Hi everyone,

I've been dealing with persistent throat pain on the left side for a couple of weeks now. It feels like there's a lump or something stuck in the back of my throat, making swallowing uncomfortable. At times, the pain seems to shift towards the middle. Despite taking paracetamol or ibuprofen, the discomfort lingers. It's a sensation I've never experienced before.

Before this, I had a persistent, harsh cough for about 4-5 weeks, which my GP attributed to a viral infection, possibly whooping cough. Last year, I underwent surgery to close a fistula in my gum linked to my sinus, resulting in ongoing pain in my left sinus area. I initially thought the throat pain might be connected to the aftermath of the surgery and the persistent post-nasal drip.

Concerned, I visited my GP again. He couldn't find anything upon examination but prescribed antibiotics for potential sinusitis and referred me for an x-ray and to an ENT specialist.

My anxiety skyrocketed when I checked the NHS app and saw "urgent suspected cancer" associated with my referral. The shock of seeing "cancer" next to my name has been devastating. Since then, I've struggled to sleep, and I've developed a low-grade fever (37.5°C) and pain under my armpits. I'm uncertain if these symptoms stem from anxiety or an underlying illness.

I've read many similar stories on forums, but few mention their eventual diagnosis, leaving me feeling more anxious and uncertain. I'm trying to stay rational amidst this fear.

I'm a 34-year-old woman, a former social smoker who hasn't smoked in years.

If anyone has gone through something similar, I'd appreciate hearing about your experience and how you managed the anxiety while waiting for further tests. Any advice or support would mean a lot to me right now.

Thank you.