I am really struggling with the feeling I have oral cancer. I have been a heavy drinker for the last 5-6 years and a weekend drinker for several years prior. Quit cold turkey in January. My symptoms started last fall when I had gotten sick twice in a two months span. Really bad colds that lingered and allergy symptoms that to this day I can’t get rid of. I noticed white patches in the back of my throat, chronic scratchy throat for 2 months and went to an ent specialist who didn’t want to investigate but did do a biopsy because I virtually begged for it. He just kept saying it’s not cancer and even sent it off to the pathologist clinically described as a benign neoplasm. Pathologists report came back very vague as inflamed tonsillar tissue.
Went to another Ent for a second opinion and I felt again I was getting blown off. The only thing he offered to do was have his pathologist review the slides and we would talk about allergy symptoms and reflux in 6 weeks. No thorough look in my throat even.
I took it on myself to visit a gastro doc who started right off by telling me reflux doesn’t cause a chronic sore throat! I feel like I’m being discredited every where I go.
I did agree to medication for anxiety because I feel the overwhelming weight of all this but I feel like it’s making me more pigeon holed as a nut job.
I’ve also discovered a swollen lump in my upper jaw. I visited my dentist who said come back in 2 weeks if it’s still there. I wanted him to X-ray it but he didn’t want to. Tomorrow is the day I go back. I’m also going to another specialist 3 hours away on Wednesday that my doctor recommended with the referral note, I’ve already been reassured.
So long story short I just feel consumed with this fear. I’ve done a lot of reading and know that this is a hard cancer to diagnose sometimes and that coupled with the half way interest I’m receiving, is just about to take me under! Can anyone relate to me??