Good morning,
Two nights ago while blow drying my hair I discovered a huge golf ball or larger size lump in my clavicle area. Is this common for this cancer to travel to clavicle? I go to my ENT Friday and scared because I know that swollen lymph nodes in clavicle aren't good. Would the lymph node be hard? This lymph node is is not hard as a rock but definitely quite large. I'm at wits end. This is the same side that all my throat pain is on also.
Thanks for any help.

It can be many things, a cyst. It's not often the clavicle area is involved in oropharyngeal cancer, but can, and if it is I believe is not a good area like you mentioned being low in the lymph chain, and might be level V. I tried looking through your posts, and can't see your name, info, but that area can also involve other type of cancers, breast for example. HNC lymphs drain down, others type cancers can drain upward. Lymph nodes can be hard or soft. When small they can be soft, and when they attach to other structures, can be hard. I know how waiting is, but that's what has to be done, and deal with whatever it is, and hopefully something minor. Good luck.

What is level 5? Stage 5? The lymph node is on the same side as my throat pain. I have had 2 Ct scans, a tonsillectomy with two small biopsies which came back ok. I can't believe this is happening, but I didn't see anyone who had clavicle swelling on any of these sites. Wow. I'm so scared, because I have always known this isn't a good place for swelling.

There is no such thing as Stage 5 with cancer. The rating is Stage I thru IV.

The lump could be anything. Go to your family doctor to get checked.

I have an app. at the ENT Friday.

Level V is the area of lymph nodes in the cervical neck. There are VII levels, level I though VII in the lymph chain in the cervical neck, with over 300 lymph nodes, mostly microscopic, and each area certain H&N cancers travel to first, and can be a clue where the primary is at diagnosis. For example, oropharynx cancer usually goes to level II first, Oral cancer to level I, but there can be skip metastases, and further involvement. The further down the chain cancer goes, can be more difficult to treat.

Stage IV cancer also has, a, b and c depending the number of lymph nodes, size, and involvement to distant area, and other structures.

Level IV aso has dares close to the collar bone.

They can do a FNAB, under ultrasound guidance, to see if its cancerous or not, and other pathology.

Good luck.

I have an app. at the ENT Friday. I'm sorry, I see you were talking about the lymph nodes being level 5. Sorry.

Good luck Friday! Hope the ENT will finally get to the bottom of your issues.

Thanks everyone. I have been very scared and now I'm petrified. I just hoped this HUGE thing would be gone this morning, but no such luck. Hope everyone is doing well.

I dont know your age but I have the suspicion you are a younger member. My son who is now 24 occasionally has one of his lymph nodes swell so it shows a large lump along his jawline. This first began when he was only about 17 and has happened about 3 times. After everything I went thru I was very concerned he had something seriously wrong. Turns out it was nothing more than a swollen node which can happen to any person at any time. Being the location it looked huge. I hope this will help to reassure you that it really will be ok.

Please try to focus on more positive things and stay very busy. Keeping your mind off the issue will help you feel better. Read a detailed book or do an activity you enjoy, anything that requires lots of concentration. By constantly focusing on your ailments they will always appear to be so much worse than it really is.

Maybe think of it this way.... whats the worst thing that could happen? Having cancer? Even if you would have cancer its not the end of the world. You can still get treated and go on to have a great life. So maybe if you consider that into the mix and understand being a cancer patient is the worst scenario and that it is NOT the end of the world it will help you to not be so afraid. The odds of it being OC are low, especially if you are young and otherwise healthy. I know you have several symptoms but gosh, if you look hard enough those medical sites could diagnose you with bubonic plague. I know you are afraid but you need to pull yourself together and see the big picture. By focusing on this so much you are causing severe stress on your body and that in itself is enough to make someone ill.

Hang in there and try to limit how much time you devote to worrying. It wont ever change a diagnosis or do anything positive for you. I dont mean to sound harsh at all or cruel or to give the impression I dont understand your situation. I do understand you all too well and my concern is its not healthy to spend so much time being scared and stressed. I am sympathetic to everything you are going thru. I feel terrible about how you have seen so many doctors and had so many tests done and still no concrete diagnosis to all your issues. I will even assist you thru all of this if you would like my help one on one, PM me. Good luck with the ENT!