How Long Will It Take For The Glands To Go Down If Its Related To The Benralizumab?

Posted on Wed, 21 May 2025

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 21 May 2025 Answered on

Fri, 4 Jul 2025 Last reviewed on

Question : Ever since starting Benraluzimab for asthma (october 2024) I have had persistent swollen glands in my neck (left side).
My Doctor has referred me on a 2 week wait for suspected cancer. I am worried sick about this.
Can Benralizumab cause swollen glands that persist. My Respiratory Consultant has decided to stop this injection from today so I am hoping the glands will settle down spontaneously but obviously will go and be checked for suspected cancer in the meantime.
How long will it take for the glands to go down if its related to the Benralizumab.

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Elona (15 minutes later)

My GP has done the following blood tests which he says are reassuring

09/05/2025
Serum total bilirubin level 8 umol/L 0 - 20 Normal
Serum ALT level 31 u/L 7 - 40 Normal
Serum alkaline phosphatase 81 u/L 30 - 130 Normal
Serum total protein 70 g/L 61 - 78 Normal
Serum albumin 46 g/L 35 - 50 Normal
Serum globulin 24 g/L 19 - 33 Normal

Serum urea level 6.0 mmol/L 2.5 - 7.8 Normal
Serum creatinine 71 umol/L 49 - 90 Normal
Serum sodium 139 mmol/L 133 - 146 Normal
Serum potassium 4.7 mmol/L 3.5 - 5.3 Normal
GFR calculated abbreviatd MDRD 76 mL/min/1.73m2 > 90 Abnormal

Haemoglobin estimation 146 g/L 115 - 165 Normal
Red blood cell (RBC) count 4.77 10*12/L 3.80 - 4.80 Normal
Haematocrit 0.44 L/L 0.37 - 0.47 Normal
Mean corpuscular volume (MCV) 93.0 fL 80.0 - 100.0 Normal
Mean corpusc. haemoglobin(MCH) 30.6 pg 27.0 - 32.0 Normal
Mean corpusc. Hb. conc. (MCHC) 330 g/L 315 - 350 Normal
Red blood cell distribut width 13.0 11.5 - 14.5 Normal
Total white cell count 10.1 10*9/L 4.0 - 11.0 Normal
Neutrophil count 6.6 10*9/L 2.0 - 7.5 Normal
Lymphocyte count 2.9 10*9/L 1.0 - 4.0 Normal
Monocyte count 0.6 10*9/L 0.2 - 0.8 Normal
Eosinophil count 0.0 10*9/L 0.0 - 0.4 Normal
Basophil count 0.0 10*9/L 0.0 - 0.2 Normal
Platelet count 321 10*9/L 150 - 450 Normal

I am worried to death about cancer as my mum had cancer x3 times (ovarian, rectal and pancreatic) - she has now passed away - these were not connected and span over 15 years

Answered by Dr. Dr. Elona (22 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Possible side effects

Detailed Answer:
Hi
I have gone through your query and your test results.

I can say that your results are within the range and it seems that your are a healthy woman.

About Benraluzimab, the literature confirm that this drug can cause tender /swollen glands in the neck as a possible side effect, but there is not a significant correlation with increased risc of malignancies.

So,don't worry!

If you were my patient ,i will first recommend an neck ultrasound to see the US features of swollen lymph nodes and only if there are suspicious lymph nodes,i would recommend a FNAB of the largest one.
This will clarifie all the questions about your situation.

Hope this is helpful.
Wish you all the best!

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Elona (2 hours later)

If it is side effects my last injection was 7 weeks ago. How long for it to settle down? If it isn't side effects what else could it be please?
The picture I sent do you see it being concerning? I am so worried even though you don't seen to be worried. Thank you

Answered by Dr. Dr. Elona (25 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Neck US

Detailed Answer:
Hi again
Do you have any recent neck ultrasound result?

Swollen lymph nodes most often happen because of infection from bacteria or viruses. Rarely, the cause can be a malignancy.

