I am a male 41 years old, with a long history of alcohol consumption on a daily basis. I have been diagnosed with GERD and two upper endocscopies done about 2 and 4 years apart showed some mild ulcerations. I have been on Omeprazole 20 mg for nearly 4 years. My GERD related symptoms have been little worse since last few months with excessive bloating, burping, stomach burns etc. Other than this, I am of normal health and has a BMI of 21.

Just recently I had a cold for a day and developed a slightly painful throat pain. The pain has since subsided, but there is an soreness and feeling of something inside the throat. I am not sure if this is something which I may have had before and failed to notice. I had stopped drinking since the next day of the cold.

I had visited an ENT specialist last week and he told me there is an infection in the throat and that the infection & arytenoid edema seen could be a result of LP reflux. I have finished a course antibiotics, but stopped on the 6th day because of stomach burn. The throat soreness is still there. I am due to visit the ENT and I am wondering weather to see instead an oncologist or a Gastroenterologist as well.

Just today a friend of mine who had not talked to me for nearly 2 weeks called and the first thing he said was that my voice has changed. This is scaring me a lot. Is this cancer? or could it be the throat infection and LPR that ENT suspect is responsible? There are no other symptoms that one ususally associate with throat cancer.

Do the infection detected in throat reduces the chance this could be cancer?

Or am I losing precious time by not visiting an Oncologist?

A friend of mine who happens to be a GP says I am jumping too early and that the symptoms would subside once I stop the alcohol (I already have for nearly 2 weeks) and allow the soreness to heal.

I am also worried about the financial implications of treatment. In light of this, what would be the best course of action for me to pursue?

Kindly give your feedback..Thanks to all in advance.