ENT appointment Jan 31 - really worried

Tangerine1971
Tangerine1971 Member Posts: 1
edited March 2014 in Head and Neck Cancer #1
I am 34 years old, 2 kids. Struggling to quit smoking (I've been an on/off smoker for 14 years). I used to sing semi-professionally - I put myself through school doing back up vocals for commercials.
Anyway, 2 years ago I noticed a change in my voice. My range was shrinking - I was losing the high and low notes. Now I have completely lost all ability to sing - I get a two-toned note, almost like I'm singing 2 notes at the same time and it's raspy.
This is accompanied with increasingly bad sore throats, not responding to antibiotics. I've been to my doc 6 times for a sore throat that never goes away.
She finally made an appointment for an ENT. My lymph glands are swollen.
In addition I have a sour almost acidic taste in my mouth so I chew gum constantly.
Also, although this may be completely unrelated, my tongue feels too big for my mouth. I have really sore teeth because I feel like my tongue is constantly pushing on them.
I don't care if I can't sing anymore, I just want to make sure I'm healthy.
My appointment is next week. I am now starting to REALLY freak out that it may be cancer. I'm not normally a worry wort or a hypochondriac, but this is scaring me to death.
Any ideas on my symptoms? Any support?
Thanks in advance.
Tangerine1971

Comments

  • AuthorUnknown
    AuthorUnknown Member Posts: 1,537 Member
    #2
    Hello,

    I encourage you to contact the American Cancer Society's National Cancer Information Center. Cancer Information Specialists area available 24 hours a day and can assist you with your questions. They can be reached at 1-800-224-2345 or by clicking on the "Contact ACS" link at the top of this page.

    Take care and be well,

    Dana
    CSN Dana
  • johnhayse
    johnhayse Member Posts: 4
    #3
    I too am a musician throat cancer survivor going on 5 yrs first off if it is t.c. its curable via radiation and chemo not fun but it works second it may not be are your lymp nodes in your neck visably swollen ? or is it hard to drink or eat with out stuff coming up like it wont compleate the swallowing process? if not you may have nodes etc...I pray you do not have to go thru tratment but if you do make sure you get IMRT radiation this will save your vocal chords I also sing and it was an invaluble part of my treatment please let me know what happens we can email anytime JH

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