can anyone help me out here im frantic with worry,ive had a sore throat for over 3 months feels like sand paper being rubbed round my mouth.i also have tiny white blister inbetween my gum and tounge,went to ent a month ago and they found lump on my vocal cord im going to have biopsy next week 30th june,they did look in my throat with a flex said it was familiar with what smokers get...i know i shouldnt have smoked no lectures please.....now i have a slight swelling at the side of my neck can anyone relate to these syptoms,im sooooooo worried i also have swollen tonsils,please any input would be gratefully appreciated...thank you...wilma uk

Wilma
Please dont panic....easy for me to say huh?
I know the British health system can be frustrating in as much as you do have to wait for specialist help, but , surely if the Doc`s suspected cancer they would have got you an earlier appointment.
The favourite saying amongst us is " it aint cancer till the Doc`s say it is".
You don`t have too long to wait , in the meantime try and not immediately jump to the worst case scenario.
We have another member from Leicester, Helen, and I am sure she will be posting to you soon.
Keep in touch and let us know how you get on.
Take Care
Marica

Wilma, Hi- keep your chin up till you get more info. Stress is not good for you either. Amy

HI MARICA/AMY/ THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND REPLIES,IM SORRY I DIDNT EVEN INTRODUCE MYSELF PROPERLY WHEN I POSTED,IM JUST A WRECK AT THE MOMENT,I HEAR WHAT YOUR SAYING ABOUT THE STRESS PART I AM TRYING TO KEEP IT OUT OF MY MIND BY DOING SOMETHING, BUT THEN IT JUST KEEPS COMING BACK WITH MORE DREADFULL THOUGHTS.HOPE TODAY FINDS YOU ALL WELL......GOD BLESS YOU ALL.....

Try and get some rest and relax though I know its hard. I went to the ENT and he did my biopsy plus lazer surgery two days later however I had to wait a week for the biopsy results.

"What smokers get" can also be benign. I had surgery 10 years ago on my cords and they were benign growths caused by smoking.

If you still smoke try and quit now or cut back gradually until you can quit. I quit cold turkey on Feb 13th. of this year after 45 years. The doctors were so happy I had already quit before my diagnosis because they want you to immediately stop once the cancer is found and that would have been majorly hard for me.

I am now in treatment and have been told if I ever start smoking again it, the cancer, in all likelyhood will come back. This cancer I learned at the radiologist today can also be caused by many other things than smoking. Don't be ashamed. We can never go back and change yesterday. We can only start today to change tomorrow.

My prayers are with you. Please keep us informed and come talk so we can help you get through.

Wilma
Try not to panic, if the ENT were really worried they would have fast tracked you (there is a system in place at the LRI to do this) so just try and get through the weekend it will soon be sorted.
Sunshine... love and hugs
Helen

thanks helen/barb/ i realy appreciate the feed back from you all im sure glad i found this site,you are all so brave here and so nice,i am soooooooo sorry you all are going through this .hope you all continue to flourish and blossom...helen i live in leicester to/buemonte leyes,how far do you live if you dont mind me asking...god bless you all....hugs to everyone...
you are all in my prayers.....love to you all....

Wilma,

Most of us here are very familiar with those same feelings. Since my cancer, I have gotten myself into a near panic on several occasions. Anxiety, lack of sleep, loss of appetite, etc. Things that appeared to be serious (to me), turned out to be nothing at all to worry about. Not to minimize your condition, by ANY means, but there are numerous possibilities other than cancer. Hang in there and I hope the results are favorable!!! My thoughts and prayers are with you!!!

THANKS RICK/IM JUST SO GRATEFULL FOR EVERYONES SUPPORT, HERE AS YOU SAID YOU DO TEND TO GET YOURSELF IN A STATE I THINK ITS JUST THE NOT KNOWING WHATS GOING ON AS IVE BEEN LIKE THIS FOR A WHILE WITH THESE SYMPTOMS,ITS SO HARD TO LET YOURSELF THINK GOOD THOUGHTS,I AM TRYING REAL HARD THOUGH,I HEAR WHAT YOUR SAYING ABOUT THE LACK OF SLEEP AND APPETITE THATS JUST HOW I AM,BUT IM JUST GOING TO HAVE TO HANG IN THERE AS ITS IN GODS HANDS NOW AS I SEE IT. 5 MORE DAYS AND COUNTING TILL MY BIOPSY'S.......LOVE AND HUGS TO YOU ALL ON THIS BOARD YOU ARE ALL IN MY PRAYERS AND THOUGHTS......