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WORRIED I HAVE HEAD OR NECK CANCER HELP

Mariainne
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I don't know why I'm here, maybe I'm just looking for anyone in a similar position or anyone who's been diagnosed with cancer with similar symptoms. Maybe because I'm in so much pain this evening it's encouraging me to write this. I'm really at my wits end and I feel like no one is really taking me seriously. I feel like doctors think I'm going mad and that I'm being dramatic. When I know I'm not!! I'm a 25 year old female who's just had a baby 4 and half months ago, and I feel like I'm falling apart. 
 

So, 2 months ago I felt run down, sore throat, fever, swollen glands, fatigue and assumed I had tonsillitis. I got some antibiotics off my doctor but unfortunately it didn't clear. I've since every single day had a sore throat, glands up and down with swelling, a sensation that there's a lump in the front of my throat and when I eat food, it feels like it's getting stuck. I keep getting white on one tonsil every other week and my tounge is covered in white (grim I know) and a throbbing ear ache. Weirdly it's all on THE SAME SIDE. From glands to tonsil swelling to ear ache. Doctors said it's viral but I pushed and pushed and told them I've had many cases of tonsillitis and this is different. 
 

Firstly they referred me to a heamotologist due to swollen glands in groin, kneck, ear and head. When I went to see him they had gone down apart from the pain in the front of my kneck when he was pressing. He said he doesn't think it's blood cancer but he advised there may be something going on inside. 
 

He referred me for an ultrasound scan which he said they probably won't find anything due to being inside but didn't want to send me for a CT due to my age. I went for the ultrasound and everything ok, as predicted. 
 

Ive been bleeding for 3 months none stop. Got told it was due to having a baby but then now they're taking it more seriously and I'm waiting for results for my smear back to see if it's anything connected. 
 

This evening I'm suffering from chronic ear ache (same side my throat hurts) and on the same side of my body, out of nowhere 3 glands have swollen (again). One under my armpit, and 2 under my jaw. I am due to see ENT Tuesday but I am petrified and after googling, I have every symptom for some form of kneck cancer or oral. 
 

I thought I had mono to begin with but nothings showed on my blood tests? Can anyone relate to anythimg I've wrote before? It would be nice to speak to somebody who understands. I'm so scared I'm going to die or due to glands swelling today that it's spread to my nodes. I'm terrified and just want this to end. 
 

Thank you for reading,

 

a very worried human! 

  • Hello Mariainne

    I'm sorry to hear that you've been struggling with some ongoing health concerns particularly at a time when you should be enjoying getting to know your new baby. 

    I just wanted to wish you well for your appointment with ENT tomorrow. I hope that they are able to give you some reassurance about those symptoms and I do hope that you don't have to wait too long for your gynae appointment. 

    Best wishes, 
    Jenn
    Cancer Chat moderator 

  • Offline

    Hi Mariainne,

    How did your ENT go? I have similar things going on and got ENT on 4th Jan but currently feel like it's going to ruin my whole Christmas as I just can't switch my mind off from it. 
     

    Hope you're well and have had reassuring news so you can enjoy babies first Christmas. 
     

    x

  • Offline in reply to LIPLIV

    Hi! Hope you've had a good Christmas! 
     

    ENT went shocking. So basically she said my throat looks normal and said reflux (it's definitely not). Didn't even look with a camera and I felt worse walking out! Please be firm when you go!! I went to the dentist a day later, who then confirmed that my right tonsil is 50% larger and I need a second opinion. Because I've been signed off by ent, my gp said I wouldn't get a second opinion but sent me for a ct scan (wouldn't scan the affected area) which I cried about as that's where the pain is. Anyway,  I've been for a ct scan which scanned my chest, abdomen and pelvis due to night sweats and want to check if there's anything else going on. So I've paid for a private MRI scan with contrast of my kneck, specifically the tonsil area so I'm travelling next week for this! I just can't keep going on with pain with no answers. So I'll keep you updated. My GP said as soon as they get my mri results and ct if there is anything they'll be on it, which worries me a little as I've been told 'it's viral' for months... 

     

    what symptoms do you have? I constantly feel like I have something in my throat on the right hand side and my ear pain is ridiculous!  The pain is terrible and it's draining all my energy. 
     

    hope you're well xx

  • Offline in reply to Mariainne

    Hi,

    Have you had MRI? how did it go? 
     

    I started about 3 months ago with swollen gland in neck fluctuating throughout day, even hour to hour. Had pain behind right ear and tender jaw but didn't see doc until had gland for 4 weeks by which point no symptoms. Gland still up and down but not tender at all. Had also been in a month or so before this started due to period pains and back ache throughout month, periods had gone irregular which is unusual for me. Went in pill and bled for the whole month before I couldn't take it any longer and stopped taking it again. 
     

    Symptoms have then varied and changed throughout last three months with only consistent being gland in neck. About 7 weeks in had tonsillitis for few days and gland was tender with all usual signs of infection which highlights that this doesn't just seem to be a viral infection, it's reacting differently and won't budge. Now got really aches neck but doesn't feel muscular. got a second lump behind the gland which is really worrying me as seems to be getting bigger in line with my neck being more uncomfortable.
     

    Doc wouldn't refer until had it 8 weeks. Now got ENT on Monday and still awaiting ultrasound appointment but depending what ENT says might just go private because I can't mentally cope with the uncertainty any longer. 
     



    Hope your pain has improved. One thing to hang onto is that 'C' wouldn't normally be painful at stage of diagnosis I don't think. 
     

    hope you're ok. 

     

  • Offline in reply to LIPLIV

    Hi all, returning quickly to the chat just to say that ultrasound scan showed a big node that was of no concern. Few weeks later discovered a lump in breast which after being scanned as well was also of no concern. They mentioned at breast check also feeling some nodes that they checked on scan and said all look completely normal. I'm feeling great and have accepted that I just have big nodes

     

    Hope this brings comfort to some of you.

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