| | Joined: Mar 2013 Posts: 1 Member | | Member
Joined: Mar 2013 Posts: 1 | Hello everyone. I am sorry you all have found a reason to be on this forum. I am quite worried myself. I have had blood in the back of my throat for 24 days now. I had a CT scan (IV contrast) of my chest and neck and it said:
The parapharyngeal soft tissues have a symmetric appearance. The supraglottic and subglottic airways are unremarkable. There may be a narrowing at the vocal chord level, but this is most likely related to swallowing or phonation. This should be correlated with direct visualization.
There are a few nonspecific lymph nodes along the jugular chain measuring up to 8mm and are felt to represent reactive lymph nodes. There is no evidence for an abscess.
The parotid and submandibular glands are unremarkable. There is a calcified nodule in the left lobe of the thyroid gland which should be correlated with dedicated thyroid ultrasound (I had that done and it was stated to be likely benign) Nothing appeared remarkable on the chest scan either.
I pull up the blood from the back of my throat in the morning and then there is no blood all day. I had a sinus CT and nothing shows. If I blow my nose it is completely clear.
I went to an ENT who put a scope as far as my vocal chords and saw nothing except a bit of mucus on the chords and a bit of redness there. I have not been to a gastroenterologist.
Are CT scans always reliable? Does anyone have any ideas or personal experience that is similar that might give me a clue?
I thank you for any help you might offer me.
By the way, I am 53 and do have a long time previous history of smoking (I quit four years ago) and drinking (now only limited).
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 | Constant coughing, chronic sinus issues and just inflammation in the throat or neck could cause all of this. I would drink more water for a while and even try Mucinex with at least 8 oz of water and stop worrying, not necessarily in that order. Calcifications occur all over the body and usually just happen as we get older.
Worrying and searching for clues will consume a lot of time. Enjoy the day. If the problem persists go see an ENT that specializes in cancer, ie Otolaryngologist. Keep the nose irrigated also.
SCC Stage IV, BOT, T2N2bM0
Cisplatin/5FU x 3, 40 days radiation
Diagnosis 07/21/03 tx completed 10/08/03
Post Radiation Lower Motor Neuron Syndrome 3/08.
Cervical Spinal Stenosis 01/11
Cervical Myelitis 09/12
Thoracic Paraplegia 10/12
Dysautonomia 11/12
Hospice care 09/12-01/13.
COPD 01/14
Intermittent CHF 6/15
Feeding tube NPO 03/16
VFI 12/2016
ORN 12/2017
Cardiac Event 06/2018
Bilateral VFI 01/2021
Thoracotomy Bilobectomy 01/2022
Bilateral VFI 05/2022
Total Laryngectomy 01/2023
| | | | | Joined: May 2011 Posts: 287 Gold Member (200+ posts) | | Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: May 2011 Posts: 287 | I second that. The CT report seems clear and it could just be an inflammation that could have caused this minor incident.
Father; 67 yrs; RIP: 2012/05/26
TX:SCC pT2N1M0G2;Glossectomy+SND+CCRT(59.3Gy+6xCis.)[2009]
TX:Nodal Mets; 3xDCF[2011/05/05]
TX: RND + PMMC Flap[2011/07/11]
DX:SCC PNI+ECE
TX:Re-RT 60Gy[2011/09/21]
TX:Gefitinib 250mg[2011/12/18]
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,264 Likes: 5 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,264 Likes: 5 | Ditto, it could be related to dryness, cold weather, irritation of the area. Try not to worry but if it doesn't clear up soon do go for another opinion. best of luck.
Cheryl : Irritation - 2004 BX: 6/2008 : Inflam. BX: 12/10, DX: 12/10 : SCC - LS tongue well dif. T2N1M0. 2/11 hemigloss + recon. : PND - 40 nodes - 39 clear. 3/11 - 5/11 IMRT 33 + cis x2, PEG 3/28/11 - 5/19/11 3 head, 2 chest scans - clear(fingers crossed) HPV-, No smoke, drink, or drugs, Vegan
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 4 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 4 | Sorry to hear of your troubles. I agree with the above, otherwise, the scan report looks pretty good. Maybe see about using a humidifier to help dryness. Good luck with everything.
10/09 T1N2bM0 Tonsil
11/09 Taxo Cisp 5-FU, 6 Months Hosp
01/11 35 IMRT 70Gy 7 Wks
06/11 30 HBO
08/11 RND PNI
06/12 SND PNI LVI
08/12 RND Pec Flap IORT 12 Gy
10/12 25 IMRT 50Gy 6 Wks Taxo Erbitux
10/13 SND
10/13 TBO/Angiograph
10/13 RND Carotid Remove IORT 10Gy PNI
12/13 25 Protons 50Gy 6 Wks Carbo
11/14 All Teeth Extract 30 HBO
03/15 Sequestromy Buccal Flap ORN
09/16 Mandibulectomy Fib Flap Sternotomy
04/17 Regraft hypergranulation Donor Site
06/17 Heart Attack Stent
02/19 Finally Cancer Free Took 10 yrs
| | | | | Joined: May 2010 Posts: 638 "OCF Down Under" "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "OCF Down Under" "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: May 2010 Posts: 638 | Hi Artistgirl
Do you have any sense of where the blood is coming from? do you ever have a brown stripe down the centre of your tongue that is only there in the mornings? does the blood only happen when you have been lying down for a while (ie first thing in the morning only)
I am sure your doctor has some ideas but I would be asking him or her about their thoughts on the possibility of some sort of reflux. I would be asking about a possible referral to gastro-enterologist
Karen Love of Life to Alex T4N2M0 SCC Tonsil, BOT, R lymph nodes Dx March 2010 51yrs. Unresectable. HPV+ve Tx Chemo x 3+1 cycles(cisplatin,docetaxel,5FU)- complete May 31 Chemoradiation (IMRTx35 + weekly cisplatin) Finish Aug 27 Return to work 2 years on 3 years out Aug 27 2013 NED  Still underweight
| | |
| Forums23 Topics18,305 Posts197,297 Members13,504 | | Most Online7,516
Mar 21st, 2026 | | |
|
