Handhold please I can't think straight

[Mammaaof]

I don't know if I need advice or just to talk. So my partner had a feeling of a lump in this throat, feels like something stuck in his throat, can't lay down, since the start of December, I thought it was anxiety to be honest 😓 from then it's got progressively worse, with symptoms then getting worse, sore throat (which the Dr comment on) now in the past 2 weeks has developed really bad ear pain, he says it's like shooting pain. And he's really weak. I can see he's not well and I must add he absolutely never complains and always thinks I'm the dramatic one.
He went to the Dr who referred him for a barrium swallow scan, which he went for this morning, I waited in the car. He came back upset as there was a massive screen where you can see the scan happening and he could see two lumps in his throat so he asked the radiographer what that was and she said "I'd prefer not to tell you, but you will probably need more tests" and when he asked how long for results was told they would be Friday at the latest, but I rang yesterday to see how long results were taking and they told me 3 weeks or longer.
Honestly I can't stop crying, shaking, I've two young children, I can't function properly, he's gone back to bed for a sleep now. Honesty I know I need to wait for results but I just can't even get my head around all this. He is only 27. I don't really know what I want from this thread 😓 I'm sorry for waffling x

Sorry should have said the Dr done an urgent referral, he was seen in under 2 weeks, where I know people waiting for scans that have been waiting 5 months. Did the Dr feel or see something when she examined him!?

I'm sorry you and your partner are going through this. It must be very worrying. It's good that he's been seen so quickly, though. I hope the results won't take long.

It may not be the same thing, but my aunt had an incident like this and it turned out to be a completely benign growth. She had it removed and has been fine since, although obviously the surgery was quite unpleasant.

Hope it all turns out ok for you x

I am so sorry you havve to go through this, I'd like to say something comforting to make you worry less but I know it will sound trite. There is nothing I can say to ease your worry but I do hope it turns out to be something relatively straightward and easily treatable.

I wonder if the radiographer said 'I'd prefer not to tell you' because he it's not her job to tell or maybe even diagnose? the consultant would need to look at the results first I imagine. I know it's hard but please try not to read too much into what was said at this stage.

Thank you for your kind comments, I'm glad you haven't said " it's probably nothing" as that's what all my family have said and it doesn't help my worrying just because there saying it 😓
I just feel guilty for not taking him more serious, he has suffered depression and anxiety in the past and I genuinely thought it was just that.
Back in December the Dr did think it was acid reflux but he's been on 2 different types of tablets and gavascon for 2 months and hasn't done a bit of difference. I've just got such a bad feeling about it x

I'm so sorry. Let's hope it's sorted very quickly.

I'm supposed to be home schooling my 3 year old and 6 year old and that's all I feel like doing is running far away 😓

I used to assist with Barium Swallows and the radiographer does not give out a diagnosis- some are trained reporters but not all of them. If they have seen anything nasty the images will be sent for an urgent report . Also in a swallow there are lumps and bumps which are normal anatomy. Try not to worry, easier said than done I know xx

Radiographer isn’t allowed to tell you because they aren’t qualified to diagnose from scans. It’s hard because obviously they do have some idea but they aren’t allowed to pass on a diagnosis they arent qualified to make.

Im so sorry you are going through this, even if it does turn out to be nothing sinister (which is possible, don’t lose hope!) that’s doesn’t diminish the very real fear you must have now.

Don’t start googling at random until you have a diagnosis to look at. There’s a lot of scary medical stuff available to frighten yourself with. It will achieve nothing but fear.

Having done some time with patients receiving long term care my best advice would be to start getting this in order in case a hospital stay is necessary.

It gives you something to focus on thats practical and won’t be wasted effort if it’s not necessary as you’ll have a great just in case plan.

Things to think about include

• pack a hospital bag, include spare chargers
• kids/pets contingency care plan
• passwords and finances (can you access everything you might need to if worst came to worst?)
• transport to and from hospital

I hope that’s helpful, not trying to frighten you but as a family affected by disability we cope by focussing on the practical xxx

I am so sorry you’re going through this

@HerrenaHarridan I told him before he went in that they won't be able to tell him today but when she said " I'd prefer not to say but you probably need more tests" why not just say "sorry I'm not allowed to say" at the moment I'm analysing every word that she said to him now. His symptoms fit cancer to a T but I always thought (maybe stupidly) that he's too young and doesn't smoke ect. I'm sure there are other diagnosis that his symptoms fit but I am really trying not to Google anything or I will have a breakdown I think 😓
I'm not well myself (nothing like cancer) but he drives me everywhere, I've got two children under 6 😓

