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Something Burst Inside My Throat - Worried its Throat Cancer

jeffers
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It felt like something popped/burst in my throat as I was trying to bring up phlegm. Liquid shot up into my mouth and I spat it into a glass. I do have a video but it is against the terms her to post it. It was quite a large mouthful of liquid, some thick dark red bits of blood, some thick, quite yellow liquid and some thinner clear liquid. Almost a bit like an egg (with a less yellow yolk) with some blood in it.

I have a lot of cancer in my family. I'm worried this is a sign of throat cancer or something serious. But it could equally have been a cyst of some sort.

I have been to my GP who couldn't see anything via a 'torch' examination. I'm now waiting for an appointment for further investigation. I've just had my appointment letter arrive - but it isn't until end of January 2019. My throat feels a little bit sore/raw now. I'm worried about and considering investigating going private - but not idea about the cost.

I have been taking antibiotics for acne for ~8 years. The last 5 of which have been Lymecycline, which sometimes gives me a sore throat. About a year ago, I felt that swallowing felt different and I started to find it harder to bring up phlegm from my throat. This was quite a subtle change. I questioned whether I was imagining it and it had always felt like this. I meant to go to my doctor to have it checked out but didn't. Last week, one more than one occasion I got tiny bits of pear skin trapped in my throat as I was eating. Then two days ago, I felt like something was in my throat so tried to bring up phlegm. Not in a violent, noisy way - but the silent, mouth closed manner. I did do it quite firmly, and I felt a pop and my mouth filled with a surprising amount of liquid. I knew immediately that it wasn't normal so spat it into a glass. I as spitting up more blood, but no more yellow liquid for an hour or so afterwards.

I have never smoked. I drink alcohol, very rarely at home but will drink ~5 pints of beer (or equivalent in spirits) if I go out - which is probably once every two weeks. I have lots of cancer history in my family - siblings, one parent, aunts/uncles on both sides of family.

I've not had much luck identifying other people that have had the same experience as me. Naturally searching on this brings you to throat cancer and it starts to get scary quick. It is fair to say I'm quite worried.

Grateful for any advice, including on options/costs for private treatment and how to initiate this now I have a NHS referral. 

  • Welcome to the forum Jeffers although I'm sorry to read about your throat. It doesn't sound very pleasant and I can understand why you're concerned.

    I know you're considering private treatment so I'm going to include a link to a website which specialises in this area for you to look at. Hopefully it will answer some of your questions but do feel free to give our cancer nurses a quick call about this next week if you'd like to find out more. Their number is 0808 800 4040 and their phone lines are open Monday - Friday between 9a.m -5p.m.

    I hope this helps and you're able to find out what's going on soon.

    Kind regards, 

    Steph, Cancer Chat Moderator

  • Offline

    Hi Jeffers,

    I have beeen having a similar problem, did you find out what it was?

     

    thanks,

    Jen

  • Offline in reply to Jeng20

    I eventually got referred for and had a 'pipe down the throat' examination. It showed a cyst-like growth just behind the epiglottis. I assume it was this that partially burst. I had it removed under general anaesthetic. The cyst that was removed was checked for cancer and it came up clear. So far so good.

    I hope goes OK for you.

  • Offline in reply to jeffers

    Hi Jeffers,

    Thank you so much for your reply. I'm glad it came back clear for you. I will contact my GP on Monday. 
     

    thanks,

    Jen

  • Offline in reply to jeffers

    Hi Jeff,

    did you have any symptoms of the cyst before hand? I'be currently got a a lump in the back of my throat feels like it's just past the back of my tongue, food gets caught there and I can't constantly feel the lump and a sore throat for the last 4 weeks 

    im trying to push for a ent referral as I think I may have a cyst there I just wanted a little information on how you got about doing it as the gp never seems to listen 

  • Offline in reply to holly98

    In retrospect I can see I had symptoms. But at the time I was taking a Lymecycline, which has a side affect of giving you a slight sore throat if not always taken with lots of water. I had noticed that swallowing felt different and food had got slightly caught in my throat a few times in the weeks previous. It happened with pear and apple peel a few times I recall. Hope that helps and good luck with the referral. 

  • Offline in reply to jeffers

    Thank you very much, it's actually nice to finally find someone with similar symptoms, I'm hoping the doctors will listen to me, how did you go about getting your referral and how fast was it?

     

    also has all you symptoms gone since having your op was it urgent? 
    I am so sorry for all the questions x

  • Offline in reply to holly98

    I seem to recall my referall was in part based on familiy history of cancer. I don't think it was prioritised as being urgent either - at least not initially. I was a while ago now - but I vaguely recall a conversation about the criteria being used to determine how 'urgent' the referall was. I got the impression that ability to breathe/eat/drink was quite a significant factor - and notwithstanding a small amount of discomfort and occassional choking - I wasn't 'bad' enough for an urgent referral on that basis.

    I'm afraid I don't have any great advice and I'm sure covid isn't making referalls easier. But if I was going through the process again I'd be insistent that I needed a referall to eliminate cancer risk, or else some compelling and reasoned reassurance that it catagorically wasn't something untoward. In my case, it was cancer I was concerned about - the discomfort/choke frequency was really low - so would have been happy to wait it out on those factors alone.

  • Offline in reply to holly98

    Hi have you had your E.n.t appointment yet?

    I had all the same symptoms no one would take it seriously I had an unrelated ct scan which the lump showed upon

    Had ent in a week and an op on the 16th March now nearly 4 weeks after still waiting for results 

  • Offline in reply to ccec84

    I'm still awaiting my appointment with ent, I've seen a maxillofacial surgeon who had referred me to ent instead as he cannot see down in my throat so I need a camera with the ent! But I've been waiting 4 weeks now although I got out through on a 2 week emergency referral!! 
    im still in pain and still got the lump/ball stuck in my throat it's really scaring me now as it's just not getting any better at all. 
    Where was your lump? Was it in your throat? 

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