Hello I am new here and I am getting pretty worried. I have used chewing tobacco (snuff) for about 11 years. And for the past 4 months I have had a sore throat and a feeling as if I was "chocked up" sort of like an emotional lump in my throat. Looking in my my mouth I can't see any lessions or sores but the back of my throat looks red and slightly swollen. I thought for a while I had acid reflux. I took medication for this but no effect. My general practioner looke in my mouth and said he didn't see anything that looked like cancer and then prescribed some nose spray (Nasonex) in case I had post nasal drip. The pain I feel is on both sides and goes from my ears seemingly all the way down into my chest, almost to my stomach.

My question is if you had throat cancer would you feel pain over such a large area?

Hi Vikinfan

It would make sense to get a referral to an ENT specialist to have a look down your throat. Let us know how you get on.

Best wishes
Vinod

Hi Dr. Joshi

Just saw an ENT yesterday and he looked down my throat and throughout my mouth and said he saw no cancer. His diagnosis was that I had Laryngopharyngeal reflux disorder. I wass very relieved that it wasn't cancer but I do have a concern maybe you could help me out with. I have quit tobacco and I am quitting for good but I have read that acid reflux damage can be a cause for cancer. My Dr. prescribed Omeprazole for 6 months to stop stomach acid production but there will still be the enzymes. Is cancer a big concern for people with chronic reflux?

Thank you so much Dr. J

I wish everyone reading/posting here the best

No. Some patients with gastric reflux develop Barrett's esophagus which is a condition in which the normal lining of the esophagus is replaced by a type of lining normally found in the intestines (this is called intestinal metaplasia). This is believed to be a sequel to chronic reflux (regurgitation) of stomach contents into the esophagus. Patients with Barrett's esophagus have a 30- to 125-fold increased risk of the development of esophageal cancer in comparison with the general population. The disease is most common in white males.

There are millions more people with gastric reflux than oesophageal cancer. So spend your energy on developing a life-style that doesn't encourage gastric reflux.

Best wishes
Vinod