@FossilisedFanny he said they were directly opposite each other the lumps, and he could see that his throat had a narrowing not sure if that's normal but would explain that feeling 😓

So the circle is his head 😂 sorry I can't draw but the long thing is his throat and the two lumps opposite each other

I doubt the person doing the scan could tell if it was a cancerous lump simply by looking at the screen. She probably meant she would prefer not to judge it one way or the other. I expect he will need a biopsy if there's a lump, or a surgical exploration and that's down to the consultant to decide, not a radiographer. Please try not to worry.

If it's any comfort I've had an NHS ultrasound where the lady doing the scan told me my babies kidneys were 'irregular' and she referred me to a consultant, I was so scared but when I saw the consultant she did the exact same scan and said they were fine (he's now 18 months and perfectly normal). Sometimes people interpret scans different ways so she maybe wanted a second opinion before being forced to give an answer.

@DayBath she wasn't "forced" to give an answer he is obviously very very worried and was just asking if the lumps he could see on the massive screen were normal. Don't know why the even let people watch it.

This is what a normal swallow looks like . Unfortunately, There is no way someone on here can tell you if his is normal or not but there is a narrowing which is caused when someone swallows anything.

The thing you have to remember is even it IS some sort of cancer that's doesn't necessarily mean he won't have a good outcome. We all fear the 'C' word but there's such a wide range of types and severity within that definition that the treatment could be straightforward and full remission easily achievable, there's no benefit in assuming it's the worst kind. Crossing my fingers for you

@FossilisedFanny thank you for that photo!! I know none can tell me I just wish they could 🙈 xx

Radiographers, even if they are trained to report and even if they 100% know what the problem is , would be very reluctant to give a diagnosis there and then . A screening room is not the best place to give someone bad news and would result in the patient asking questions that they are not in a position to answer.

[quote Mammaaof]@DayBath she wasn't "forced" to give an answer he is obviously very very worried and was just asking if the lumps he could see on the massive screen were normal. Don't know why the even let people watch it.[/quote]
Sorry I didn't mean to imply he was pushy with her, just that she's probably used to people trying to pin her down to commit to an answer as all of her patients will go in there wanting a diagnosis.

@DayBath sorry I snapped my mind is all over the place 🙈 to be honest I wish they had just told him sorry we can't say or we aren't trained, I'm sure it was just off the cuff answer that she gave x

OP - your husband would have been understandably anxious during the procedure so is he sure the Radiographer said "I'd prefer not to tell you" rather than "I can't tell for sure" or something similar? Because they can't diagnose just from an X-ray so will need to do further tests to see if the "lumps" are benign, say polyps, or not.

Given his age it is far more likely to be something benign but I won't tell you not to worry as I know how annoying that is! Keep busy with the kids, watch box set with DH and Friday will come soon enough.

Please don't read anything into the speed of getting a scan - things do move more quickly under the two week wait and remember the vast majority of these referrals do not find anything serious.

I’m sorry that you’re going through this however I doubt you’ll be waiting 3 weeks.
His case will probably be discussed at the weekly meeting and you will hear shortly after.
Keep strong. X

@Borntobeamum no that's how long the results take usually, so was quite shocked today when said she would rush them through for this Friday x

I wonder if there are reduced routine examinations taking place and so they are able to get it reported quicker. If we had a very anxious patient we would ask the radiologist to do a report quickly just to put their mind at rest.

I'm so sorry you are having to deal with this. The waiting will be awful for you. Fingers crossed that things aren't as bad as what is in your head.

Aww OP, I'm so sorry for your worries. A wise person (well, my favourite cousin, Tom!) once said to me "do you think that worrying will actually directly change the outcome?" and I said no, of course not, so he replied "so stop worrying then, you wee muppet!". It did make me smile, and he's right of course - it's just as likely to be nothing as it is to be something.

I had a biopsy on a dodgy mole recently, and I was also really surprised at how quickly I got my referral, procedure and results. I think they're just pushing things like this through as fast as they can just now.

And to give you a laugh, I had my first ever chest x-ray when I was in my early 20s, man years ago. When I saw it, I freaked and said in a really scared squeaky voice "what's that black lump?". It was my heart

Much love to you and your family, and I hope everything is OK.