Hi all,
It has been a long time since I posted here. You can see my pcancer history in my signature. I have come back because I have recently been having uncomfortable symptoms. I am hoping for suggestions if, I should be concerned or not. I had tongue cancer 70% tongue removed, no chemo, no rads. I and am out 6 years since diagnosis.
For about the last 8 months or so I have had a tightness in my throat on the same side as my cancer was. It is getting worse. I don't feel any lumps or bumps or anything like that. Just a fullness and a tightness. I also have degenerative disk disease in my neck so I suffer from chronic "neck" pain in the 5,6,7 vertebrate. So I can't tell if this discomfort is just stiff muscles or what.
I am mainly concerned because the pain is mainly on one side of my neck and to the front of my throat. I feel like I am making a big deal out of nothing, but you know how scary every little bump or sore can seem. Any advice would be appreciated. Should I worry?

Thank you!

Welcome back, Wendy. You joined during my 2 month extended hospital stay so I never got to welcome you to our group.

If you have something bothering you enough that you took the time to post after an absence from the group, then I think it must be really bothering you. All too often oral cancer has no symptoms which is why its caught so often in its later stages. I always say its better to err on the side of caution and get checked out. Hopefully its nothing serious and you can go on enjoying the beautiful fall weather. I suggest making an appointment with your ENT to get thoroughly checked out. They might have to scope you to get a look deep down your throat but then you will know whats wrong. Pain actually is a good thing, its a signal that something needs your attention.

Please keep us posted on how you are making out. Best wishes.

Please DO get it checked out, Wendy - It can be very stressful worrying about all the "what-ifs" and it may not be anything serious at all. The sooner you get it checked out, the sooner you can feel more in control and start doing whatever needs doing. Try to think of all the ways everything could turn our right ! And let us know what happens, ok?

Wendy, Get yourself back to a CCC and see what's wrong, it may be nothing but it is better to be safe then sorry, especially with this Beast!! Do not waste any time. Semper-Fi Bob

I'm going to ditto what everyone else has said. It won't hurt to have it looked at, in the end when you find out it's nothing - you'll be able to move on.

Hugs.