I am a 40 yr old female and a couple of weeks I came down with a terrible sore throat and swollen glands in my neck - so swollen that you could see them. I went to the doctor - he thought I had mono - gave me antibiotics and did bloodwork to ck for mono and also sent me for an ultrasound of the neck. Well, the u/s came back showing two masses on each side of the thyroid - but, their etiology could not be determined - the radiologist said there was minimal flow to either one and could not exclude the lymph nodes, but to follow up with CT if things did not get better. Well, my mono test came back fine and I got somewhat better - glands still somewhat swollen - but, nothing like they were when I was sick. My doctor still ordered the CT which is tomorrow. I was not overly concerned about this at all until I discovered a lump in my mouth a couple of days ago. It is above my front left tooth - but, not right above the tooth - if you were to touch your front tooth and then keep going up until you were pushing in the space that almost reaches the nose - that is where the lump is - it is hard and does not move at all and is about the size of an almond. Just looking for any advice here. I do not have pain with this and I am an occasional smoker - but, used to be a pack a day smoker. Thanks! Lisa

Hello Lisa

The bony lump in the midline between the teeth high up under the nose could just be the prominence of the anterior nasal spine. Or it could be a bone exostoses.. It is unlikely to be a cancer. Leave it alone and if doesn't grow bigger or bother you, it is probably a ' discovered' natural bump. You should ask your dentist to confirm this.

The CT (or MRI scan) will help your doctors determine what the neck masses on the either side of the thyroid. Do get an answer. Let us know how you get on.

Best wishes
Vinod

Thank you for replying! Just a couple of quick questions if you could. The lump on my gum is actually not midline between the two front teeth but way above the left front tooth and actually goes from the left side of my nostril to about the the middle of my nose - it can be felt on the outside of my face under the nose - but can be seen and felt on the inside of my mouth - appears to be white lump and if I hold my lip up way high I can see it better - it is in the space way high up there. I know this has not been there all along and would estimate that it has probably been there possibly within the last 6 months. When I went for my CT today they put a marker on the spot and did the scan from that point of my nose to midline of chest - I am assuming this is the normal places to scan when they do a CT of the neck? I appreciate your answers and am more hopeful that the two are not related as I have been in massive panic ever since I found the lump. I am also early stage breast cancer at 34 with radiation - so am probably panicking more because of that.
Is it normal to have lymph nodes swell to a 2cm size with an infection or flu - that is about the size of the two masses in my neck, but because of there symmetry they were thinking it is benign, but could not be positive. Thanks again for taking the time to answer~!

Lisa

Woops - just to clarify - I am 40 now and had early stage breast cancer - with lumpectomy and radiation at 34 - no spread to lymph nodes that were noted - but, because it was DCIS they did not remove any lymph nodes. Thanks!

Hi Lisa

We will have to wait to see what your doctors and dentist say. Be positive, don't wear yourself out with worry. Do let us know how you get on.

Best wishes
Vinod

Thanks again for your response and best wishes! I decided tonight that I have worried myself enough and spent more time worrying this week than I ever should have. I am sure it will all come back normal and then I will have wasted so much time on nothing! So, I am going to just keep thinking positive - I feel better tonight after posting here! I go to my doctor on Monday to show him the lump in my mouth and he will be able to call and get the results of the CT while I am there - so at least I will have some results and hopefully resolve by late Monday afternoon! I will be sure to let you know what he says...

Thanks again!

Lisa

My CT results came back normal - I have no cancer - you do not even know what great news this was - being a cancer survivor the fear is always there! And the lump in my mouth is a Mucousal (sp?)cyst and he is referring me to and ENT as he said it needs to be removed as it will only get bigger... Thanks again for all your help!

Lisa

Hello Lisa,
March 2004 i had a severe tonsilitis. Two weeks later my top gland on the rhs of my neck swelled up quickly over a 4 day period - I felt awful -really weak and ill.
A neck cancer was diagnosed 6 MONTHS LATER!!
Swollen glands MUST be thoroughly checked and DON'T take no for an answer. Only a biopsy will show the truth. US shows very little as does as a FNA. - These are MY experiences as I was put on the very slow conveyor belt of the NHS.
Cynical and angry - you bet!
Check it out girl Quick. Let us know how you get on. Good Luck

Hi Tony!
Thanks for posting to me! I am so sorry that you had to go through all of this. My question is - I had a Cat Scan of the neck done - wouldn't any cancer show up on that? I guess I just thought I was in the all clear because of the CT scan being clear. I am scheduled to see an ENT a week from now because of the lump in my mouth. My regular doctor thinks it is a mucousal cyst. But, last week my throat became sore again - and then it went away after taking some cold meds and allergy pills. Then on Friday night - I smoked one cigarette and now I have almost completely lost my voice - it came on that quickly after I smoked the cigarette. Stupid to have smoked it at all with all I have been through, but it was the last one in the house - I have been an occasional smoker since having my baby last year - like maybe 5 a week sometimes none in a week. So, I smoked it to be done once and for all and now my voice is almost completely gone. I had a vocal cord nodule removed 3 years ago - it was benign. I am really concerned especially with this newest thing with my voice. Also, my glands while not as swollen as they were when I was sick are still somewhat swollen - the right side worse than the left. But, the CT was clear.... Any info would be great! Thanks again!
Lisa

Hi Lisa - Don't let my cynicism worry you!
You have done really well recovering from breast cancer. As we now know the mind is an extremely powerful tool in either assisting or hindering recovery.
If your medical experts said the CT scan showed no cancer I cannot disagree with them. - But as I read somewhere else on this site - A tissue biopsy is definitive. - These fine needle samples are often inconclusive.
Personally - I think you should be just fine
Good Luck girl!! - Tony