Hi
I hope its ok to ask a few questions here. I havent been diagnosed yet but showing very worrying symptoms. I dont know where else to turn. I see my gp on friday, its been a nightmare to try and get a face to face with a doctor.
Im male 51, never smoked and never been much of a drinker. Not drank for the last 12 years at all. Ive been having swallowing issues for a while but the last few months have had throat pain and pain in my ears (mainly left, sometimes right). Its a constant dull ache all the time now and I thought the ear pain was because i needed an ear syringe but ive recently had it done and the pain is still here.
Ive had the feeling of unable to swallow saliva for a few years but with no pain. Food and drink not a problem and ive never choked or anything. I had a videofluroscopy, a barium swallow and a gastroscopy in oct 2020 which all came back ok so the specialist stated it was silent reflux. I didnt see an ENT specialist and no camera up my nose was ever done, just the others.
So a few months ago i developed a sore throat, intermittent at first but now constant. Its not too bad when i swallow but i can definitely feel it. i can also feel a soreness down my left side of the adams apple area all of the time. I think my neck feels a little swollen in general. The worst part is the pain in my ears (mainly left). Its keeping me awake at night. Its a constant ache and a fullness feeling and i keep getting a sharp pain which makes me wince. I also get a jaw pain in my left side when chewing and this adds to the ear pain. Also sharp flavoured foods send a pain to the ears too.
I dont have any lumps that i can feel and my lymph nodes dont feel enlarged. My submandular glands under my jaw are the only ones that i can feel and feel slightly tender but are not enlarged from what i can tell.
I stupidly went on the nhs website to read about sore throat and ear pain and throat cancer popped up and has scared me silly. Now i cant think about anything else. I saw the survival rates of hypopharynx and im now freaking as my throat feels sore in that area and worry if a tumour there is causing the swallowing issue and ear pain.
Imy wife says my breath smells bad and i have a white film over my tongue and strange white streaks at the back of my throat.
So my symptoms are:
Feeling like i cant swallow saliva and have to constantly swallow to try and get it down.
feels like there is a lump in my throat all the time.
alot of muscus in my throat that i cant swallow and have to hack up and spit out.
Constant sore throat that isnt getting better.
Pain down left side of adams apple.
Constant dull ache in ears, 80% more on left side and occasional sharp pain in my left ear that makes me wince.
Could i ask the following-
Firstly, Does this sound like anyones symptoms for their cancer.
As ive never smoked and hardly drank and ive read about the HPV virus. However, does anyone know the approx % of throat cancer that is not caused by those 3 and Is purely incidental. Or is it always caused by these 3?
Is there a particular part of the throat where i tumour would cause a referred pain in my ears.?
Ive checked my mouth, tonsils and back of throat and they look ok. My worry is that its in the hypopharynx as thats where my throat feels sore.
How aggressive is throat cancer. My swallowing issue hasnt really progressed in the 17 months since my tests but as pain and sore throat is new im now worried that since then a tumour has formed and is causing the throat and ear pain.
If i had a tumour on my hypopharynx 17 months ago, would the gastroscopy have picked it up?
Hi Sheppy.
First take a deep breath then leave Google alone. You have your appointment with your GP in less than two days.
Your symptoms could be anything but cancer. You have got yourself into a real state, try to calm down. Throat cancer is not that common.
Be firm with your doctor and insist on an ent referral if he can’t see anything wrong. If you can’t get one then go private.
Sorry I’m not very helpful but nobody here can give you a diagnosis.
Best wishes
Dani
Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019
Thank you, yes im very stressed at the moment. Im not sleeping at all which is making things worse. Laying down seems to make my ear pain worse. I know its something bad and it seems to be getting worse quite quickly so im worried its aggressive. Ive never felt this down before to be honest.
If cancer has spread to a lymph node would it definitely swell up and be tender? I dont feel anything like that in my neck?
Ive realised im seeing an advanced nurse rather than gp on friday.
will an advanced nurse be able to look at my hypopharynx with a mirror or will i have to wait for an ENT appointment?
i dont mind paying private to see an ENT and have a camera up my nose but i dont know how i would get one. Private hospitals seem to be just as busy as the nhs since covid near me.
I cant believe this is happening to be honest. Everything seemed ok 2 months ago and now im in this amount of discomfort and pain. No amount of paracetomol is touching the ear pain.
Hi Sheppy
You can self refer. Go to your nearest private hospital's website. Book an appointment with an ENT surgeon. It will take a few minutes and you don't need a referral from your GP at this stage. When you see your practice nurse give her the appointment time and hospital; and ask her to get your GP to send a referral noting what transpired at your consultation and hoe worried you are. It happens all the time.
I am 3 years clear of treatment now but I still get worries. Last year I had problem that wouldn't go away so I referred myself for a pelvis/spine MRI. It cost me £600 and instantly put my mind at rest and gave my osteopath something to work on.
So do that this morning.
I hope you read this before this site goes down for 12 hour maintenance
Good luck
Dani
Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019
Hi Shelppy
Yes make your appointment privately and see which comes up first.
My GP certainly doesn’t have the facilities to examine a throat with a mirror. I’m not sure a primary care doctor would know what to look for.
Good luck.
Dani
Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019
Hi Sheppy.
I have a friend who had inflammation of her thyroid and she had jaw and neck pain that went up to both ears. Yours doesn't sound like that. I would stick to your guns and have that ENT appointment. If the consultant can't see much be prepared for an MRI to be sure. It's the only way you are going to get any peace over this. I sincerely hope it's nothing serious and that we don't see you back here unless it's to tell us that you don't have cancer. We like to hear that as well, you know.
Fingers crossed
Dani
Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019
