freaking out

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mellycat
mellycat Member Posts: 5
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
Hi I am a 33 year old female. I am a pack a day smoker and I have been having ear.fullness for almost a year now. Within the last month I have had a sore throat and it feels like its just a post nasal drip raw feeling on my right tonsil same side as my ear fullness. I went to ENT about 6 months ago he ran a cf on my sinus cavity and found nothing wrong. About 2 months later I went to a new ent and he scoped my throat and said he saw nothing. I then went back today and he scopes it and says my throat doesn't even look raw and everything looks fine including my ear. I persist for a CT scan of the neck and below my ear. He finally gives it to me but my question is what kind of symptoms in the throat did u have? How long till diagnosis and can they always see with the scope? Also will the CT show any kind of cancer in the neck area? Sorry I am.scared out of my mind and what should I ask for next? Oh also my jaw pops everytime I open it on that side and I have severe back and stomach spasms or twitches. Could that be related or is that just more less nerves?

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  • Hal61
    Hal61 Member Posts: 655
    #2
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    Mixed bag of symptoms
    Hi Melly, welcome to the site. I hope you won't need it for long, and that you don't have cancer.

    You have a real mix of symptoms, any of which can be attibuted to things other than cancer. Some early throat cancer symptoms present as ear and throat soreness, some, like my Base Of Tongue (BOT) type showed with no pains anywhere, but persistent swollen lymph nodes.

    As a smoker you're smart to insist on the scan if you have concerns. I was still smoking at your age, but quit about 25 years ago. It's always an option.

    best to you on solving your issues,

    Hal
  • Puggle
    Puggle Member Posts: 88 Member
    #3
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    Hi Melly
    Hi Melly,

    Welcome to the site. As Hal mentioned, many of your symptoms could be caused by other things.

    My husband started noticing that something was wrong because he kept losing his voice and it would get real raspy. He was a smoker and thought it was due to that but then he would get on and off again sore throat and he felt like there was something stuck in his throat. He finally agreed to go to an ENT when he spit up some mucus with blood in it. The ENT scoped him in the office and said that they saw an "abnormality" and scheduled him for a biopsy which turned out to be stage II cancer of the epiglottis. After we got the biopsy results back the ENT said that they were about 90% sure it was cancer prior to the biopsy.
    As for the timing, things moved along fairly quickly. Initial ENT visit and diagnosis in June, biopsy in June, met with ENT surgeon, M.O. and R.O. in June to decide on treatment options, chemo and rads started at the beginning of July and finished August 22nd.

    I know you probably don't want to hear this but I will say it anyway... I strongly suggest that you give up the smokes. I know it's hard, I used to smoke, but it can be done.

    Good Luck... jc
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #4
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    Mellycat....
    Is that like the song Smellycat in Friends, LOL....sorry, just teasing.

    Welcome to the forum, it's a tough crowd...

    Actually it's an awesome crowd of people with tons of experience and knowledge.

    First you say you are scared out of your mind....are you scared enough that you have stopped smoking or attempted to. I know it's hard and I'm not preaching (too much), but you really should.

    OK, now for my answers which some are similar to HAL.

    I had STGIII SCC HPV Tonsil Cancer, that was diagnosed in January 2009. I had a minor irritation in my throat for several months, but didn't have it checked out...OH, BTW, I wasn't a tobacco user and only casual drinks occasionally...it was the HPV that got me.

    Also, once i saw the ENT, on the very first day he scoped me, sent me down for a CT, had me come right back and diagnosed me at 95% sure I had SCC Throat Cancer...and not being a smoker, he suspected HPV was the culprit.

    That was on a Friday (January 2, 2009), that following Monday, he took the tonsils out.

    He did a quick biopsy and confimed at that time it was STGIII SCC,a few weeks later HPV came back from the biopsy he sent out.

    So, in my case, yes the ENT can get a very good idea from a scope, and yes, a CT can show it. But as far as I know it takes a biopsy to confirm it.

    Thoughts and Prayers,
    John
  • Jimbo55
    Jimbo55 Member Posts: 590 Member
    #5
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    Take a Deep Breath
    Hi Mellycat and welcome. As has been states previously, most all of your symptoms could be attributed to other things rather than cancer. On the plus side, the docs haven't seen anything to alarm them to this point. That's a very good thing. And it was a god idea to insist on the CT scan to make sure. If you are still unsure, you can always get a second opinion. I have had a second and a third opinion during my treatment.

    Just for your info, I was diagnosed with base of tongue cancer stage 4 in June of last year. Treatment was a combo of chemotherapy and radiation. More than 1 year past treatment and doing great. Stay strong girl and I hope things turn out well for you. Cheers.

