28 years old, think I have throat cancer

[wellred2]

Hi all,

Thanks for reading. So it all started say 2 weeks ago where when I swallowed it there was a slight feeling of discomfort just below my jaw on my right hand side. Around where the glands are in that area. I took a few strepsils and it cleared up within a day. Then the following week the same thing happened again only the point at which it felt uncomfortable when swallowing was in a different area, the back of the throat and more centrally located. Id say it's a few inches below where I could see if I looked at the back of my throat in a mirror.

Today I looked in the mirror with a torch and right at the back of the throat (pharynx area) there seems to be 1 or 2 yellowish lumps or some type of growth. I can see 2 and the biggest one is maybe around half an inch big. It's not especially big but looks inflammed. As I said the pain itself now seems to be from lower down so im not sure if this is related? I've never noticed these before so I'm now really worried it could be throat cancer. I actually think i've gone into a slight state of depression since this first started happening and can't think of anything else. I'm going to go see my GP next week but I thought it might ask around here first.

About me, I'm 28, in generally good health (borderline overweight, 6ft 175lbs) and am a vegetarian. I smoked on/off for maybe 5 years but don't any more. When I say on/off I mean I might have a few on a night out every couple of weeks but am not a regular smoker as in every day ect...

I've not had this issue before. The only thing I can think of remotely related is I had a case of swollen glands around 4 years ago. I took some antibiotics for that it it cleared right up. I don't understand why the feeling of discomfort moved, and if this is related to the lumps i've noticed in the back of my throat.

Based on what i've told you so far does this sound like cancer, or perhaps some other throat infection?

Thanks for reading

John

[wellred2]

Quick update. Went to the doctors yesterday and it turns out it was a throat infection. I've been given some Penicillin.

[iatrofears]

Hi,wellred2 glad to hear it's helping. Just still keep dr. appt.

[wellred2]

Ok so I have salt water gargled 2 nights in a row and as yesterday there is now no discomfort when swallowing. I looked at my throat in the mirror today with a torch and it looks like the yellow lumps/patches on the back of the throat are starting to subside. I can't be sure but my doctors appointment isn't till Friday so ill continue it till then.

[wellred2]

Hi all,

Ok so to update, before going to bed last night I gargled with warm salt water. So far today i've had no discomfort at all when swallowing. I am going to do that again tonight and will check to see if the lumps have gone down in the back of the throat.

[iatrofears]

Dear Wellred: it sounds like what's called tonsil stones when bacteria and stuff get trapped back there in the tonsil's crypts(spaces near them where stuff can hide). See if rinsing or gargling helps. Of course i'm not a dr. so if it persists you should probably go to the dr(dentist).

[wellred2]

Ok thanks, im going to see my GP as soon as possible next week. Does this sound like it could be anything else like a strep throat? Some of the symptoms seem similar to a strep throat, yellowish lumps in back of throat and discomfort when swallowing.

[caregiver222]

The first thing is you shouldn't be self-treating with a "few strepsil tabs". That is the surest way to develop an antibiotic resistant infection.

While there is a remote possibility that you have a malignancy the probability is you have an encapsulated antibiotic resistant infection, which may require surgical intervention.

Delaying appropriate treatment may result in your death - not from cancer - but from infection.

I urge you to see professional medical treatment immediately.

[wellred2]

btw when I take a strepsil tab the discomfort goes away.....

Not sure is this a strep throat or something more sinister?