Cancer Research UK main site

Worried I might have throat cancer

Jay24
Offline

Hi

I'm 52 an ex smoker an ex vapper and have had a cough that won't go away for three months. I lost my voice two months ago and it hasn't really come back. People are commenting about me sounding like I have a sore throat. (It is not sore and I feel fine in myself) Laughing makes me cough and going upstairs does too, or when i touch my neck.When I yawn it feels like I have something stuck in my throat. I've been to the doctors and they've sent me for a chest xRay and ct scan. Both came back clear. But I think they are looking in the wrong place. I've got another doctors appointment tomorrow morning. My question is do I push to be seen by an ENT doctor or A. Stop worrying and trust they know what they are doing. Or B. Wait for the MRI scan I'm due at the early November, for a different reason. Namely I am losing my hearing and it is worse in one ear than the other. I'm just worried leaving it too long. Early diagnosed and all that. Plus I want my voice back!

Sorry for the long post.

  • I would push for an ENT referral.  You need to get checked out by them, they will check out your vocal cords with a small scope that goes up your nose and down to your vocal cords, you may also need an endoscopy to check your throat and stomach.

    I had most of your symptoms (including muffled hearing in one ear) , I had the above checks and it just turned out to be the affects of a bad acid reflux flare up.  But it is important to find out what it is, even if it turns out to be silent reflux (ie, you dont feel the classic acid indigestion), long term you can be at added risk of cancer if you dont get it under control.

    Keep pushing your gp until you find out what is causing it!

  • Offline in reply to annie123

    Thank you. I've been referred. Hopefully you are right and it is acid reflux. But it's best to get it checked. 

Speak to a nurse

Quick links

Follow us

Registered with Fundraising Regulator (logo)
Cancer Research UK is a registered charity in England and Wales (1089464), Scotland (SC041666), the Isle of Man (1103) and Jersey (247). A company limited by guarantee. Registered company in England and Wales (4325234) and the Isle of Man (5713F). Registered address: 2 Redman Place, London, E20 1JQ.