I’m not sure what is going on with me but I’m pretty sure I have cancer somewhere in my neck or throat. On a scan at the end of June, I had a level 2 lymph node (above the hyoid bone in my internal jugular chain) on the left side which measured 7x9x12 mm. At the end of July I had an ultrasound of my neck, which showed my left lymph node was 2.0 x 0.5 x 1.3 cm and the right was 2.3 x 0.5 x 0.7 cm. I had an MRI on 8-13 that showed the level 2 lymph nodes were 6 mm.

I’m so confused! Here are the symptoms I’ve been having since 5-15-24:
Bilateral ringing of the ears
Double vision
Low anterior neck pain
Sometimes when I talk I feel something down low in my throat/neck.
Sore throat for 6 weeks
Clearing my throat frequently
Left jaw pain and pain under my chin
Feel like I have a fever during the day- I just feel terrible but do not have a fever
Headaches occasionally
Chest pain occasionally

I don’t have any past medical history and did not take daily meds until June when I was prescribed Omeprazole.

I’ve had scopes by ENTs and they only say my Larynx looked a little swollen.
I do have nodules in my thyroid but none meet criteria for FNA biopsy. The endocrinologist doesn’t think it’s my thyroid. Labs were normal and my thyroid is not enlarged.
I’ve been scanned head to pelvis back in May and nothing showed up there. I also had an upper endoscopy and my esophagus is fine.

I’m wondering if anyone has had ringing in both ears and pain in their low front neck with any cancer of the tongue, larynx, or hypopharynx?? Also, has anyone had the NAVDX blood test for HPV related cancer? If so, was it accurate? Has anyone had cancer that did not show up on a scan?

I feel like this is definitely cancer due to how bad I feel every day. This is very hard to deal with, especially not knowing what is wrong. None of the doctors I’ve seen has given my any answers to explain my symptoms. I really want them to put me under anesthesia to do a deeper investigation. I’m just so frustrated with all of this.

Hi Kim,

I am so sorry to hear of your pain and frustration. Trust your body and yourself. Keep taking detailed notes. The more you can show the doctors and detail it, the better chance they have of helping you figure this out. Keep looking for answers and different medical professionals to help you.

Also, please keep us updated. Your experience can certainly help others in the future.

Stay safe, keep the faith,
Nels

Thank you for your reply Nels! I follow up with one of my ENTs today so I’ll see what he wants to do (if anything). It seems like most people diagnosed with OC have little symptoms other than noticing a lesion or a lump in the neck. I’m surprised I have so many symptoms but no diagnosis. Just seems very strange to me. I’ve read that ringing in the ears is a symptom, but I’ve not read about anyone with that symptom prior to diagnosis. I’ve also not read of anyone feeling any pain or sensations in their lower anterior neck.

I want to ask for a referral to the Mayo Clinic or MD Anderson. I’m just not sure if they will see me with no diagnosis and only some lymph nodes that enlarged and shrank. I am still feeling some aches under my chin and along my jaw again and I think this is related to the growth or shrinking of the lymph nodes. Who knows though! This makes you feel like a crazy person with so many symptoms and no diagnosis.

I will keep updating in case this can help someone and in case someone reads my symptoms and had a similar experience.

Thanks,
Kim