Desperately need advice, think I might have cancer

First of all, take a deep breath and try to compose yourself. Getting yourself sick over this will only impede your efforts to help yourself.

Symptoms of cancer can be a host of different issues. Saying that, I would not wait to get an ENT appointment. Never wait when it comes to your health! You are your own best health advocate, beyond the experience and education of any doctor. If one ENT is booked, find another one and insist on biopsies. That is the only way to know if cells are cancerous. Make more phone calls and insist on not waiting more than 1 week for an appointment.

I had tongue cancer. One day, a tumor suddenly appeared under my tongue on the left side. I felt it rubbing against my bottom teeth and it was quite painful.

Cancer does not stop growing. Any cancer tumor will grow and change in composition. You will not see a cancer tumor go away on its own, or suddenly stop growing. When I saw my tumor, I was 99% sure it was cancer because I had never seen that type of lesion. And, more importantly, it kept growing. I had it biopsied within 3 weeks of first seeing it.

Your concerns are real and legitimate. Stay away from urgent care places if cancer is on your mind. But please don't wait any longer to see a specialist.

A little anecdote on why you need to be your own health advocate...

I had my first biospy done by an oral surgeon who said he would call me in 2 weeks for the results. Like clockwork, he called and confirmed it was not cancer.

However, my tumor was not healing, it kept changing in size and composition, and getting larger. I quickly rescheduled a second biopsy, with the same calling card of 2 weeks.

Two weeks came and went. I assumed it was negative again and let it go. Four days later, I still didn't hear back from the surgeon. So I called. The clerk recommended coming back in 2 weeks to discuss the results. Still thinking it was not cancer, I scheduled.

I called my girlfriend about this and she said,"NO WAY! Call them back and insist on getting the results now, especially if they have them!"

I called back and insisted on the results over the phone. The clerk then had to fax them over to the surgeon, as he was the only person who could discuss them with me.

Three hours later, the surgeon called. His first words were, "It's a good thing we did a 2nd biopsy..."

And with those words, I knew.

If my girlfriend hadn't insisted I call, I would've lost an additional 2 weeks. Bad enough the 2nd biopsy cost me about a month's time.

From the time I first noticed the tumor, until surgery, nearly 4 months had passed. Still in Stage 1, but enough time to allow metastasis to one lymph node in my neck.

I wish you all the best. Please keep us updated. There is a great chance you don't have cancer. Just don't wait to find out.

I agree, get it checked out ASAP.  I lost 5 months because an idiotic periodontist said it was paranoia when I told him my gum was ulcerated and not healing.  He kept seeing me every two weeks but said it's not cancer and to use salt water rinses.  I had not ever met anyone with H&N cancer so thought it was beginning of gum disease as the periodontist has said.  BUT, there was that strange feeling inside that a lymph node below the area of ulceration in gum was more than gum disease. I finally got two other opinions and both advised biopsy. It was cancer and I lost so much time. 

Welcome to the family here on CSN H&N, I agree with the others don’t get all worked up until you see the ENT and they do some testing. There are a lot of things that can cause redness and bumps in your mouth. Take care and try to stay calm and focus for now, that is the best thing you can do until you see your ENT

