Swollen Glands

Could it be cancer?

Source: NHS

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Occasionally, swollen glands can be a sign of cancer that has started elsewhere in the body and spread to the lymph nodes, or atype of cancer affecting the white blood cells, such as non-Hodgkin lymphoma or chronic lymphocytic leukaemia .

Swollen glands are more likely to be caused by cancer if they:

don't go away within a few weeks and slowly get bigger
are painless and firm or hard when you touch them
occurwith other symptoms, such as night sweats and weight loss

See your GP if your glands have been swollen for more thana couple of weeks. The swelling isprobably the result ofa non-cancerous condition, but it's best to be sure by getting a proper diagnosis.

Articles for Swollen Glands

Common causes of swollen glands

Swollen glands are usually caused by a relatively minor viral or bacterial infection, including: a Cold tonsillitis glandular fever a throat infection an ear infection a dental abscess

Could it be cancer?

Introduction

Swollen lymph glands are usually a sign of infection and tend to go down when you recover. However, they can sometimes have a more serious cause.

Less common causes of swollen glands

Less often, swollen glandsmay be the result of: rubella a viral infection that causes a red-pink skin rash made up of small spots measles a highly infectious viral illnessthat causes distinctive

When to see your GP

See your GP if you have swollen glands and: they haven't gone down within a few weeks or are getting bigger theyfeel hard or dont move when you press them you also have a sore throat and find it d