Sore throat for months and now chest pain. Does this sound like a spreading cancer?

[SamL94]

Symptoms I have had:
-Sore throat
-Lump on right side of neck
-70lbs in weight loss
-Occasional ear pain
-Chest pain which has just recently started

This all started last May when I developed a sore throat which I have had since. The sore throat basically feels like a lump when I swallow, and also makes my mouth feel dry (like when I wake up on a morning it feels like your mouth does when you are hungover). I was diagnosed with many different conditions/infections (such as tonsillitis and Thrush to name two), and given medication which did not work. Then in August I was sent to an ENT specialist, who put a camera down my throat, and diagnosed me with Globus Sensation. Again I was given treatment which didn't work. Then around November this sore throat moved to just my right side, but I didn't think anything of it. My real problems have started this year. In early January I found a lump on the right side of neck. At the time I found this it was quite small, but by now it is 2/3 times bigger. The lump basically feels like I have an adams apple on the right side, next to my normal one, and then behind this 2nd adams apple I have a lump, a bit smaller than a golf ball. This lump is not really noticable when I look forward, but when I look to the left you can actually see it under the skin. In the past few weeks my sore throat has also gotten worse as well, and if I look up while swallowing I now get a sting down my right side. To stop this I have to look down to swallow. I went to my GP and told him about this lump and sore throat and he sent me to 2 urgent appointments, one for a gastroscopy, and one for an ultrasound. I went to the gastroscopy appointment for a camera down to my stomach (don't ask me why my GP sent me for a camera right down to my stomach when it's only my throat that is the problem). Anyway, the gastroscopy didn't find anything unordinary in my throat, though I'm unsure how much they actually look at your throat, or if they just bypass it to get to stomach. Anyway, then I had the ultrasound a couple of weeks ago and they basically found nothing either. They went over and over this lump I have and said it just looks like part of my thyroid cartlidge, and that the reason it sticks out at one side is because my thyroid is assymetrical. I was feeling better after these 2 appiontments which did not find anything, but then in the past week or so I have started getting chest pains. This chest pain is mainly on my right side, which makes me think that it is connected to my sore throat. Basically when I breathe in hard or look to the side I get this pain radiating from the right side of my throat down to my chest. I am now more paranoid than ever and am convinced that I have throat cancer, and that it is now spreading down to my chest/lungs, hence the sudden chest pains. I went back to my GP this week and he said as far as he is concerned, with the results from my gastroscopy/ultrasound, that I basically have anxiety, and he turned me away.

I am worried that he is wrong though. The 'assymetrical thyroid' diagnosis would not explain why the lump has gotten bigger, and also why I have a sore throat. Also, if the cancer was on the inside of my throat, would an ultrasound neccesarily pick it up? And why these sudden chest pains?

Other symptoms I have had are 70lbs in weight loss in the past year (though I have been on a strict diet), occasional ear pain, and hiccups.

Also one other thing. When I eat or drink my sore throat dissapears just about all together for a while, before coming back. Does this sound more or less like throat cancer?

I also had blood tests done which came back ok, if that is of relevance.

[Fishmanpa]

I can't imagine what you're going through. To be convinced of something that isn't there must be terrifying as well as exhausting.

I posted on an earlier thread of yours and again, having had cancer, it doesn't
present at all like it. What you're perceiving I'm afraid is not caused by physical issues. I would have to go along with all the scientific tests and medical professional's diagnosis.

I hope you find a way to beat your anxiety and fears.

Positive thoughts

[LouiseHannah]

You've had several trips with medical professionals, all of whom have said you were fine. If you had cancer it's been nearly a year since this started, you'd probably be dead or have far more symptoms than this. You can listen to your worries or the people that are medically trained to spot these things. Cancer wouldn't stop and start. When I first got anxiety I lost an awful lot of weight and I was already fairly little, I was almost a size 4. Worrying can cause weight loss. The problem with anxiety is it causes you to focus on every tiny detail of whatever is worrying you and small things become huge. Do you honestly think if they thought it was cancer they'd just dismiss you? Are you getting any help for your anxiety? If you're still unconvinced, by all means go back to the doctor. But I've been getting ear ache that shifts from ear to ear, and throat pain on one side along with ulcers that have been here for 3 weeks. Two doctors have seen me and think it's just stress. And the moment I stop thinking about these things the sore throat and ear ache has vanished. Hope this comforts you

[SamL94]

I can't imagine what you're going through. To be convinced of something that isn't there must be terrifying as well as exhausting.

I posted on an earlier thread of yours and again, having had cancer, it doesn't
present at all like it. What you're perceiving I'm afraid is not caused by physical issues. I would have to go along with all the scientific tests and medical professional's diagnosis.

I hope you find a way to beat your anxiety and fears.

Positive thoughts

It is exhausting. It is taking up every second of every day and I just cannot stop thinking about it.

