Worrying symptoms, been referred on 2ww to ENT

Hi Pip123, of course it's ok to post on here. It's good that you are being fast tracked, so they can get to the bottom of things. People have different symptoms, mine was a sore throat that just never cleared up, then the dentist found a lump in my neck. There are lots of things that can give worrying systems, a high proportion of referrals turn out not to be cancer. Keep us updated, and if you do need us, we are all here to help if we can. All the best for the 20th.

Ray.

Thank you so much Ray, that means a lot .. I hope you are doing ok? Only a few days to wait for my appointment thank goodness I will update on hear once I've been. I'm guessing I'm just putting all these symptoms together and joining the dots but I really hope there is some other cause to all of this. My grandad died of throat cancer so I also worry about any genetic role too.. 

Many thanks for replying to me

Hi Pip and a warm welcome from me.  I think that HPV detected in a smear test is not indicative that the virus is elsewhere and in particular in the head and neck.  That said, you are going through the correct process to determine what is actually going on and should have an answer soon.  This phase of the diagnosis is very anxiety inducing - especially until you get your test results and know for sure.  Strangely at that time the anxiety level seem to decrease for many of us as we have a plan to follow.

The presentation for Head and Neck cancers is almost as varied as there are patients and what turns out for one to be a cancer diagnosis may well be something else in another with the same symptoms.

I waited 4 years for a diagnosis of a tumour that I felt merited treatment - I do have a very uncommon cancer journey - but in many cases the symptoms are there for a long time before a diagnosis.  Also, many of us wait some time from diagnosis to commencement of treatment - often for very good reasons.  So it is not particularly likely that any delays will be detrimental to the outcome of treatment. 

The fact that your brain MRI (which will typically look at the neck as well) is clear as is the ultrasound would, I suspect, point to something different to a cancer, but wait for the professional opinion.

The success rates in treating H&N cancers are very high so whilst waiting to know for sure, hold onto that fact.

Let us know how you get on.

Hi Peter thank you so much for your reply and my goodness I've just read your journey!!! I am so glad you you are now on the mend and have been well and able to enjoy your travels and dog walking! Should the worst happen, that really does give hope to anyone worried about a possible diagnosis and the long journey ahead. Thank you for taking the time to reply and I wish you well with your ongoing recovery x

Hi pip 

the waiting is the worst part The best advise I can give is keep off  Dr Google you’ll scare yourself silly. Over 90% of urgent 2  weeks referrals aren’t cancer so keep that thought. 
My only symptoms were a lump in my collar bone I had has it for at least  months before i did  anything .The majority of HPV driven cancers the lump in the neck is the most common symptom. as far as I am aware there’s no correlation between the cin smear result and orapharangeal HPV tumours  If youre unlucky  enough to join us remember HNC cancers respond extremely well to treatment. Theres lots of us on here myself included that are living a good life  best advise I can give again keep bust and keep offf D Google  

hugs Hazelx

Thank you so much Raz  I'm trying to stay positive just hard to find another explanation for things  I hope you are doing well, I'll update on here after my appointment Monday x

Hi everyone hope you are all ok, I said I would update on here once I'd seen consultant.... Had camera up nose and down throat, consultant has diagnosed a large thyroid lump right side... He says it looks benign... Explains all my symptoms of feeling like something stuck in my throat when swallowing and right sided ear and head pain. He's not going to biopsy it but should I be pushing for this or is it likely he can be that sure it's a benign lump with no malignancy from just the ultrasound? It's making me feel quite unwell and I'd just prefer it to be removed but I don't know if it's something I can request or not? Can't carry on like this!!! I'm having an MRI on head and ear next then will be seeing consultant again for review....

Many thanks xx

That sounds quite reassuring. As for the biopsy he might be waiting to have a better picture of it all after the MRI.

• Thank you so much

Hi Pip  

Pip123 said:

I'm having an MRI on head and ear next then will be seeing consultant again for review....

I didn’t have a biopsy till after my MRI. A scan with contrast will flag something if it’s there. 
I have a swelling on my thyroid cartilage which was found on ultrasound. The radiologist said it looked benign and a repeat scan three months later confirmed it. 
I would wait for that MRI and see what turns up.