In all cases the neck US give more detailled info about their characteristics and ( possible) causes.
(the US report is very important to understand more)

Hope i have clarified your doubts.
Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Dr.Raju.A.T

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Elona (21 hours later)

I have been to hospital appointment they did a camera test, they said I have a small lump in my salivary gland, highly unlikely to be cancer but they are organising an ultrasound scan. If it looks suspicious they will do a biopsy and then I will see ENT consultant again. How do they sort lump out in salivary gland if it's benign? Are there any natural ways like drinking more water or anything? Do you think cancer is unlikely?

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Elona (40 minutes later)

Sorry it's parotid gland not salivary gland

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Elona (7 hours later)

I have attached a scan from May 2024 I am worried sick it's cancer

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Elona (41 hours later)

No need to answer had scans and all is okay. I have a large parotid cyst but it's benign so now waiting to see ENT again to see how this can be resolved

Answered by Dr. Dr. Elona (44 hours later)

Brief Answer:
This is a good utrasound result!

Detailed Answer:
Hi again
I appologise for the late reply.
I have gone through your ultrasound report.

In the report it is clarified that all your "persistent swollen glands" are small cysts in all the structure of your salivary gland.In your left side there is a large salivary cyst that can be more evident extenally and cause your concern.

All i can say is that Cysts are small pocket of tissue often filled with fluid and they have NO risc of malignancies.
They're usually harmless and often do not need treatment.
For the large one the solution can be cyst aspiration under ultrasound guidance and the lump will disappear.

Hope this info is helpful.
Best regards!

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Elona (25 hours later)

Can I cyst present as a hard lump? Thank you

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Elona (0 minute later)

Would heat get rid of it or reduce the size?

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Elona (1 hour later)

Just had a phone call from the hospital I have to have an MRI and CT scan as they say ultrasound doesn't account for my symptoms. The only symptom I have is painful to touch and tired but I am emotionally drained so could be totally unrelated

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Elona (0 minute later)

I am worried sick I have cancer

Answered by Dr. Dr. Elona (2 days later)

Brief Answer:
It is only a Cyst

Detailed Answer:
Hi again

Generaly ,cysts feel like soft blisters when they are close to the skin's surface but you should know that it can feel like hard lumps when they develop deeper beneath the skin.

The solutioin is cyst drainage that can be helpful to alleviate local pain.Warm compresse (heat) can be helpful to reduce local inflammation and sometimes may reduce the thickness of liquid in the cyst.

MRI or CT of the neck are important tests that give a more detailled information about all the structutes of the neck and especialy about the large cyst in your parotis.

I don't think you have reason to worry about because it is only a Cyst!

Best regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Dr. Nagamani N.G

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Elona (3 days later)

Thank you so much.
I had mri without contrast, they wanted it with contrast but I was worried about reacting to.it with being a severe asthmatic. Am I silly not to have had contrast or will it be fine witbout.
Thanks

Answered by Dr. Dr. Elona (3 days later)

Brief Answer:
It is Ok

Detailed Answer:
Hi

Yes,a MRI even without contrast will give a lot of info about all the structures in your neck and the big cyst in your parotis.

The report will definitivelly clarifie your situation.

You can attach the MRI report ,if you have other queries.

Wish you all the best!

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Elona (2 hours later)

I have just got this letter I am so worried it is cancer. Do you think I am looking at cancer or is ultrasound scan enough to detect between benign and malignant?

Letter says:

Dear Mrs Keogh
I have had your scan report that has suggested there is a small lesion in your left parotid gland, however, this seems stable from the scan last year. I have requested an MRI scan today to evaluate further.

I had the MRI last Monday still awaiting results

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Elona (46 hours later)

My ENT consultant has rang me the MRI has shown vascular malformation of the parotid gland. We are leaving it to conservative measures for now and another MRI in 6 months. If the swelling gets bigger she will consider surgery.

Can this swelling go down on its own or will it be there for life now? I have had this apparently detected on a scan in 2008 but there hasn't been any swelling up until I started biologics 8 months ago. Will that be a contributing factor of the swelling? I have stopped biologics now I really am.hoping the swelling will go down on its own or won't it? Anything I can do to help it?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Elona (2 days later)

Brief Answer:
The definitive diagnosis

Detailed Answer:
Hi again

As i said the MRI has clarified your definitive diagnosis and now it is confirmed thay it is not cancer.

Can you please attach the MRI report ?
Than i can answer to your questiins.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. LAKSHMI