Advice on the likelihood of cancer being found.

[darumafan]

My mum has had a persistent painful/sore throat for several months now. She has been prescribed Difflam spray which hasn't made any difference. She saw a different GP who thought that he could feel a lump so referred her to the Rapid clinic at our local hospital. We went yesterday and they said that there is definitely a mass next to her vocal cords. She has been booked in for a CT Scan on Friday and a biopsy under general anesthetic on Monday.She is 64 and not in the best of health, doesn't eat much at the best of times and is eating even less now due to the pain when swallowing, she also smokes about 20 a day maybe even more. She has been a heavy drinker for as long as I can remember but strangely is drinking less at the minute because it hurts to swallow.

What is the likelihood of this being cancer? I know that her drinking and smoking have increased her risks but I would love to hear some positive stories about non cancer results.

I will cope if it is cancer, I just need some advice please.

I dont know OP, but did not want to read and run. wishing you the best XX

I'd have thought throat cancer would have presented as a difficulty in swallowing: not through pain, but through the throat closing up due to a mass.

I worry about it all the time and once confessed my fears to my GP. She told me the symptom is almost ALWAYS finding it hard to swallow (through a blockage). She said she has had patients who couldn't even swallow their own spit.

Another DR once told me that cancer of the larynx is the cancer all doctors would rather get, as it's so easy to cure. (I don't know if that's true! But it's what he told me.)

Whatever happens, and I know how terrifying this must be, you will get through it. Please give her a massive hug, don't Google symptoms!!!, and deal with things as they happen, not before.

Thanks for the replies, I'm not sure if the swallowing is painful or difficult iyswim. She did say that she has been struggling to swallow her own spit due to the pain but she has been hiding a lot of her symptoms from me. I am worried but am staying away from google!