Hello Gjb, 

I'm sorry to hear about the symptoms you've been experiencing and can understand your need to finding out what it is causing it. If you're concerned about the results that have come back so far maybe you could ask your medical team if it would be possible to have biopsies taken from other locations of your oropharynx? One of our lovely members here on the forum, [@Vatch]‍, has had experience of tongue based cancer and now that I've tagged him in this post hopefully he will be along soon to share his advice and experiences with you.

I hope this helps Gjb and you are able to find out the cause of your symptoms soon.

All the best, 

Steph, Cancer Chat Moderator

I also had pain when swallowing on the left side of my tongue as of mid-November (I thought it was the throat at first) that has gone away. As noted above, it seems this is a symptom of a sinus problem, mucus clogging the sinuses, as waggles noted they also have ear problems and a feeling of something clogging something up. What luckily cleared this up for me (I’m not saying this would fix symptoms persisting for years, but may help someone who has just recently noticed them) was breathing steam wherever possible (over a boiling kettle, boiling pots, hot shower..), and blowing my nose very frequently. However, I imagine sitting under a blanket and breathing in steam from a pot with just boiled water followed by blowing the nose may be even more effective in lessening discomfort. Plenty of moisture from outside and hydration from inside (i.e. from drinking water) keeps the mucus thin and easier to pass. Hopefully this may relieve someone’s symptoms or at least reduce discomfort. Best of luck to everyone.  

I have never done anything like this before but I'm getting a bit frightened.i went to the doctor about 10 weeks ago with a sore threat and was given antibiotics. They didn't work. Went ack again and the Doctor said that it would be a virus or the result of me suffering from GIRD. I was given a tablet to take on a night and one to take on a morning to control the acid . I went back to the Doctor again to tell her that I now have tenderness under my chin a dull ear ache in both ears and still the painful throat.yesterday l had blood samples taken, blood pressure taken and was sent to the local hospital for a chest x ray. The Radiographer after taking the x ray asked me if I was suffering from pain or coughing, I found that disturbing. Is that a question they would ask normally? Or because they had seen something. I have been told by the Radiographer that will take three weeks for the GP to receive the results and by the nurse who took the blood sample to telephone in five days. I am afraid of cancer The Doctor also referred me to a Dentist to examin my mouth he found nothing wrong  Has anybody any idea especially with regard to the Radiographers questions or am I paranoid.

Hi I have very similar symptoms and I'm starting to get worried did u ever find out what was wrong any info would be great 

Thanks

Hi collier.

Sorry for the late response, but my answer might be useful to others who read this thread, even if it's too late to help you. Where are you now with your tests?  Please could you post an update. 

Regarding the radiographer's question: usually with an X-ray, no one gets to see the image until the film has been developed, which is going to be at least several minutes later. So, it really depends on when you were asked the question. If it was during the session, then I really don't think the radiographer could have seen anything. Possibly he/she asked you the question just to make sure that any painful areas did not need a separate (second) exposure. 

Please try not to panic. Cancer is low down on the list of possible reasons for your symptoms. 

Hi everyone. I have been reading these posts since November 2018 (the date of my issue). I don't know if it's comforting or not, but I have very similar issues to a lot of you.

Back in November 2018, I got this strange tingling sensation under my jaw, like it was going to cramp up, but it never cramped. After 2 weeks of this, I suddenly got a horrible feeling that something was stuck in my throat. As usual, I panicked and checked google which told me I had an hour to live. So I went to Out of Hours and they told me it looked like Acid Reflux issue. So I was prescribed acid reflux tablets and nasal spray.

I waited 2 weeks with this and it didn't work and the feeling didn't go away. So in December 2018, I went to doctors to let them know the feeling is still there. They checked my urine for diabetes? But that was fine. No diabetes. I was given more spray, nystitin? and antibiotics. Needless to say, this didn't work.

I went back to the doctors again and wasn't given anything this time. They just referred me to ENT. My ENT was set for March 2019. So I had 3 months to sit and worry.

During these 3 months, I was told to go back to the doctors if the symptoms worsened. They did. The feeling spread to my ear and a bit of my neck. My right side of my tonsil was bigger. But I was "told off" by one of the doctors because I already had an ENT booked and I was told there was nothing they could do. I felt so little and didn't know what to do.

March 2019 came around and I got my ENT appointment. Got the camera down the throat. Doctor couldn't find anything. I breathed a sigh of relief because I thought that was the end of it. I was told just to forget about it, and the feeling would go away. My only issue was, they didn't do biopsies, take bloods or check anything else.