    Jimbo
  • mellycat
    mellycat Member Posts: 5
    #6
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    Jimbo55 said:

    Take a Deep Breath
    Hi Mellycat and welcome. As has been states previously, most all of your symptoms could be attributed to other things rather than cancer. On the plus side, the docs haven't seen anything to alarm them to this point. That's a very good thing. And it was a god idea to insist on the CT scan to make sure. If you are still unsure, you can always get a second opinion. I have had a second and a third opinion during my treatment.

    Just for your info, I was diagnosed with base of tongue cancer stage 4 in June of last year. Treatment was a combo of chemotherapy and radiation. More than 1 year past treatment and doing great. Stay strong girl and I hope things turn out well for you. Cheers.

    Jimbo

    thanks u guys
    Sorry for the misspells and typos. On my phone. I appreciate Ur feedback and will be trying to quit as of tomorrow. Already threw the pack away and I just pray the damage has not already been done. I hate docs and their unknown causes for symptoms . It makes me lose confidence in them. It's making me insane and I will update u on my results tomorrow. I will pray for each one of u tonight during my prayers.
  • jim and i
    jim and i Member Posts: 1,788 Member
    #7
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    scope not sure thing
    My husband had ear pain and burning in his throat for at least three years. He went to 3 ENTs, had for scopes, nothing. Then GP sent for a CT of soft tissue in neck. There it was, a four centimeter cancerous mass in the base of the tongue. So scopes do not always catch it. Good for you insisting on the CT. On the other hand. I had a lump on the back of my tongue that I and doctor felt and showed on scope. She said a saliva gland was enlarged but ordered a CT to be sure. Nothing showed. No test can be 100% perfect. Praying your test is negative.

    Debbie
  • mellycat
    mellycat Member Posts: 5
    #8
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    jim and i said:

    scope not sure thing
    My husband had ear pain and burning in his throat for at least three years. He went to 3 ENTs, had for scopes, nothing. Then GP sent for a CT of soft tissue in neck. There it was, a four centimeter cancerous mass in the base of the tongue. So scopes do not always catch it. Good for you insisting on the CT. On the other hand. I had a lump on the back of my tongue that I and doctor felt and showed on scope. She said a saliva gland was enlarged but ordered a CT to be sure. Nothing showed. No test can be 100% perfect. Praying your test is negative.

    Debbie

    had my scan
    Everything came back as normal on CT scan but doc says he wants to put me under and do a throat scraping? Anyone heard of that? He says he wants to make sure he isn't missing anything but also said it would be rate to find something if it didn't show on CT I did notice today my back gum by back tooth on that side is swollen so I guess next stop will be a dentist once again. Right now I am at square one again although I do thank God nothing was found. No news is better than bad news. Just after a year of this I want an answer and a cure.
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #9
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    mellycat said:

    thanks u guys
    Sorry for the misspells and typos. On my phone. I appreciate Ur feedback and will be trying to quit as of tomorrow. Already threw the pack away and I just pray the damage has not already been done. I hate docs and their unknown causes for symptoms . It makes me lose confidence in them. It's making me insane and I will update u on my results tomorrow. I will pray for each one of u tonight during my prayers.

    Hi mellycat
    Sorry I am late but welcome to CSN and hope you got all the information you were looking for.

    Take care and come back and see us soon, and please do all you can to stop smoking and enjoy the rest of the life that Gad has giving to you.

    God bless and be with you
    Hondo
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #10
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    mellycat said:

    had my scan
    Everything came back as normal on CT scan but doc says he wants to put me under and do a throat scraping? Anyone heard of that? He says he wants to make sure he isn't missing anything but also said it would be rate to find something if it didn't show on CT I did notice today my back gum by back tooth on that side is swollen so I guess next stop will be a dentist once again. Right now I am at square one again although I do thank God nothing was found. No news is better than bad news. Just after a year of this I want an answer and a cure.

    Mellycat

    I think that is a good idea for your ENT to do the scoping and scraping as you said you want to be sure nothing is there and if it is you get it early.

    Please understand this is not to get on your case, but there are things you need to do now in your young life to help prevent problems later in your life. One is smoking I lost my best friend to throat cancer from smoking for 35 years. The other is eating the right food that helps your body’s immune system to stay strong and healthy. Please keep us posted on how you are doing and my God bless and continue to be with you.

    Wishing you all the best
    Hondo
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #11
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    mellycat said:

    had my scan
    Everything came back as normal on CT scan but doc says he wants to put me under and do a throat scraping? Anyone heard of that? He says he wants to make sure he isn't missing anything but also said it would be rate to find something if it didn't show on CT I did notice today my back gum by back tooth on that side is swollen so I guess next stop will be a dentist once again. Right now I am at square one again although I do thank God nothing was found. No news is better than bad news. Just after a year of this I want an answer and a cure.

    Congrats....
    News sounds good so far...

    Also I agree, if anything is going to show up, I'd definitely presume the tissue from the scope would have something in it.

    As of now, I wouldn't worry too much, I think you have lucked out.

    Also, like mentioned kick the habit, it'll do your body good.

    Best,
    John

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