Lump on back of the head that I have had for years
Together we will beat cancer
More…
More…
More…
More…
You are here
We know it’s a worrying time for people with cancer, we have information to help. If you have symptoms of cancer contact your doctor.
8 posts since
2 Oct 2020
Hello.
I am 16 years old and have had a lump at the back of my head for a couple of years now. I discovered it a young age, however it did not cause me any pain at that time so I just forgot about it for years. However recently (a couple of months) I have been feeling pressure on that lump and it feels as though it has gone bigger in size. That pressure is now giving me nerve pain all down my neck and all up my head. The lump is on the left side at the back of my head.
if anyone has any advice on what to do and what it could be please could you let me know as I am freaking out because of the pain.
thank you.
11 posts since
23 Sep 2020
Hi,
the obvious thing to do would be to go and see your GP about it. They will examine your lump and will be able to tell if it looks sinister and possibly refer you for scans.
There is nothing else that anyone on here can suggest as it’s something that needs to be seen by a doctor in person to be evaluated.
Take into account it’s more likely to be an inflamed lymph node and they usually swell up because of infection and sometimes for no obvious reason as well. Scary things like lymphoma (cancer of the lymph nodes) are usually characterised by painless lumps. We can’t know what has caused your lump to become painful so please get it checked asap. A painful lump will get you an appointment with your GP pretty fast. It’s also a good idea since you’re in pain and this needs to be solved.
I have two lumps on the back of my head that I have had for several weeks now and my GP saw me on one of their same day emergency appointments just this week. I have to have a blood test next week seeing as I have various other symptoms like constant bad fatigue but the lumps themselves (painless for me) didn’t look sinister she said.
If anything comes up with the blood test she will refer me for ultrasounds.
Good luck and take care.
35 posts since
23 Apr 2020
It could also be a cyst these are usually painless, but if they become inflamed/ bigger they can become more painful, if you see your gp they can probably arrange for it to be removed, these are not usually cancerous, but either way you need to see your gp
193 posts since
23 Aug 2012
Hello and thanks for your post,
Although it’s understandable that you may be worried, it probably has a straightforward medical explanation. It is probably part of your normal anatomy.
You may have irritated a nerve/muscle in your neck. Occipital neuralgia causes nerve type pain.
Take some simple painkillers, and use a firm pillow. You can try applying alternate ice packs/warm bag to the area of the neck.
Your GP can assess you, initially by telephone, and hopefully be able to advise you. They may suggest some physiotherapy exercises for example, or some other tests.
So do make the appointment with the GP as no one else will be able to say what this may be.
All the best
Vanda
8 posts since
2 Oct 2020
Thank you for your response and advice!
I have booked a telephone appointment with my GP, and they said i couldn’t get an urgent appointment as the lump has been there for years, so it is not urgent. However, if it gets big in size I need to call again and book an urgent one.
8 posts since
2 Oct 2020
Hi,
At first I thought it was a cyst, but I think that cysts have some kind of fluid in them? My lump doesn’t seem to feel like it has any fluid in it as it is quite hard.
thank you!
8 posts since
2 Oct 2020
Thank you for your advice!
I also think my nerve pain is due to bad posture.. as I’m always on my phone and because of Coronavirus, I was home from school for 6 months and all I did was sit on my phone all day and night.
I have booked a telephone appointment with my GP to check out the lump, etc.
35 posts since
23 Apr 2020
Cysts can be hard too, depending on what type of cyst it is, the most common one on the head is a pilar cyst, these tend to feel hard, I have 3 on my head, all hard they hurt a little if I press them, but I’ve had them years. There is also Epidermoid cysts, these tend to be soft and probably what you were thinking of. I had one of them checked years ago and was put off having it removed when they mentioned shaving my hair around it, not what we women usually want to hear. Im glad you have a gp appointment they should be able to set your mind to rest. Good luck and try not to worry too much, I know easier said than done.
8 posts since
2 Oct 2020
Hi,
Where are your cysts located, and do they hurt? My lump is located at the back of my head on the left side, do you think lumps can be located there?
thank you, and sorry for all the questions!
35 posts since
23 Apr 2020
Yes.
I have one at back in the middle, one on the right top of head, and one on top left of head too, they are uncomfortable if I lean on them especially if its a hard surface, they can be painful if pressed on, I don’t think its the lumps themselves that painful but the area around where they are situated, sometime if I knock one I can feel a bit of a headache a dull ache, my husband has one on top of his head too he says his does not hurt at all, nor bother him, they all vary in size and are all hard, I’ve had one of mine since I was a child, used to bang top of head a lot (bunk beds, top of car doorways) cysts do tend to come up in areas of the head we have bumped in the past. Do you recall ever banging your head in that area as a child? The other 2 developed during my early 20s late teens and I’m now 45, I think if they were sinister in anyway I would of known by now. If its a cyst they can remove them pretty easily.
8 posts since
2 Oct 2020
Ahhh. I have had my lump since I was a young too, as i was a very paranoid child who checked for lumps and bumps, ahahahah. However at the time it didn’t cause me any pain so I just forgot about it, but now I’m 16 nearly 17 and it’s causing me pain and I can feel pressure at the area.
Thank you!
35 posts since
23 Apr 2020
I would still go get it checked, especially if its become painful, have you knocked it recently, sometimes they can become infected, but I would think it might look a little inflamed appear red/purple like its bruised, if it quite big it might be putting pressure on nerves, causing pain, that just me guessing, but I would still bring it to the attention to your gp.
8 posts since
2 Oct 2020
I can’t really see it because my hair is quite long so it covers it. I have a telephone appointment on the 19th, and we’ll see from there. I’m quite nervous in case it’s something serious, but I haven’t had any symptoms to suggest that thank goodness, except the pain and the lump, but I’ve had it for years so I’m guessing it’s probably just a cyst or swollen lymph node, (trying to stay positive)!
35 posts since
23 Apr 2020
Thats all you can do, lymph nodes go up and down, some can take weeks to go down, some hurt, some don’t, its very rare for them to be anything sinister, but it is common for them to swell.
8 posts since
2 Oct 2020
Hi, I just wanted to update you on the lump as I just had my appointment.
the doctor said he can feel a lump however it doesn’t seem serious at all as the lump is smooth and is quite small, and the lump will probably be a part of me forever. He also said that the discomfort I’m feeling in my neck is most likely due to bad posture and not much exercise (due to corona).
thank you for all the help!
Lump on back of the head that I have had for years
Research & References of Lump on back of the head that I have had for years|A&C Accounting And Tax Services
Source
0 Comments