Post by Ann on Nov 10, 2005 9:10:00 GMT -5
THROAT CANCER SYMPTOMS FOR ME
Symptoms of throat cancer. I can only tell you what happened to me.
It started back in August, 2003. I noticed that I was kind of hoarse alot, and my friend said, I was always clearing my throat. Although, I never noticed. Anyway, in August, I felt kind of like something was raw down in my throat, or at least on the way down. I would eat grapes at night and they would feel acidic, and kind of burn. Before that, I would constantly get this tickle in my throat. Where, I would try to cough and end up sneezing really bad, as though some kind of little particle was in there tickling my throat. Anyway, everyone thought it was allergies. But, in August, when the burning started, then cold and hot water kind of hurt going down. Something in my gut, said, something was wrong. I never even went to my internist. I immediately went to a throat specialist. The reason was, that about 30 years ago, I had a polyp removed from my voicebox. It was not cancer, but the doc said, you better quit smoking. I didn't listen. Well, that is why when I had these symptoms, I got scared. The throat guy was older and about to retire and he did not have a scope to look down. He looked at my throat the old fashion way, with a tongue depresser. Well, he could see it was very swollen. And he asked me, are you always hoarse like this and I said, I never noticed my hoarsness, I just always talk alot. Well, he thought it might be from acid relex. Apparently, reflux can cause alot of throat problems. Well, he put me on Prednisone for the swelling and said come back in two weeks. Two weeks later, I went back and it was better. He had quit smoking about 10 years ago and was still chewing the nicorette gum. He said, well, it is better than smoking. Anyway, about a week later, I felt those same symptoms again. I went back, and he said, I am really worried. You need to have your throat scoped. I got scared, so the one he recommended was booked, so I got a referral to a new one. I went to him and he scoped my throat (does not hurt at all) and he saw lots of swelling, which made it hard to see. He also thought for sure it was from reflux. He put me on Pred. and extra stomach meds and said come back in a month. I went back a month later, all the swelling was down, and then he could see a white little nodule on my vocal cord. Ya know, he said, that could be anything. I don't think it is cancer, but just to be sure, let's biopsy it. Believe me, I never thought it would be cancer. He said, on a scale of one to ten, cancer would be number 10. Anyway, Dec. 3, 2003, I went into hospital (outpatient) for a one-hour procedure. That night I woke up and I knew something was wrong. Only the Nurse was there and I said, so, what was it and she said, they'll let you know. I was looking for my husband. In he came, "you've got squamous cell carcinoma" stage 2. We were all in shock. I couldn't believe it. They said, I was lucky, radiation should get it. Anyway, I went thru 7 weeks of radiation, twice a day. Lost, 20 pounds, put on heavy drugs, couldn't eat anything, but cream of wheat. The pain was bad, but the other effects were worse. Lots of mucuous formed and I had to keep spitting that up, it was horrible. I just slept until it was time to go to Radiation. After my treatments ended in Feb. 04, by the way, my son had a wedding planned on Jan.3 2004, I had to get thru, but by Feb. it was getting bad. My voice was gone, it hurt to yawn, sneeze or anything. They said, my voice would come back, after a few weeks, it never did. By April, 04, they were worried that I still had cancer. They couldn't understand why my voice had not returned. They thought about oxygen therapy. I didn't need that, (the only oxygen I needed was the kind I would get from quitting smoking). In August of 04, I got the flu and didn't smoke for three days. My voice started to make a little sound. I go every other month now to my throat guy, he says, finally, on the last visit, my right vocal cord is moving a little bit. It was frozen solid. Guys, you must know, this was strictly caused from smoking. I was one of the lucky ones. But, if your gut tells you that something is not right, if your food feels like it gets stuck in your throat, or you have trouble swallowing pills or just feel a lump in your throat, get it checked out. Even if you do not have health insurance, it does not cost that much to be scoped. I smoked since I was 15, I am now 54. I have quit a few times, and my quit never stuck. I even started here, way before I got throat cancer. I hope this helps, qmail me if you have a specific question or symptom. I love all of you, I think we have a great bunch here. I had cravings today and now they are gone, just by sharing with you all. A special thanks to those of you who have taken the time to show some interest in me.
