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#27832 10-25-2005 12:36 AM
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Dino Offline OP
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The symptoms I have had that started with a feeling of a sore throat and something in my throat are still there. The sore throat would come and go before and know it is there everyday and is more like a pain than a sore throat feeling. Also, I feel something in the back left side of my mouth, not so much in my throat, but around were my uvula hangs down. I think it is my left tonsil.
I have been going back to my local ENT for a monthly follow up and he does scope me and says he does not see anything abnormal. When I had a barium swallow done after my initial ct scan it stated that my tonsils were slightly enlarged.

The ENT stated that the only other test he would suggest is a ct/pet scan. But, he does not think my insurace would cover it.

If this was a cancer would there be other symptoms or some type of change by know? I have had this going on for six months know. Also, is it possible for there to be pain without the ENT being able to see a growth?


Dino
#27833 10-25-2005 03:38 AM
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Dino,

You need to see a mental health specialist. You are not being treated for the correct illness. I don't even know what to tell you so I don't get abused here. You are nuts, is that good?

Glenn

#27834 10-25-2005 05:56 AM
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Hi Dino, I've ended up lurking around here for the same reasons as you... health anxiety/hypochondria. I know it's hard, but i recommend you at least consider the fact that there may be nothing PHYSICALLY wrong with you. Hypochondria is a very complex and difficult mental disorder, and sadly it is very under researched and there are few if any curative treatments for it. Some have had success with anti-depressants like Zoloft because it is theorized that health anxiety is a form of OCD and those drugs help OCD sufferers. Personally, Zoloft did nothing for me, but you should at least consider trying it for 3 months to see if it helps. Cognitive therapy has also worked for some, so you may consider contacting a psychologist. I know it's difficult, because you feel you have a PHYSICAL problem and going to a doctor for a MENTAL problem is like ignoring what you feel is really happening to your body... but you have to at least consider it as a rational human.

Also, the people of this forum have helped you all they can, obviously they have problems of their own. With all that you have asked and all the tests you have had done, no one here can tell you much more, and you know that. Resist the temptation. May I recommend this forum , a place much like this, but for health anxiety sufferers. You will notice a lot of people with the exact same problems you are facing. It's not a cure, but it helps to talk to others that feel the same way. Plus it's reassuring. May I also recommend the book "Phantom Illness" for more insite into health anxiety (why not buy it through the OCF link to support the foundation?). And here is a brilliant artcile from the New Yorker about hypochondria: Sick With Worry .

On a final note, to the sufferers of oral cancer and the founders of the oral cancer foundation... with increased awareness will invariably come increased fear, especially for those with an inclination towards health anxiety. So the push for early detection can be a double edged sword, and you must be prepared to deal with the hypochondriacs, but with a similar tact that you might a fellow cancer patient. Although certainly not life threatening, hypochondria is dibilitating and a serious illness, and much like oral cancer, it is somewhat ignored in the medical world when compared to other diseases (depression, OCD, etc.). Hopefully some of you will find interest in the above posted articles/books/forums. My hope is that this post will help everyone on the forum, those who are lurking because of their health anxiety, and those who actually suffer from cancer and are having to deal with those who don't actually have the disease but feel they do.

Thanks and good luck to all of you.

Frederick

#27835 10-25-2005 02:02 PM
Joined: Apr 2005
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Frederick, you sound like a kind and caring person. I hope Dino [and others] will find some help from your post. Amy


CGtoJohn:SCC Flr of Mouth.Dx 3\05. Surg.4\05.T3NOMO.IMRTx30. Recur Dx 1\06.Surg 2\06. Chemo: 4 Cycles of Carbo\Taxol:on Erbitux for 7 mo. Lost our battle 2-23-07- But not the will to fight this disease

:
#27836 10-25-2005 02:43 PM
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Long overdue to move on Dino!!!! The only way to know for sure would be a biospy. Biospy What!!!
Take the above posters advice and get some professional help.

Danny Boy


Daniel Bogan DX 7/16/03 Right tonsil,SCC T4NOMO. right side neck disection, IMRT Radiation x 33.

