Hello,
I am a 29 year old man, a smoker, too. I've had this lump under my jaw for weeks and recently noticed a hoarse voice and intermittent ear pain and throat pain. My dad had throat cancer so I am familiar with what the symptoms are, I have no difficulty swallowing, I have not coughed up blood. Naturally with the smoking and familiy history I am now scared that I have cancer, and I know what they do about advanced largyngeal cancer, and I really don't want to lose my larynx or die. I know laryngeal is rare under 55 but it's not unheard of. I am going to the doctor today despite how much I don't want to go because I know they will refer me on for scans and tests and they just did this because someone said I had clubbed fingers, that came back with no evidence of malignancy but I could not tolerate all the waiting. I am just really beside myself moreso than I was the first time I had a 2WW appointment because this feels more realistic than lung cancer.
Hello JH1994 You've done the right thing in making an appointment to see your doctor. You are right that laryngeal cancer in somebody your age is rare so that is something to hold on to. Hopefully you shouldn't have to wait long and a quick endoscopic exam of your throat by the ENT would likely give you an answer there and then. If you feel you can't wait ask your GP to refer you both to the NHS and your nearest private clinic and wait to see which appointment comes up first. It's all you can do.
Fingers crossed. There is nothing to be done except wait and give up smoking. While you're at the GP ask for help with that.
Dani
Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019
I don't know if it would be unseemly to phone back tomorrow for a second opinion and ideally a referral to ENT?
No...do it. Even though 90% of referrals are not cancer 10% are and GPs are missing them
If you are better in 2 weeks you can cancel the referral
Dani
Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019
