Suspected Esophageal cancer

Hi, I'm hoping for my mind to be put at ease.  For several months I had dizziness and throat issues.  Small bits of food sticking around in my throat.  I could drink milk and burp a few minuits later and feel the coldness of the milk half way down my throat like theres a pocket where food hangs around in.  

There would be an on and off tight/restricted/lump in the throat feeling.  Ruling out globus sensation as when clearing throat, coughing or burping I could little bits of food moving up and down the throat.  

I swallowed a chip whole one night and I'm sure it stuck around at the back of my throat for about a week as I could feel it moving up and down.  It went down eventually.  After that, I got a period where I had a strangling sensation in my throat.  I was also extremely dizzy.  Doctors referred me for an endoscopy and said that there was wax in my ears that could be causing the dizziness.  I'm worried I might have Esophageal cancer or something bad.  For the several months I had these issues, I have frequently cleared throat bringing up sputum regularly.  Sometimes I couldn't tell if an ache was in my throat or ears.  Occasional chest pain and palpitations but I am 18 stone.  

A doctor felt my neck thoroughly with his fingers and checked the back of my throat and saw no anomalies (would these checks detect a tumour?) Allthough the doctor gave me a leaflet on globus sensation, I Suspected GERD, was given omeprazole and the dizziness and throat symptoms improved after a few weeks.  On the 19th June, a lymph node on the right side of my neck had become swollen and red.  I saw the doctor about it the next morning.  He inspected my throat and said that the tonsils looked a bit red and noticed my swollen lymph node.  He prescribed me flucloxcillin and ive been taking them for 3 days now and it has got slightly bigger.  It is sore and red.  I don't feel otherwise unwell, slightly dizzy.  I also noticed that the node is hot to the touch.  I was told if it doesnt improve in 48 hours, to phone the doctors which I will do on Monday as they were closed on saturday.  Only one lymph node is swollen.  

Is there any connection between my symptoms improving and a lymph node becoming swollen and is there anything about what I've described which might point to my issue being non cancerous please.  

  • Hi Dean and welcome to the forum.

    I noticed you hadn't had a reply yet so I just thought I'd stop by and see how you're getting on.

    Did you ring the doctors yesterday? If so, I hope they were able to put your mind at ease and answer your questions.

    These situations are always tough but hopefully this can all be sorted out for you soon.

    All the best, 

    Steph, Cancer Chat Moderator

  • Hi, thanks for the reply.  So I went back to be seen on monday morning.  I had taken the flucloxacillin for 4 days.  The doctor said there was no improvement and he would have expected there to be now.  He took a swab of the back of my throat, booked me in for an ultra sound scan and tried me on a 7 day course of doxycycline instead.  After a few days, it seemed to get slightly smaller and not as aggressive, it's now a couple days after that and it hurts a bit more and I can feel it starts deep below the surface of the skin.  I'm constantly clearing my throat and bringing up small amounts of clear phlegm and have occasional tight/restricted throat.  I also have occasional pains/aches in my throat and or ears.  Relentless dizziness and disorientation as I've had for several months but in the last month has been more or less constant.Last night, I was sleeping on my right hand side and my right ear had a sensation of a bit of liquid wax running out.  

    I don't know what to think, but I'll take the rest of the antibiotics and see them again, I'll be having my ultra sound scan and endoscopy in the near future which should rule anything out, it's just the waiting and worrying.

  • I had exactly the same symptoms as u have described apart from the leaky ear. Did you get to the bottom of your problems. I would be interested to know the outcome. Hope all went well