I'm a twenty-five year old male. As of the past four weeks, I have had the sensation of something being caught in my throat (as though I've needed to swallow all the time). I have seen a general practicioner who suggested an inhaler. The inhaler makes the sensation disapper, but the feeling has not left. Once I don't use the inhaler, I'm back to feeling as though something is stuck in my throat. I've been a smoker for 8 years (two packs per week average), and I've been a moderate to heavy drinker within the same time period.

My questions are what is the likelihood of throat cancer or otherwise? Is this something that usually affects a younger age group? What are some ideas of what's going on?

Hello Mister Bigg

Please ask you doctor for a referral to an ENT specialist at your nearby hospital, in view of your concerns and smoking history.

Even if your doctor is proven right, you will be worrying less. I hope you have stopped smoking!

Best wishes

Vinod

HI

If you read my ontro you will find that I had tongue cancer and I have never smoked or did not drink to any extent but they say salivary galnd cancer is not linked to that

Hello Eileen

Thanks for your two posts. It is impossible to know what would have happened if nothing had been done.

Whenever there is any suspicious lesion, a biopsy is usually done first to determine the nature of the lesion. Only if it proves to be a cancer, is surgical excision or other treatment carried out. All treatment has some morbidity so it is not surprising that you feel worse off now, especially if your lesion was detected early and had not caused you problems (yet). Do share your problems with us, someone might be able to help.

Good health and good habits only reduce your chances of getting a cancer. It does not mean 'the good' can't get cancer. See the links in the Other Risks section.

I hope my comments are of some help to you . Thanks for joining the Message Board and taking the trouble to share your feelings about the matter with us.

Best wishes

Vinod :coffee:

Hi

Im very grateful for your reply and of course everyone tells me how lucky I am. I was a lecturer part time before having took early retirment in 1996 thank goodness I did. What I was trying to say perhaps now very well that I am not angry that I had cancer after all Im am no different to the next person but angry with myself that an educated woman did not take tthe time because of shock to go home and research the cancer and refuse to go into to hospital until I had resaerched the subject after all it was not going to kill me in the next 5 minutes , What I would l;ike to know if anyone with tongue cancer has refused treatment and survived although I understand squamous cell is more lethal than what I had. AS you say I have got to accept it but for someone who has never experienced depression just good health all my life I suppose perhaps you can uinderstand my feelings. they say ignorance is bliss and it fooly to be wise