April 2019 and the feeling is still there, but this time, it came with more symptoms. Harder to swallow at times and the loss of my voice a couple of times. So I went back to the doctor. This doctor prescribed me with more acid reflux and nasal spray. He said I didn't use it long enough back in November 2018. So I done what he asked. He said if it didn't go away in 4 weeks, I was to go back and see him again.

May 2019 and 4 weeks has passed. Symptoms are now worse. Not only is it a feeling in my throat, there is sharp pains along with it now. So I told the doctor again. Checked down my throat and in my ear as usual but no other tests done. He has sent for ENT referral again. He has told me it will take 2 to 3 months again and I've just to sit back while the symptoms progress.

A couple of days later, I called NHS 24 because I don't know what else to do. They told me they couldn't help and I was to go back to my doctor. I don't feel I can go back as I've already been referred and waiting on my appointment letter to come through and they will just "tell me off" again.

My massive issue is, during this whole time, I 've had no tests done whatsoever (apart form the camera in throat). But they haven't checked my swollen right tonsil. No biopsies. No allergy testing. No swabs. No bloods taken. No MRI. And no anything else that may be relevant.

Are they doing the right thing? And having seen the doctors so many times as well as ENT, is there anything to worry about? They just seem so relaxed about it, while I have had nothing but sleepless nights for 6 months.

Any help would be great!

Barry

Hi Barry sorry to hear about all the lack of interest, I can relate to you entirely at the beginning my symptons were similar, not much response from docs, it's quite a long story an sounds quite unbelievable although I'm still here to tell the tale after a lot of trauma., pls insist on biopsies it's your body an I'm sure you are not imagining things 

I have thought over my post an wasn't going to say, although now on hindsight I feel I shld, 

After much trauma I was diagnosed with cancer to the base of tongue and sylivary glands an complicated  surgery and maximum Radiotherapy, who knows the extent of it may have been avoided if they had have found it sooner, it is difficult to diagnose but you must insist on biopsies 

Insist on biopsies, don't be afraid to persist

Hi Bella. Since my previous post, I’ve had another endoscopy and they still found nothing. I got a CT scan 2 weeks ago and still waiting for results. 

I was told to call last week for results. I did but they said I’ve to call back next week as they wouldn’t be ready yet. 

If the ct scan comes back with nothing, should I still push for biopsies?

I first time i had an endoscopy nothing was found, the second time which was 2years after was when they eventually ľfound the tumor., what they said to me was mine was very difficult yo detect it had been there years an started of low growing so by the time it was found it was a mature tumor an had become aggressive, which is why I had so many problems in  surgery an needed to have aggressive Radiotherapy I had dieticians, speech therapists, councillors, you name it a whole host of help, I cannot fault them they have been wonderful to me.  

In answer to your question you know your own body an if you feel there is something going on, don't rest until you get to the bottom of it you are with it, ask them straight out why they haven't suggested biopsies, they are the exerts could be they have a valid answer, will give you peace of mind, You must speak it out to them, they need to know how you feel.

Take care an praying for you 

I first time i had an endoscopy nothing was found, the second time which was 2years after was when they eventually ľfound the tumor., what they said to me was mine was very difficult yo detect it had been there years an started of low growing so by the time it was found it was a mature tumor an had become aggressive, which is why I had so many problems in  surgery an needed to have aggressive Radiotherapy I had dieticians, speech therapists, councillors, you name it a whole host of help, I cannot fault them they have been wonderful to me.  

In answer to your question you know your own body an if you feel there is something going on, don't rest until you get to the bottom of it you are with it, ask them straight out why they haven't suggested biopsies, they are the exerts could be they have a valid answer, will give you peace of mind, You must speak it out to them, they need to know how you feel.

Take care an praying for you 

I always worry that I am pestering them for no reason. My concern is that since my last post, the feeling in my neck and throat is still there, but it hasn't gotten any worse.

The doctors keep putting it down as psychological pain. I am genuinely not that type of person to create pain. Especially for over 10 months now.

I am hoping with the results of the CT Scan, if there is nothing there, they can give me my next step. Because if there is nothing detected in the scan, it doesn't make my symptoms disappear.

Thanks

Maybe if you just let them know your concerns again they will let you see your scans an explain what you are looking at to put your mind at rest if they can't see anything where would they take biopsy from?