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Original poster

What else could this be (other than cancer)?

48 replies

Haahooooo · 21/07/2015 20:24

For the past week or so, I've had the sensation of food stuck in my throat / chest.

Inconvenient, so I went to see GP, who wasn't sure what to make of it so she phoned the hospital, who want to see me urgently in case it is cancer?!!

Surely there can be other explanations? I don't want to google too much as I'll freak myself out. But I'd really like to know of other things this could be that are less serious.

Any thoughts? DC are 2 and 1 so I'm getting very upset here...

Thank you x

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Stealthpolarbear · 21/07/2015 20:25

Um I can't give you a medical opinion but my godmother had something that sounds identical about a decade ago I don't know what it ended up being, but not cancer.
They're right to take it seriously but I hope it is something less serious

BertieBotts · 21/07/2015 20:30

If it's in the back of your throat it could be tonsil stones. Disgusting but harmless. Do you ever spit out little white lumps, and do you have bad breath?

TheyreMadITellYouMaaaad · 21/07/2015 20:31

You can have growths that are not cancerous or in any way dangerous, yet still need treatment. I have lipomas, which are fatty tumours, non-cancer, non-malignant, non-problematic in every way. But one is bothering me, probably pressing on a nerve, and because it is a growth I'm being fast-tracked through the system.

It is possible that you have something similar. Something totally innocuous, just bothersome.

Purplerunner · 21/07/2015 20:31

My dad had similar and was eventually diagnosed with anxiety. One thing they ruled out was Barret's disease which (from what I recall) is changes in the throat lining. Very rarely develops into cancer.

Hope you get a diagnosis quickly and it isn't anything serious.

TrueFact · 21/07/2015 20:32

Try not to panic. It could be a type of gerd (gastro-esophageal reflux disease). A friend of mine had this and often had the sensation you describe.
Disclaimer- I am not a doctor.
I also had a feeling similar to indigestion like a knot in my lower chest, turned out to be gallstones. There's lots of more likely explanations than cancer.

gamerchick · 21/07/2015 20:32

Untreated hiatus hernia that's scarred your tube so food feels like it's getting stuck.

Leaving prolonged heartburn untreated leaves its mark eventually apparently.

Original poster
Haahooooo · 21/07/2015 20:34

No white lumps or bad breadth sadly.

I am generally a bit stressed / run down so could be that. I recently started taking berocca to get some vitamins (partly in an attempt to solve an ongoing mouth ulcer issue) so maybe it's an allergic reaction to that?

I know I need to wait for proper medical advice but it's so hard waiting and worrying Hmm

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Original poster
Haahooooo · 21/07/2015 20:35

Thank you everyone. You're making me feel better!

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Original poster
Haahooooo · 21/07/2015 20:35

Thank you everyone. You're making me feel better!

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BertieBotts · 21/07/2015 20:36

It's probably one of those "There's a tiny chance it could be cancer but we'd rather check than miss it" kind of things. Don't worry! :)

Likesshinythings · 21/07/2015 20:37

Is the sensation there all the time? Does it get worse through the day and, oddly, go away when you swallow? I've had this for nearly six months and was finally diagnosed with something called dysmotility dyspepsia - basically it's the muscles of the oesophagus spasming incorrectly. My consultant described it as the same as IBS but in the upper GI tract. am now on drugs that treat nerve pain and it's gradually settling down

SleepIsOverrated · 21/07/2015 20:38

Tonsils
Glands
Reflux
Benign growth
Worry
Something actually stuck, or a bit of swelling from something getting lodged - eg scrape from a fish bone.
Swollen uvula
Ulcer on the back of the tongue or in the throat.
Weird tooth abscess thing.

Would think cancer last in a fairly long list!

AarghGrrAargh · 21/07/2015 20:39

I've had this recently. Woke up in the middle of the night choking & then feeling as though I had something stuck in my throat. Went to the GP after about a week who thought it may be reflux and prescribed me omeprazole. Started taking it & it seemed to improve slightly. Went back two weeks later as it was still there (but kept coming & going) and it was making me anxious which was making it worse. She still thought it was reflux but has also referred me to ent. That was about two weeks ago & it has improved (am taking ranitidine now as the omeprazole didn't agree with me!) but have a stinking cold at the moment which is making me feel lousy!
Like you I panicked seriously about cancer & have googled extensively! More likely causes my googling threw up were reflux or anxiety. I'm trying not to worry about it & am taking the reflux pills and it seems to have almost disappeared.
Do let us know the outcome & try not to worry x

poisonedbypen · 21/07/2015 20:39

I had this. I had a camera down my throat & there was nothing to see. they gave me omeprazole in case it was reflux. Never really got to the bottom of it but it sort of faded away.

Dollybird99 · 21/07/2015 20:39

I had this recently too, felt like I had something stuck...constantly. As an ex smoker, I automatically assumed I had throat cancer..

It turned out it was anxiety and stress. Its now disappeared as some of the things that were making me anxious have improved. I've also started to do adult colouring which is very therapeutic. Hope all is OK.

NatalieBee · 21/07/2015 20:41

I have this! I'm also 35 weeks pregnant but mine resolved with rinitidine :) It appears to have just been reflux with me, fingers crossed that's all it is with you too, appears to be quite common :)

Fizrim · 21/07/2015 20:46

Could well be reflux, the acid that comes back burns the tubes and can be uncomfortable. My DH has this as he is overweight and also takes rani-whatsit for it.

TheyreMadITellYouMaaaad · 21/07/2015 20:46

Run down, chronic mouth ulcers, throat discomfort: Vitamin B12 deficiency?

Original poster
Haahooooo · 21/07/2015 20:47

Oh thank you everyone, what a wonderfully long list of (relatively) harmless things it could be - although sorry others have also suffered with this.

I might actually get some sleep tonight now.

I've managed to get a first appointment with an ENT consultant for tomorrow afternoon so fingers crossed.

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EllaMenoPea · 21/07/2015 20:51

My Gran had this and like pp I can't remember what it turned out to be but it definitely wasn't cancer. IIRC they also saw her really quickly and then couldn't find anything on the camera. Good luck tomorrow.

lucjam · 21/07/2015 20:55

google globus hystericus I have had this, totally benign condition.

MarinaCoyle · 21/07/2015 20:58

Quite likely to be globus hystericus. An awfully named, very irritating, but entirely harmless condition that can come on if you are a bit stressed or anxious. Always good to get it checked though!

MarinaCoyle · 21/07/2015 20:59

XP lucjam!

westcountrywoman · 21/07/2015 21:07

MIL had this. Turned out it was her oesophagus going into spasm, rather than the smooth wavy movement it's meant to do. She had to try a few different meds to fix it.

Original poster
Haahooooo · 21/07/2015 21:16

Hmmm it does seem like it could be this globus thing. The symptoms sound familiar. Oh I'll be so happy if it is "just" that!! Thank you

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