Hi everyone my name is Sarah , I am 49 and a mother of 3 adult children and a beautiful granddaughter nearly 2.
I have been having problems for about 4 or 5 weeks now which have progressively worse every day. It started with a feeling of a lump at the bottom of my throat just above the collar bone it makes it difficult to swallow , I also have ulcers under my tongue the floor if my mouth which are very sore and some white and red patches on the side of my tongue and now a feeling like I'm tongue tied and speak with a lisp and it is very painful to talk feels like a fish hook ripping through my mouth. My ear on the same side has an enormous pressure and affects my balance and I can't sleep laying down as the pressure is so painful so sleep propped up.
I did the initial Google and terrified myself.so thought I would come to a trusted site but I don't know where to start is it even cancer, my doctor initially thought it was mouth thrush no treatment has worked I am just finishing a course of steroids for acute hives . The gp referred me urgently to ent on Friday, how long will it be before I hear anything.
I'm so scared and waiting when your in such pain is so horrible.
Sorry for the long post and thankyou for reading
Peter has set things out very well Sarah, but just to add; if you're unfortunate enough to be one of the 10% who gets a cancer diagnosis then your prospects are still good. I've been in this group for nearly nine years now and the vast majority who've come and gone (or stayed) have been successfully treated and got on with their lives, it's extremely rare that we "lose" someone. The treatment can be a bit brutal for sure, but it's manageable; I hope you don't need us but if you do there'll be people to "hold your hand" all the way!
Metastatic SCC diagnosed 8th October 2013. Modified radical neck dissection November, thirty-five radiotherapy fractions with 2xCisplatin chemo Jan/Feb 2014. Recurrence on larynx diagnosed July 2020 so salvage laryngectomy in September 2020.
