I have just been diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma and i had contacted my GP on and off for years about my throat symptoms. 

I had difficulty swallowing and voice issues as my voice was getting constantly tired easily. I went to private appointment with a ENT consultant who put camera up my nose and down into my throat and got told I had the healthiest throat he had seen in 20 years and that these symptoms will clear up. I asked him if i needed a course of antibiotics or anything as i felt as something was wrong i was dismissed and went away hoping he was correct that it was all just anxiety etc. 

One year later i got a lump on the left side of my neck and again went private and this time went and seen a different doctor.  Again he put the camera up my nose and down my throat and told everything looked entirely normal but as i was complaining of tired voice and difficulty swallowing he would send me for an ulta sound a biopsy and Mri scan just to be on the safe side and it looked like a branchial cyst. 

The Mri scan showed my retropharnygeal node was enlarged to 9mm and the biopsy showed abnormal cells so my Ent doctor said it could be an infection or it could be cancer and ordered a ct scan of chest to see if anything further down could have been causing it. He also ordered another biopsy but this time an advanced core biopsy and another ultra sound. 

So I went for the results on thursday and it was confirmed the cyst was cancer and was Squamous cell carcinoma and its unknown if this is hpv related or not as i still have to get a test to see if i am p16 positive. 

The only way cancer can be confirmed is with a biopsy,  a scan can show things like tumors or inflamation etc but to know if it is benign or malignant you need a biopsy.  I feel like had i had been sent for a scan a year earlier migh prognosis would have been better. I now go for a pet scan on tuesday to see if they can locate a primary source of the cancer if not then they will remove the tumor , my tonsils and cut away a part of the back of my tongue unless i can find another treatment method. 

* You know your own body *

* Cancer has no age limit *

* Go back to your doctor *

I hope you can get the help you require and will follow your posts to see any developments.

Good luck

Sam

Ahhh thank you for the reply sam. I'm sorry to hear about your diagnosis and I will have everything crossed your scan comes back as well as can be . 
 

thats exactly how I feel like it's all fallen on deaf ears, I feel like I'm not been taken seriously and it's automatically put down to anxiety which is making my anxiety worse! My other half and friends think because a couple of doctors and not a so good dentist have told me it's not that I should believe them and I don't.. they gave me a vitamin blood test convinced a lack in those was causing issues in my mouth and they come back normal, I am still waiting to be referred to a ENT specialist to see if they can get to the bottom of it.

im petrified I have 3 children and I'm absolutely terrified it's the worst and I'm not been listened to and it'll be too late . I mean the dr hasn't even had me in to check the lump in my neck diagnosed it over the phone? Very reassuring

I'd go private for the first consultation and then you are seen by a specialist then depending on the outcome you can get referred back to NHS and bypass a lot of the waiting time.

I've been thinking about that, I've been looking at private clinics near me .. how much did you pay privately? I don't mind I think it's absolutely worth it!! And how quick was you seen? God this is scary 

I had private health care through my work called (wpa health care )  so I didn't need to pay for the appointments or scans but due to all the tests etc just short of £6000 has been paid out on invoices. 

An initial consultation is likely only going to cost few hundred though. I got an appointment within 2 to 3 weeks as I picked my own doctor and had to wait for an appointment due to his schedule but I could have had another ent look at me within a few days.

I went to my Dr a fortnight ago with a sore throat, got an appointment at the local hospital ENT for the 8th  I attended and seen a a surgeon who put the camera up my nose into my throat and took pictures, I asked him what was wrong and he asked what I thought and I said cancer! he sad yes, so I went for preop there and then, just waiting now for scans, xrays and biopsy. If your Dr is doing nothing ask for a second opinion as mine started as a sore throat, now I can't swallow solid foods. I hope you get results

Ahhhh thank you for your reply, I'm so sorry to hear that and sending you tons of well wishes! 
 

i hope my dr is right and there is absolutely nothing to worry about, BUT I don't think they have checked me over at all, they've looked at my throat and gave me antibiotics.. they said my ears are fine? They haven't even told me what could be causing all the issues in my mouth and my dentist is useless I just feel like all these symptoms could be something less serious but if so why not tell me what? Why just keep fobbing me off ?? It's so draining constantly worrying about it! Im forever looking on Google for what it could be. I hardly sleep at night with the fear .. 

can I ask how long ago your sore throat started please? 

After a cold in march I had a sore throat, but only recently (I would say about five or six weeks) I have had trouble swallowing but the last two have got worse.

Hello Channi42 and thanks for posting,

I am sorry that you don't feel your health concerns are being taken seriously enough by your GP.

It is worth bearing in mind that the same sorts of symptoms that can be caused by cancer can also occur for other more common and less serious reasons, this means that another explanation is probably more likely, but even so, do talk to your GP again or to another GP at the same practice.

You mentioned that you are waiting to be referred to an ENT specialist so I think this is something to ask about. Referrals can be urgent (the aim is that you are seen within 2 weeks) if the GP suspects cancer, but there are specific guidelines for urgent referrals and if you don't match them a non urgent referral might take a while.

I think a lot of people  think about getting a private medical opinion if they can afford it,  we usually suggest costing it out first. 

Googling to look for answers can take you around in circles without being much the wiser and often leaving you more worried. It tends not to help with health anxiety, so if you can, try and limit it. Health anxiety can be exhausting. It might be worth looking into ways of coping with it as well to help you get some sleep. The NHS Every Mind Matters website could be worth exploring.  

I hope you get some answers soon.  

Give us a ring if you want to talk anything through. The number to call is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and we are around weekdays, 9-5.

Best wishes,

Julia

Hi Julia 

thank you so much for your reply, I really appreciate that! Is there really other things that can cause these symptoms? I just feel like it's been going on so long and I'm no further forward, I have seen a couple of gps at my surgery one I felt was very helpful looked in my mouth and stuff said it wasn't cancer but then other symptoms started and everything thing I googled came back to that.. 
 

i had some blood test for some deficiencies done a few weeks back and was told if they came back normal I'd be referred to ENT , they came back normal and I've been booked in to be tested for a B12 and folate blood test? So still no referral? The last doctor I spoke to said a had a full blood count a few months back and my white blood cells were normal? Is that a good sign? 
 

im well aware my anxiety is shocking, I was on medication but came off them surely after having a baby, I will be seeing my gp for more medication. My mind is just in overtime , I'm terrified of it been the worst news and leaving ny children behind. But thank you very much for getting back to me I'm very grateful.