Recurrance in June 05 in right tonsil area. Now receiving palliative chemo (Erbitux) starting 3/9/06

Our good friend and loved member of the forum has passed away RIP Dannyboy 7-16-2006
#27837 10-25-2005 05:02 PM
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Frederick, Thank you for your thoughts on this subject. I think your last paragraph offers insight to a problem more than a few of us hadn't noticed. We have had several posters here that have a need for help that we for the most part are not well equipped to deal with. Several of these posters are persistant and it is hard to be sure if they really are having a problem or instead simply like the attention. Many have heard of hypochondria but I would guess few have really seen it up close.

If you are able to direct these folks to additional help, please do so. Generally, you may post other web sites here as long as they are not trying to sell products. If you have information that might be controversial, please contact me directly first.

Thanks

P.S. I found the article very interesting.


Mark, 21 Year survivor, SCC right tonsil, 3 nodes positive, one with extra-capsular spread. I never asked what stage (would have scared me anyway) Right side tonsillectomy, radical neck dissection right side, maximum radiation to both sides, no chemo, no PEG, age 40 when diagnosed.
#27838 10-25-2005 09:33 PM
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Mark, I noticed that there were a number of people participating in this forum (like me honestly) who do not have the disease, but were extremely worried about the possibility... which is why i decided to post my response. Rest assured that the majority of the people suffering from this sort of health anxiety (which is exasperated by the wealth and ease of information available on the internet now, also called "symptom surfing" - which is exactly what we are doing here) are not acting out of a need for attention (i believe those who suffer that disorder are known as "malingers") but from a geniune, if irrational, fear.

I liken it to a variant of the "boy who cried wolf" fable, in which the boy is not crying wolf maliciously, but because the boy truly believes he has noticed the wolf's footprints and can hear the wolf's breath, and thus is crying wolf out of a natural survival instinct. Unfortunately, once the townspeople explore the permimeter of the forest and tell the boy that there is no wolf, the boy can't believe it because he knows he saw the footprints and heard the breathing of the wolf. Or did he? And the fear is that one day the wolf will really come, but because he has cried wolf so many times before, his calls will be ignored.

An interesting thing is that even people WITH phsyical illness (a cancer in remission for example) can suffer from hypochondria, and although certainly less irrational than a person with no prior illness, the disorder can be just a debilitating. It is evident in a number of posts here from cancer survivors who have found that they have a constant fear of reccurance, even in the midst of negative tests and scans. So hopefully those links can help not only those who are hypochondriacs without cancer, but for those of you with cancers in remission but who are suffering from the constant and excessive fear of reccurance.

Anyways, best of luck once again to all of you. Life is crazy, but it's good to share the any insight gained from each individuals personal experience with the crazy thing. This was my contribution.

#27839 10-26-2005 05:11 AM
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Frederick,

First of all, Dino has 24 posts and he has been actively posting for several months, you cannot compare yourself to him. Secondly, I take exception to your statement that there are a "number of people" on the forum that do not have the disease. This may be true, but many of them are family members, friends and caregivers to people that do have the disease. Honestly, many of us have tried to help these people through their problems. We have done this knowing they do not have cancer. It does not work! The only thing this accomplishes is to enable them, they come back, come back and come back until one of us snaps. Your post, as informative as it is, is not a real help to the membership. This is one of the most psychologically and physically devastating forms of cancer. It's ravages and treatment scars are right out there for the world to see. You may not see the 20" scar on a lung cancer patients back, but you will see that an oral cancer patient lost part of his/her jaw! So do me a favor, get together with Dino and start a mental health site. I'll be the first to donate if you guys just go away.

Glenn

#27840 10-26-2005 05:34 AM
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Understood Glenn. This will be my last post. Sorry to bother you folks, hopefully Dino and the others like him will understand and respect your wishes and leave this site to those who have the disease. Perhaps it would be best for one of the admins to close this thread.

Thank you for your realistic perspective,

Frederick

#27841 10-26-2005 11:46 AM
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 528
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Thankyou for your insight Frederick.

I hadn't thought about hypochondria as a mental disorder before. I hope Dino will seek help as you suggest.

Best wishes from Helen


RHTonsil SCC Stage IV tx completed May 03
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