Swollen Glands in the Neck May Indicate Cancer
Swollen Glands in the Neck May Indicate Cancer – Doctors should refer any unexplained swollen glands in the neck to specialists, researchers say.
Two studies conducted by researchers from University of Exeter Medical School and Universities of Oxford, Cambridge and Bangor, conclude that persistent swollen lymph glands in the neck could mean lymphoma, a type of cancer, that affects nearly 14,500 people in the UK every year, with almost 5,000 dying from the disease. Most of the deaths are avoidable. Lymphoma affects the lymphatic system in the body, which include the lymph nodes (lymph glands), spleen, thymus gland and bone marrow – all of these organs help fight disease.
Researchers found that over 40% of those who were later diagnosed with lymphoma, had visited their general practitioners two to three times before they were referred to cancer specialists. They say that such patients should be screened for cancer earlier to prevent needless deaths. Although swollen lymph glands in the neck can appear during throat infections, the risk of persistent and painless glands turning out to be cancerous is higher than previously thought.
Both the studies focused on patients over the age of 40, and those with non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, and Hodgkin Lymphoma, and in both, swollen lymph glands in the neck were key symptoms. Blood tests did not help in the diagnosis of lymphoma.
Lead author, Dr Liz Shephard, of the University of Exeter Medical School, hopes that this study will improve guidelines for referring patients with swollen lymph glands to cancer specialists, and help early diagnosis and treatment.
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