How long does it take so that it is safe to say lymph nodes are benign if they have not increased in size?

Perhaps your doctor is a better person to ask than the gang here.

Thank you Gail however Ive asked my doctor and they already believe its benign because of the biopsy. This is for my own peace of mind.

@missjena Why would you think a stranger on the internet would be able to give you more accurate info than your own doctor?

I am sure that whatever has happened that caused the need for a biopsy has been unsettling, to say the least.

If you don’t have complete confidence in what your doctor is saying, I would recommend you gather all of your medical records and seek a second opinon, in person, with another doctor.

I wish you all the best….

@snoopy I just thought I might catch someone on here who has gone through a similar thing. I have gotten a second opinion and he wasnt concerned and said it can be normal to feel some lymph nodes however when I research it online it explains how you should never feel lymph nodes in the collar bones which gives me that unsettling feeling. I am just tired of going to these doctors. Thanks snoopy though for the wishes. Happy thanksgiving.

@missjena Hopefully time and continued health will calm your concerns.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours as well….

Maybe try researching some support groups for survivors of lymphoma and you may find some who have also experienced the presence / subsidence of benign growths…so as to cast a “narrower” net in your search.

Hopefully you find what you’re looking for…I know it’s no fun not knowing issues with health. Best of luck to you.

Alright, missjena…here is my story: I had an enlarged lymph node for most of my childhood. It was always big, and grew bigger when I was ill – even a pimple on my face could make it grow. I had a biopsy of the lymph node when I was 15 years old, because an uncle had Hodgkins disease. The docs initially thought it was about the size of a peanut, but once they got in there they found it to be the size of a golf ball. Since it was so large, they did not remove the whole thing, just cut a wedge out of it for biopsy. After the longest week of my life, I got the results: benign.

The remaining piece of lymph node (about 3/4 of the initial size) is still just as big as ever, and I am now 41 years old. I have never (knock on wood) had any kind of cancer. It has never caused me any trouble at all, except for the annoyance of it’s noticable existence.

There is no reason for why it’s enlarged, it just is. That’s just the way some of us are made. I understand that you’ve worried yourself half to death over this issue, but it’s time to let it go. Trust your doctor.

I agree with Aug. I have one lymph node in My neck that is palpable. It’s been big for years. I’m still as alive as ever.
Take care and relax. The worry alone can make you sick. Stress=decreased immune function.

You might find some answers here