (parotids) have estrogen receptors as well, and that estrogen inhibitors have been used to treat ductal carcinoma of the parotids in several studies. I personally think that your parotid glands respond to the inhibition of estrogens somehow. Considering this, the probability to acquire anything malignant in that area WHILE on any estrogen inhibitor seems rather slim. Keep us posted please.

  • Tomboy
    Tomboy Member Posts: 3,945
    edited October 2015

    Thanks, seachain, I will have to study about that, that's very interesting. Welcome to BCO, hope you stay.

  • HMarieP
    HMarieP Member Posts: 8
    edited November 2015

    UPDATE: CT results were normal!! Thanks god! No sign of cancer or anything else abnormal! Lump is still there but glad its nothing :)

  • theresa45
    theresa45 Member Posts: 314
    edited November 2015

    Congratulations on your WONDERFUL news! :

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