Tim

Hello, not sure if I belong here and hoping in the long run I don't! I've been feeling sick since about February. My General practitioner chalked it up to simply stress, fatigue and getting older. I'm 52. i was having drenching night sweats, extreme fatigue, which is so unlike me, as I'm an avid runner and gym goer since my teens. The last two and a half months, I've experienced severe headaches at the back and base of my skull, as well as various aches and pains widespread. During this, a Dr visit revealed I had just gotten over mono, although it wasn't active any longer. Rest and good nutrition was the prescribed remedy. So, I've done nothing but my desk job and rested at home, in spite of my urge to move around more. I haven't had the energy to do much of anything at all! Same Dr visit, she found a strange lump in my throat. Hard, painless and immobile. Said it was no biggie even though I was still having the night sweats and neck glands swollen. Referred to ENT who only swabbed around it for culture and drew complete blood work, sent me home with anti biotics, only to discover no obvious infection. I had taken the full 4 days of Zithromax. Advised to come back in a month to see if any changes. That will be July 18th. It is now July 6 and I've been progressively worse the last week. Been home in bed for a full 5 days and have more swollen glands in my neck and under chin and the lump in my throat has company. Still no pain with it but some discomfort deeper in my throat. As I type, I'm waiting to see if this ENT can fit me in somewhere today even though he's booked solid and won't be back in his office the rest of this week. I'm really scared. Of course, like everyone else in my situation, I've researched all my symptoms and everything points to some sort of head and neck cancer or lymphoma. Did any of you experience similar? Is it THIS hard to get a diagnosis of whatever is wrong, whether harmless or not? Should I wait for my actual scheduled ENT visit in the next two weeks or ask to be referred to another in the meantime? I feel lame asking all of you, who are going through your own treatments while supporting one another, when I don't even know WHAT my diagnosis could be. Just wondered if my symptoms sound familiar with any of you. Am I over reacting? Well wishes for all of you!

Ktwoods said:

No diagnosis yet

Hello, not sure if I belong here and hoping in the long run I don't! I've been feeling sick since about February. My General practitioner chalked it up to simply stress, fatigue and getting older. I'm 52. i was having drenching night sweats, extreme fatigue, which is so unlike me, as I'm an avid runner and gym goer since my teens. The last two and a half months, I've experienced severe headaches at the back and base of my skull, as well as various aches and pains widespread. During this, a Dr visit revealed I had just gotten over mono, although it wasn't active any longer. Rest and good nutrition was the prescribed remedy. So, I've done nothing but my desk job and rested at home, in spite of my urge to move around more. I haven't had the energy to do much of anything at all! Same Dr visit, she found a strange lump in my throat. Hard, painless and immobile. Said it was no biggie even though I was still having the night sweats and neck glands swollen. Referred to ENT who only swabbed around it for culture and drew complete blood work, sent me home with anti biotics, only to discover no obvious infection. I had taken the full 4 days of Zithromax. Advised to come back in a month to see if any changes. That will be July 18th. It is now July 6 and I've been progressively worse the last week. Been home in bed for a full 5 days and have more swollen glands in my neck and under chin and the lump in my throat has company. Still no pain with it but some discomfort deeper in my throat. As I type, I'm waiting to see if this ENT can fit me in somewhere today even though he's booked solid and won't be back in his office the rest of this week. I'm really scared. Of course, like everyone else in my situation, I've researched all my symptoms and everything points to some sort of head and neck cancer or lymphoma. Did any of you experience similar? Is it THIS hard to get a diagnosis of whatever is wrong, whether harmless or not? Should I wait for my actual scheduled ENT visit in the next two weeks or ask to be referred to another in the meantime? I feel lame asking all of you, who are going through your own treatments while supporting one another, when I don't even know WHAT my diagnosis could be. Just wondered if my symptoms sound familiar with any of you. Am I over reacting? Well wishes for all of you!

I agree with Matt on both points....doing the footwork to get into an ENT sooner, and if you can't 2 weeks isn't going to change much except for your anxiety levels.  Like you, I didn't feel good from October 2011 to December 2011.  At the end of Dec, a tiny node popped up on my neck....I went to Urgent Care the beginning of January, 2012 and they put me on antibiotics for two weeks.  When that didn't change the lump, they made an appointment with my Primary Care Dr.  Took 3 weeks to get in there.  He took one feel and referred me to an ENT.  By the time I saw him it was March, and the lump had grown.  He did a biopsy, and it was cancer.  It still took until the middle of April to get started on treatments...and I'm here to tell the talke.

The most anxiety felt in this whole diagnosis/treatment timeline is the waiting in the beginning....we want it out NOW!  I'd tell you to breathe and relax a little if I thought it would do any good....When you do see the ENT, be it this week or the 18th....tell him you want a scope....you want him to look down there with his own eyes. 

p

I am a 66 year old woman who was just informed that I have a birad 5 spiculated lesion 2 mm on my mammogram. I probably have cancer. How do I cope?