Lumpy neck 4 years after radiotheraphy

Does anyone else suffer from this? My neck seems to have got progesively hard and lumpy since radiotheraphy to the lymph node area. Had blood tests in June which all seemed OK, and early this year I had a biopsy of the area and results were clear. The consultant suggested the lumpiness is due to reaction from radiotherapy, but it seems to be getting worse… It seems silly to be worrying but my neck aches a lot and the lumpiness is now quite noticeable and spreading.

PatriciaM

Not sure if this is the same as you but I developed a lump at the side of my neck near to my collar bone, it is not very big and more like fluid than a lump, after worrying myself for a couple of days I contacted my BC nurse and was immediately seen by my consultant and after a ultra scan was told that it was nothing to worry about and just a delayed reaction to Radiotherapy although very rare for this to happen and my consultant had only ever seen this once before, she will monitor it for me and I will be called back in 3 months, hope this helps.

Debra

Hi Pat,

I read back thru a search on your posts and see that this has been going on since may last year. I think you mentioned then that it was in the lymph node? Are these latest lumps also lymph nodes. I had a problem back in April 2002 when I had a couple appear around my collar bone and although my onc did nothing about them (preferred to watch and see) he was aware. My breast rads were in 1991 & 2000 but no suggestion that this was in any way related. Over the rest of that year (2002) more lumps appeared particularly coming up both sides of my neck to the jawline below the ears. They couldnt biopsy any except one larger one below my ear because of the position they were in but it was inconclusive. The onc did feel it was an indication the cancer might be on the move but as I had already had a lot of chemos still preferred to wait until there were signs that it was moving to organs, so that I didn’t use remaining options to soon. (can’t really see the logic in this but there you go…). Dec 02 I was dx with extensive bone mets - the lymph nodes were increasing in size, my neck down one side was going rigid with scar tissue, so I had chemo to control them which worked initial but they came back a few weeks after finishing. They then checked tissue from last mastectomy and found I was her2+++ and i started on hereceptin and the lumps never came back.

So obviously from all that if it is your lymph nodes I don’t think you are being silly to worry. If yours is anything like mine then do keep pressing your onc for answers.

dawnhc
xxx

Most of my breast went extremely hard and lump after rads, to the point I found it difficult to self examine and I’ve been leaving it to the oncologists at my check ups. It’s only just started to settle down and soften again. I finished rads in April of last year.

Patricia

If its getting worse you definitely need answers that convince you I had lumpy lymph nodes during 2007 and showed them to tons of doctors, lost count, they all dismissed it. I was diagnosed with bone and liver secondaries in november. they went away after taxotere - I actually think they were not cancerous- just an indication of problems elsewhere.

Did you have rads there - that could certainly account for it - so it may well be nothing…but if you are concerned you are right to get answers,

take care
cathy

Thank you everyone. I have a follow up consultation in December so will definately chase it up then. I am a bit reluctant to go back earlier as I had lots of test done in June (bone scan, blood test, liver scan) and these all came up OK. My consultant thinks the lumpiness if due to the radiotherapy I had to lymph nodes in the neck area (after my orginal “loads of nodes” diagnosis) It’s just that it seems to be changing and covering a larger area now.

PatX

Decided to go back to my consultant today as, looking at myself in the mirror while I was having my hair cut, decided I looked like a hamster. Had biopsy and ultrasound, results on Monday but the consultant (a new one, as my usual consultant is on holiday) is pretty sure that it is a secondary tumour. He did not even want to discuss any other possibilities and has already arranged CT scan. I feel sick…

Patricia

I just thought I would check in here and see whats up -Oh god I am sorry to hear this, What is this about neck lumpiness that people want to dismiss,I hope it doesnt turn out to be what you are fearing, or that maybe the neck is the only area of problems, Typical isnt it everyone is on holiday just when you need them…thinking of you on monday,

take care
Cathy