Love, Linda
found on Quitnet
Symptoms of throat cancer. I can only tell you what happened to me.
It started back in August, 2003. I noticed that I was kind of hoarse alot, and my friend said, I was always clearing my throat. Although, I never noticed. Anyway, in August, I felt kind of like something was raw down in my throat, or at least on the way down. I would eat grapes at night and they would feel acidic, and kind of burn. Before that, I would constantly get this tickle in my throat. Where, I would try to cough and end up sneezing really bad, as though some kind of little particle was in there tickling my throat. Anyway, everyone thought it was allergies. But, in August, when the burning started, then cold and hot water kind of hurt going down. Something in my gut, said, something was wrong. I never even went to my internist. I immediately went to a throat specialist. The reason was, that about 30 years ago, I had a polyp removed from my voicebox. It was not cancer, but the doc said, you better quit smoking. I didn't listen. Well, that is why when I had these symptoms, I got scared. The throat guy was older and about to retire and he did not have a scope to look down. He looked at my throat the old fashion way, with a tongue depresser. Well, he could see it was very swollen. And he asked me, are you always hoarse like this and I said, I never noticed my hoarsness, I just always talk alot. Well, he thought it might be from acid relex. Apparently, reflux can cause alot of throat problems. Well, he put me on Prednisone for the swelling and said come back in two weeks. Two weeks later, I went back and it was better. He had quit smoking about 10 years ago and was still chewing the nicorette gum. He said, well, it is better than smoking. Anyway, about a week later, I felt those same symptoms again. I went back, and he said, I am really worried. You need to have your throat scoped. I got scared, so the one he recommended was booked, so I got a referral to a new one. I went to him and he scoped my throat (does not hurt at all) and he saw lots of swelling, which made it hard to see. He also thought for sure it was from reflux. He put me on Pred. and extra stomach meds and said come back in a month. I went back a month later, all the swelling was down, and then he could see a white little nodule on my vocal cord. Ya know, he said, that could be anything. I don't think it is cancer, but just to be sure, let's biopsy it. Believe me, I never thought it would be cancer. He said, on a scale of one to ten, cancer would be number 10. Anyway, Dec. 3, 2003, I went into hospital (outpatient) for a one-hour procedure. That night I woke up and I knew something was wrong. Only the Nurse was there and I said, so, what was it and she said, they'll let you know. I was looking for my husband. In he came, "you've got squamous cell carcinoma" stage 2. We were all in shock. I couldn't believe it. They said, I was lucky, radiation should get it. Anyway, I went thru 7 weeks of radiation, twice a day. Lost, 20 pounds, put on heavy drugs, couldn't eat anything, but cream of wheat. The pain was bad, but the other effects were worse. Lots of mucuous formed and I had to keep spitting that up, it was horrible. I just slept until it was time to go to Radiation. After my treatments ended in Feb. 04, by the way, my son had a wedding planned on Jan.3 2004, I had to get thru, but by Feb. it was getting bad. My voice was gone, it hurt to yawn, sneeze or anything. They said, my voice would come back, after a few weeks, it never did. By April, 04, they were worried that I still had cancer. They couldn't understand why my voice had not returned. They thought about oxygen therapy. I didn't need that, (the only oxygen I needed was the kind I would get from quitting smoking). In August of 04, I got the flu and didn't smoke for three days. My voice started to make a little sound. I go every other month now to my throat guy, he says, finally, on the last visit, my right vocal cord is moving a little bit. It was frozen solid. Guys, you must know, this was strictly caused from smoking. I was one of the lucky ones. But, if your gut tells you that something is not right, if your food feels like it gets stuck in your throat, or you have trouble swallowing pills or just feel a lump in your throat, get it checked out. Even if you do not have health insurance, it does not cost that much to be scoped. I smoked since I was 15, I am now 54. I have quit a few times, and my quit never stuck. I even started here, way before I got throat cancer. I hope this helps, qmail me if you have a specific question or symptom. I love all of you, I think we have a great bunch here. I had cravings today and now they are gone, just by sharing with you all. A special thanks to those of you who have taken the time to show some interest in me.
Love, Linda
found on Quitnet