Like I say I had actually calmed down a bit after the trips to the gastroscopy and the ultrasound, but since this chest pain has started I am worried sick again. Plus I weighed myself earlier today for the first time in a few weeks and I have lost yet another 6lbs, despite the fact that my diet recently has actually been quite bad, and I have been drinking a lot of alcohol as well. It doesn't make sense why I would keep losing this weight if it is just in my head

---------- Post added at 18:26 ---------- Previous post was at 18:19 ----------

You've had several trips with medical professionals, all of whom have said you were fine. If you had cancer it's been nearly a year since this started, you'd probably be dead or have far more symptoms than this. You can listen to your worries or the people that are medically trained to spot these things. Cancer wouldn't stop and start. When I first got anxiety I lost an awful lot of weight and I was already fairly little, I was almost a size 4. Worrying can cause weight loss. The problem with anxiety is it causes you to focus on every tiny detail of whatever is worrying you and small things become huge. Do you honestly think if they thought it was cancer they'd just dismiss you? Are you getting any help for your anxiety? If you're still unconvinced, by all means go back to the doctor. But I've been getting ear ache that shifts from ear to ear, and throat pain on one side along with ulcers that have been here for 3 weeks. Two doctors have seen me and think it's just stress. And the moment I stop thinking about these things the sore throat and ear ache has vanished. Hope this comforts you

Not neccesarily true. I have read about people who had cancer for like 2 years before becoming seriously ill. Plus my symptoms HAVE got worse. A few months ago I just had a sore throat. Then I got this lump in my neck. Then it started stinging to swallow. And now I have started getting chest pain.

I really do not know what to do because my GP will not give me another appointment (I went back again last Tuesday). I am so close to paying private but I have read that it could be like £200 just to see somebody, and if I want something doing such as a scan or camera it could be in to the thousands.


I can understand why my GP will not give me any more appointments (I realise that since I first went about my sore throat I have had a camera in my throat, a camera to my stomach, an ultrasound, and a series of blood tests, all of which found nothing), but until I am rid of these symptoms and weight loss then I cannot stop worrying. You read these horror stories about people who had test after test and were turned away by all sorts of doctors only to later find out they were right all along and did have cancer.

[Fishmanpa]

Sam, you're just desperately looking for ways to validate your fears. Anxiety is like a bonfire. When it's burning as hot as your's is, your metabolism is up as well. Worry causes stress and stress taxes the body physically.

Again, I hope you get help for your anxiety. It would be great to see you posting positively.

Positive thoughts

[SamL94]

Sam, you're just desperately looking for ways to validate your fears. Anxiety is like a bonfire. When it's burning as hot as your's is, your metabolism is up as well. Worry causes stress and stress taxes the body physically.

Again, I hope you get help for your anxiety. It would be great to see you posting positively.

Positive thoughts

But what about the physical lump in my neck? Ok anxiety could explain the sore throat and chest pains, and maybe even the weight loss if I am stressing. But anxiety could not cause an actual lump in my neck. And before you say that I'm just being anxious several other people, including my GP, felt this lump when it was small and then felt it again a few weeks later and admitted it had grown. The growing lump is the reason my GP sent me for the urgent gastroscopy and ultrasound appointments.

Ok yes the ultrasound went over the lump and said it is nothing serious, but I still cannot get any answers about why it has grown so much in the space of a few weeks.

I am very sorry if it seems as if I am dismissing your points because I really am grateful for you taking time out to post but these are the thoughts going round and round my head 24/7.

[LouiseHannah]

I know how you feel, because I've been churning over having mouth cancer for three weeks. I can't tell you what it is, or why. But common sense would suggest you've had the tests so you must be alright. I've read all the horror stories but they are all so rare. I hope you feel better both in your anxiety and your physical symptoms soon

[SamL94]

So I went to see an ENT specialist yesterday and he seems to think that my problems are being caused by a combination of acid reflux and anxiety.

I told him about the sore throat and showed him the lump. He felt the lump and also had a good feel around the rest of my throat/neck and said he couldn't find anything to be concerned about. I also told him about the neck pains and chest pains in recent weeks, but again he didn't seem concerned.

He looked in my mouth with a light but I was just disappointed that I did not get a camera/scan (though I understand that the specialist will not spend time/money on something if he doesn't feel it is necessary).

He advised that I try Gaviscon but I told him that I was already on that for about 3 months last year and it did not work, so he has prescribed me some stronger medication to take along with the Gaviscon. I will just have to take these for a few weeks and see how they work.

[SamL94]

I swear this lump is getting even bigger because now I can feel it on the left side as well (it is still more prominent on the right side though). Also my neck is feeling really tight at the front, to the point where I am struggling to look up.

Problem is though I have no upcoming appointments as I was discharged from the Thyroid unit and also the ENT unit. Also my GP is sick of me continuously going to him now and turned me away last time so I have no chance of getting another referral from him.

I am still so scared even after the appointments I have had and am so close to just going private. I don't care how many hundreds of pounds or even thousands it will cost to have treatment but I need to be given a camera down my throat and I need a CT scan and I need more reassurance because at the moment I cannot cope with life and have no motivation to even get out of bed, let alone work and also do a college course. I was this close to just getting up and walking out of my job yesterday because I cannot do this anymore.

People keep saying it is just acid reflux and anxiety but why would them two things cause A SLOWLY GROWING LUMP IN MY THROAT. Nobody seems to be able to answer this.

[Fishmanpa]

Nobody seems to be able to answer this.

After all the tests and appointments you have had, have you really thought why that is?

Positive thoughts