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Worried I have throat/tonsil cancer

Stu1234
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Hoping for some reassurance...

I have had a sore throat for around 2 months now. It started as a normal sore throat, but has persisted. The pain is when I swallow food and I have also now developed ear pain, both on the right hand side.

I did have swollen tonsils with some white spots, white patches on my tongue and generally felt a bit under the weather for a few days. All of these symptoms have gone now. I was prescribed fungal medication and antibiotics, but my throat/ear is still sore. I'm not sure if I have a lump on the right side too where my pulse point is, it's hard to tell, perhaps a bit bigger than that on my left side. I also have a few little blood spots/points of bleeding on my tonsil. 

Anyway, I'm not coping at all. Anxiety is through the roof, can't eat or sleep, life has stopped. I have been referred to ENT and have an appointment at the end of Jan, but it feels a lifetime away. All I can think of is that it is spreading and by that point it will be too late. Thinking of going private, but money is extremely tight. 

I know it sounds pathetic, but all I do is cry, feel totally depressed and have convinced myself it is terminal. I'm making myself ill with stress. 

I'm 37 now and lost both parents when I was young, so I know I definitely have cancer anxiety/health anxiety in general. I just have a really bad feeling this time. 

I've just been hoping it will go away, but its not...

  • Offline

    Definite lump in my neck where my pulse point is.

    Not sure if this is where your glands are... worried about lymphoma now

  • Hi Stu1234,

    I'm sorry to hear you've been struggling with these symptoms and worries. It's good to hear you have a referral, athough I can understand it must feel like quite a wait. It is not too far away now, and it will mean you get some answers before too long.

    While waiting try to keep busy and focus on other things to help keep your mind off the worries. Take things a day at a time and hopefully the appointment will come around quickly and you'll get the information you need.

    Wishing you all the best,

    Ben
    Cancer Chat Moderator

  • Offline in reply to Moderator Ben

    Hi Ben,

    Thanks for the reply.

    I ended up going private and had an appointment with an ENT consultant and got a camera to look at my throat. No reason to be concerned, everything looked normal and he doesn't feel any follow up tests are necessary. 

    I really hope this can bring comfort to anybody reading this and going through something similar. I was absolutely convinced I had cancer, given my symptoms and length of time I've had them.

    The consultant expects the symptoms to go away over time, but can't be sure what has caused them (most likely and infection).

    Take care.

    Thanks, 

  • Offline in reply to Stu1234

    Hi stu, I found your posts, so glad things worked out for you, fantastic news, I completely understand the anxiety you experienced, I hope now you can relax and get back to normal, sending love x

  • Offline in reply to Stu1234

    Omgosh I’m going through this right now 3 months of tonsillitis then strep antibiotics work but then week later symptoms come back refered to ENT who gave me stronger antibiotics and steroid and so far been a week since last dose and nothing but it’s driving me mad constantly looking at my tonsils every morning getting scared it’s going to come back his booke me in for MRI in the next couple of days and I’m so nervous in case they find something 

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