Before my cancer diagnosis, I was in great health. I was always very active. I would typically get a cold during the cold/flu season but nothing out of the ordinary.
I was getting over one of those colds when I noticed an enlarged lymph node in the side of my neck. My pediatrician said it was inflamed because I had been sick. I then started losing energy, and after classes or work, I just wanted to lay down and relax. The bump in my neck never went away. After getting a new primary care doctor, I explained my concern that the bump had not gone away for over a year. It was cold/flu season again, and I had just gotten over another cold, so I was told, once again, that it was from the cold. After being told twice that I shouldn’t be concerned, I went on thinking the bump was normal.
Take the risk of speaking up about all of your symptoms. Take the risk of being your own best advocate.
Seven years stand between the time I first noticed the bump in my neck and mentioned it to my previous doctors and when my concerns were finally taken seriously by a new doctor who helped to diagnose me with thyroid cancer.
I urge others to listen to your body and take action. If you voice your concern and nothing is done about it, then keep asking. If your current health providers still do not look into your concerns, then ask elsewhere and never give up until you are properly examined. There can be a million reasons as to why you aren’t feeling well or why something seems off. However, we are given one life on this beautiful planet and taking chances as to what the reason may or may not be is not the risk you should be taking. Take the risk of asking too many questions. Take the risk of being overly precautious. Take the risk of speaking up about all of your symptoms. Take the risk of being your own best advocate.
Symptoms
- lump in neck
- loss of energy
