Neck lump now I have coloured phlegm

2 weeks ago I woke up with a dry scratchy throat as the day went by I realised when I swallowed I could feel a lump inside my throat when I went to touch my neck I felt a fleshy lump on the outside. After a day or 2 I couldn’t feel the lump as I swallowed but the lump on the outside was still there. I went to the GP 5 days after he felt the lump and said he was going to refer me to the ENT doctor for an ultrasound FNA. A couple of days after I noticed the lump was getting smaller and it was kind of moveable however, I also felt a pea sized hard lump underneath the original lump (this is now 1 week) which doesn’t move I don’t know if it’s a enlarged lymph node whichappeared or if it was hiding under the first lump. I felt fine and I haven’t been losing weight I did feel lethargic the week before the lump appeared but I believe that was because I was so busy at work. I’ve been going to work everyday, sleeping fine and waking up early. I just haven’t been able to go gym because I’ve been feeling lazy and demotivated. I did go once though and it was fine (I usually go gym 3/4 times a week)

I’ve been inspecting the lump and keeping notes everyday to show the doctor when I go for my scan, I even drew a circle around the first lump everyday but a rash appearead because I think I was using eyeliner so I stopped. On Sunday evening just gone my throat became really itchy and yesterday I had a really bad itchy throat. I managed to go gym and I spent an hour in there I felt proud because I was able to do my routine with a couple of longer breaks (1-2 minutes rest) which I thought was normal because I haven’t exercised consistently in 2-3 weeks. I also struggled to sleep because my nose was blocked and I had a headache so I took paracetamol to get myself to sleep. I woke up today with a headache and when I went to the bathroom I coughed up really dark basically black phlegm. I was petrified I then coughed up a small amount of browny/ yellow phlegm with red specks. I called 111 and ended up in my GP again. My GP told me to say Ahhhh and said he couldn’t see I had a chest infection so I should just wait for my ENT appointment. He didn’t even feel my lump (located on the right side. It also moves as I swallow which means it’s fixated) he  just checked under my jaw for swelling. I was in there for 2 minutes before he sent me away!

I wont lie I keep googling my symptoms as I think it’s getting worse. When I noticed the lump I felt absolutely normal now I have a sore throat and coloured phlegm I keep seeing throat and lung cancer floating around when I google I know I shouldn’t. When I lie down my nose gets blocked which could explain why I struggled to sleep but I don’t have a really bad cough but I do clear my throat a lot. I’m a very anxious person and I work myself up so I have been crying on and off since my first GP appointment last Monday. I can’t explain how scared I am, I’m only 25 and I’ve only told my sister because she had cancer 6/7 years ago and she’s now a nurse she keeps telling me to relax and I probably just have an infection or virus but I can’t. I wouldn’t know how to deal with cancer. I have no one to talk to and I’m absolutely scared to tell my mother. Sorry for the very long post!!!!

SA

  • Welcome to the forum SA although I'm sorry for the reason you've joined us.

    It's always a bit scary finding unexplained lumps and bumps but you did the right thing by going to your doctor and fingers crossed you won't be waiting too much longer for your ENT appointment.

    There are quite a lot of discussions about lumps found in/around the neck area so if you want to join in on any just use the 'search forum' option in the blue bar above.

    In the meantime try to stay away from google. I know it's difficult when it's so easily accessible but it will only make you worry and stress more. 

    Kind regards, 

    Steph, Cancer Chat Moderator