Please help. Anyone who has had throat cancer??

My symptoms in time line-

18 months until now- persistent sore throat, no infections, antibiotics do not work, bloods show no infections. 

10 months until now- food sticks down throat when swallowing

9 months until now- severe tiredness, like I haven’t sleep for a year even when iv had 8 hours sleep. No energy. 

8 months- lump on right side of neck - swollen lymph node I assume but has been there 8 months and not gone down.

5 months until now- weight loss, in the last 3 months iv gone from 8 stone 5 to 7 stone 3

3 months- food comes back up after I eat from time to time even water sometimes

2-3 months- hoarseness, if I talk to long it hurts, sometimes my voice completely goes. 

Last month- not sure if connected but knee and leg bone pain. 

I have been to the doctors the last 18 months and have only just got a referral to ent because my lymph has been swollen for more than 6 months! 

I feel it’s something really serious, I should also mention in the past I was diagnosed with hpv and currently have a lesion on my cervix in which I’m having a colposcopy next month. I’m aware the hpv can cause oral cancer also so I’m getting very scared as I’m only 30, with two small boys. 

 

I would really like to hear if anyone’s symptoms were like mine, any advice/ stories would help me so much. 

 

I have an ultrasound on my neck Monday to check the lump, has anyone got a diagnosis from this alone??

  • Good morning Amyquee1988, I won’t go in to much now as it’s very early, I’m so glad you’ve eventually got the opportunity to see the ent consultant. 

    Once I got to this point after several visits to a GP over a period of about a year for extreme exhaustion, fatigue, and niggly little things which together made me feel ‘just not right’ all my bloods came back fine so I resign myself to the fact this is what it’s like to be 55. Long story short when I look back at photos I hadn’t realised quite how much my neck/glands had swollen. I was still working and had a holiday too, thought it’s what I needed, where I spent most of the time napping.  Anyway I insisted on seeing a ent specialist.  Once I got to this point, diagnoses, and treatment was pretty speedy, it wasn’t the same day though- consultation, X-ray and  biopsy were the same day, followed by an appointment for results the following week. 

    Ill be thinking of you Monday, routing for you to get the support you need. 

    Best wishes

    Maidmar

  • Thank you so much for your reply, it means so much to hear from someone. 

    That is identical to how I feel, it’s a tiredness I can’t explain. Not your every day feeling abit tired but like my eyes just want to close all the time with zero energy , being young I know this not normal. 

    I went for a meal last night and almost chocked because food wouldn’t go down , I’m tired of not knowing and dealing with this. 

    May ultrasound is on Monday but my my ent appointment isn’t until 25th of April so I hope something shows on the ultrasound to maybe get fast tracked to the ent as this is horrible. 

    If you don’t mind me asking what stage we’re you as we seem to have similar symptoms for a similar time period and I’m honestly worried that it could be a later stage and preying for a miracle xx

     

  • Update-

     

    so I had my ultrasound on my neck today, I went because of a lymph node on my RIGHT side, she checked this and told me it’s a harmless reactive lymph node THEN she moved around scanning the rest of my neck and has found a mass on the LEFT side of my neck that in her words “ is very suspicious and abnormal” I have now been urgently referred to head and neck on a 2 weeks rule and will be having a biopsy straight after iv seen the ent. She wanted a camera down there before taking a biopsy . Either she knows what it is and doesn’t need a biopsy or wants everything done together. I’m not sure . 

     

    I knew new something was wrong. I just knew.

     

    at this point I don’t know if it’s throat cancer, lymphoma -as she was asking if I have anymore lymph nodes up, spread from somewhere else or benign . 

    I’m guessing within a month I should have an answer. 

     

  • Hi

    I hope you don't mind me messaging, but I wondered what your diagnosis was as I am experiencing similar symptoms 

    I hope you received positive news 

    leanne x

  • Hi. Just read your post. I was midway through chemotherapy & radiotherapy at that time. I had found a lump in my neck the previous August but everything happened from December once I'd been referred to ENT.  It's a very scary time.
    So how are you now that you've been through treatment?

    Two years on I'm getting fitter and appear to be ' back to normal' apart from the xerostomia & no molars. I can eat most things but not the salads, raw food & crunchy stuff I loved before. But with care and and more butter, cream & Brie cheese than I've ever eaten before I can enjoy most things. Let me know how you are getting on.

  • Hi Amyque1988

    Can I ask how are you now doing regarding your throat issues. 

  • Hi Amy 

    Please could I ask what the outcome was

    Thanks

    Kelly

  • Hi I'm sorry to hear that you have not had the best time over the last 18 months,  I am currently undergoing radiotherapy for cancer in my left lung, but in Oct 2019 I had a stroke since then I have never been able to eat or drink without coughing my guts up. After visiting ENT department my doctor diagnosed that I had cancer,  I had radiotherapy for the cancer in my neck and check ups every few months with my Consultant and he says I'm all clear. Rubbish, I don't know who's neck he was feeling when he was feeling my neck but I could feel lumps in my neck. I have now been told that cancer has returned and I will have to have surgery. So just getting over from radiotherapy for the lung cancer I've gotta wait 2-3 months for the radiotherapy treatment to wear off then go back to the hospital for the op. All the symptoms that you are having I've had I'm a 69yr old male

    I really hope you're cancer free good luck

  • Hi Kelly,

    I noticed you were hoping to hear back from Amyque1988.

    Unfortunately they haven't been on the forum since 2020 so there's a chance you may not get to find out what happened.

    I really hope that won't be the case but if you don't receive a reply, then you're welcome to reach out to others on more recent and active discussions about this topic.

    Kind regards,

    Steph, Cancer Chat Moderator