Could it be cancer?

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.

Content supplied by the NHS Website

Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018