Hi everyone,

I'm nineteen and had my tonsil's out last week and have been a bit concerned since.
This was a repeat tonsillectomy as I still uffered from severe right sided pain and infections after my first operation 2 years ago. The doctors said it wasn't common and it looked like my tonsil had 'grown back'.

When they took it out they said it was atypical, infected and sort of rotten and they were going to run some tests. They also found that I had a swelling on the back wall of my pharnyx (throat).
I hadn't noticed this before and so tried to feel it for myself and was quite suprised to find a couple of centimetres round and very hard lump at the back of my throat where it joins the nose. I've also noticed it's getting hard to breathe through my nose.

The consultant said he'd order an urgent CT scan but the letter came through that it was a few weeks away. I'm a bit worried about it and was wondering what it might be and whether I should try and get it looked at sooner somehow?

Does anyone have any ideas, or experienced a similar thing?

Thanks a lot,

H.

PS the consultant suggested it may be lymph nodes and said it felt like bone but he didn't think it was

Hi Helen,
My names Michelle.
End of May last year i was diagnosed with cancer of the Nasopharynx (the are at the back of the nose that joins the throat.
I also suffered with a blocked nose as one of my symptoms. I'm 23.
Of course, i'm not sayiong you must have cancer, but i'd urge you to get your appointment bought forward.
Let us know how you get on.
Michelle

Jump up and down, scream and shout, demand they see you earlier.

Thanks guys,

I rang up to ask if there was a chance of having it earlier and they said the next available scan would we 4-6 weeks.
I also can't go to the GP as my student practice has shut for the summer and am moving to birmingham tomorrow for the summer. ENT are also very difficult to get hold of too; appointment waiting times is months.

The scan is getting closer anyway so will have to wait it out. I'm sure it's fine but would just like a piece of mind.

Michelle, I have read about nasopharngeal cancer and know that it can occur when you're younger. Also I read it is associated with glandular fever, which I've had for a couple of years now. How was yours diagnosed and what treatment have you had?

Thanks, Helen.

My diagnosis was a complete shock Helen, it was the last thing i expected. My cancer presented itself by initialy having a blocked ear and blood would sometimes run down my throat. I had ALOT of nasal discharge & then nose bleeds and then one blocked nostril. It's all dependant on the direction the tumour grows. It had also spread to a lymph node in my neck. I was 22 when i was finally diagnosed but symptoms probably started about 18months before that. I had a couple of courses of antibiotics as my GP thought it was a sinus infection. They did blood tests which showed "abnormal cells" & then reffered me for an ENT appointment. Thankfully i only had to wait about 2weeks for it. The ENT Dr did a fine needle aspiration on my lymph & had a look up my nose with a camera. By this time the tumour had grown some way down my left nostril. He biopsied it and a week later i was diagnosed. i then had an MRI scan and C.T. scan within 2 weeks! The rest, as they say, is history.
I think my symptoms weren't taken too seriously as i'm so young.
My treatment was 6cycles of high dose chemo (Cisplatin & 5FU) followed by 6 & half weeks of Radical R/T.
As far as we're all concerned i'm in remission. I feel great! back at work full time. I didn't loose all my hair, but i lost alot - it's growing back well. My saliva glands were fryed, and i have nerve damage in my hands and feet fom chemo. But i really am ok!
I went clubbing on saturday for the first time in ages!
Do let me know how you get on!
All the best,
Michelle

Michelle
Clubbing
your some girl go for it

i cant keep awake after 10am

Enjoy it

Dave and Sue

hi helenmelon

I not sure if I should say this but if I was you I would think about going private it can be arranged really fast.

You could pay by credit card, if it good new then it will cost around £700 - 800, Ok alot of money but who cares you are well.

If it bad news then go back to your gp and give them the bill, if they give you any crap tell them you sue them or take it to the press.

I had lots of problems two months ago no scan etc etc went private it took a week.

Alot can happen in 4 to 6 weeks, sorry if the above sounds over the top, but when it comes to to gps i don't have a great lot of faith in them.

Take care


Tony

quote:

You could pay by credit card, if it (is) good new then it will cost around £700 - 800, Ok alot of money but who cares you are well.

If it (is) bad news then go back to your gp and give them the bill, if they give you any crap tell them you sue them or take it to the press.

... a kind of insurance policy that will give you the peace of mind and you pay the premium only when you need it! .... makes sense to me,

I waited 5 months for an MRI on a VERY swollen neck gland - NHS. It was cancer. I wish I had gone privately but it's too late now.
If I was you I would certainly go private. Hopefully my cancer will not return but if it does I will use my savings for private treatment.

Tony K

By the way Helen, you can go to any GP in the UK as a visitor, maybe a GP local to you could exert a bit more pressure to get you in earlier.

Thanks everyone,

I have just had my scan. Called up to try and rearrange earlier and tried ENT but they couldn't change it. It has been 3 weeks since the op.
On the form they gave me it said ?tb or lymphoma. I would have thought that if they suspected those then it would have been quicker.

Any idea how long do the results take as I live 5 hours away and not sure whether to go home. think the nurse is ringing me sometime today.

Thanks
H

Hi Helen

You did get in quicker then? If I were you I would ring them and explain you live so far away so could they please tell you how long before you get results.

A

Good to hear things are moving on Helen.
Let us know how you get on!

Hi again,

Yes, it was earlier than 6 weeks which was mentioned, which is good.
My consultant's secretary rang me today to say I need to come back on friday. I'm not sure how much you can read from it but she sounded nice and cheery!
I'm glad about this as meant to be going to wales for my birthday next week, be good to have it all cleared up by then.
Fingers crossed then!

Helen.