Could this be anything else than oesophageal cancer?

[Soccermum13]

I know I need to get an appointment but I have scared myself silly so in the meantime am looking for reassurance that it could be something else…

I’ve always been prone to heartburn but in the last year I’ve had 3/4 sporadic incidents of severe acid reflux (feels like a burning throat/chest pain). Deep scary pain. I also get a hoarse voice every now and again. I ignored it as it happened so I frequently but the other day it happened at work with no triggers at all. That is new.

I also know I’ll need an endoscopy but have a fear of choking so don’t know if I can do it. I wondered if anyone had had this severe acid reflux and hoarseness/growly throat and it was anything less deadly. It would css as km me down a lot while I try to get an appointment.

Thank you!

OP Google GORD .. gastro oesophageal reflux disease.

I have awful heartburn, abdo pain and the hoarse croaky voice unless I take lansoprasol.

I have had an endoscopy

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15024-laryngopharyngeal-reflux-lpr

One of the main symptoms of oesophageal cancer is difficulty swallowing. Have you had this?

1 in 3 women have gerd. Try Gaviscon.

Did the last several threads you posted where everyone said you dont have cancer not provide enough reassurance then?

My husband had oesophageal cancer - his first symptom was a pain in the shoulder. As you've had symptoms for a year I would think you would have other symptoms by now - please get checked out - if it is anything sinister the sooner it's found the better the outcome

My sister died from oesophageal cancer and her main symptoms were ear pain and pain in her side.

No amount of reassurance from MN will help. You need an endoscopy.

My dad had recurrent heartburn for about 20 years and treated it with bicarbonate of soda. And then ultimately did have oesophageal cancer, caught on stage 4 and already mets in other organs.

It’s often caught late and in my dads case an earlier trip to the GP could have saved him.

You are doing the right thing to get it checked out. Focus on that - not on what the diagnosis might be.

Could be Barrett's Oesophagus (works similar to a cervical erosion where stomach cells creep up and out of their rightful place).... could be Oesophagitis from chronic reflux (where it gets inflamed as fuck).

Point is - you're not going to know until you're checked out, and they might send you for something like a VF first which is just an X-ray so doesn't require anything going down your throat (other than barium mixed food - which is either "ok" or "tastes like shit" depending on which of my clients you speak to).

Just to reassure you, I had a recent endoscopy and I was terrified, I really didn't think I'd be able to do it.
I had a sedative and don't remember a thing!

I genuinely have no idea which posts you mean.

No I don’t. Thank you.

That is hugely reassuring, thank you very much.

My partner died from oesophagus cancer. His first symptoms were pain and difficulty swallowing.

I have a hiatus hernia that causes awful reflux, I take omeprozole for it. I've had two endoscopies and the sedative is wonderful, it makes the whole thing a fluffy blur.

I’m so sorry to hear about your sister.
I know that I need an endoscopy. I just need to put my big girl pants on.

I’d think a GP would try treating you for heartburn etc first before sending you off for an endoscopy. Three or four episodes in a year don’t sound very much.

If you live in Scotland or some parts of the UK you might be eligible for a less invasive test being trialled called the capsule sponge- some being carried out in GP surgeries our outpatient settings
https://www.england.nhs.uk/2024/02/simple-sponge-on-a-string-test-replaces-need-for-endoscopy-for-thousands-of-nhs-patients/

Have you actually spoken to your GO?

Beetr00 thank you for this, I hadn’t come across anything so informative before (despite a lot of googling!)

titchy, I’ve checked back (in case my memory was really failing me) and I don’t think I’ve ever started another thread - let alone about health - so maybe you are mixing me up with someone else?!
(I’m definitely one for panicking - hence my post today - but have not been brave enough to post till now)

I've had exactly the same symptoms as you several times, OP, and it has turned out to be gastritis every time, and I've also got a hiatus hernia. I've had two endoscopies and they really aren't as bad as you expect. I didn't have sedation for the first one and whilst it was uncomfortable, it was bearable. The farts and belches were like nothing I've ever heard because of the air that gets pumped into you 😆😆. I had sedation for the second one because my husband was able to take me to the appointment and I didn't need to drive for a day or two, and I really don't remember a thing from when the tube was first put into my mouth until it was removed.

A friend had oesophageal cancer. He found it hard to swallow, but no other symptoms.

They aren’t going to give you an endoscopy for the symptoms you’re describing. If you want one you’ll have to pay privately, because your symptoms don’t warrant it at all.

A few episodes of acid reflux isn’t cancer. It’s just normal life. People get indigestion occasionally. More so as they get older. You take a swig of Gaviscon and get on with your life.

There are a million reasons why you might have a bit of a tummy upset and cancer is way down the list. Sometimes the sphincter muscle at the top of the stomach becomes a bit weak and acid gets out. Sometimes you have too much stomach acid for various reasons including stress or food intolerances.

If you go to the GP they’re just going to give you some Gaviscon and possibly a PPI medication such as omeprazole. They aren’t going to refer you for an endoscopy. Maybe if your symptoms were constant for 6-8 months, but not because you’ve had indigestion 4 times in a year.

I have had the same symptoms and had a gastroscopy. Nothing found, given general advice. A couple of years later I was diagnosed with minor Crohn's disease, so I think it was manifesting through reflux as well. It can be lots of things other than cancer.