Someone close is aged 50 and has smoked and drank all their life. Has been suffering for 9 months with difficulty swallowing and ear ache. This has gradually got worse but much much worse recently. Finally went to gp who referred to ENT. Had an MRI where they saw something at base of tongue. This has been biopsied and since then they have been sent for a CT of chest and stomach. They are waiting for all results and have an apt next week. Since all this they have got so ill and can't eat at all. Horrible constant cough and have lost loads of weight. Can anyone think of anything this could be apart from the worse diagnosis?? I just cant think of anything else this could be and we are all so scared