lump and ear pain, could this be cancer?

shantron · New User Joined: 18 Mar 2009 Posts: 1

Hi. I’m a twenty six year old female. I have always had bad allergies which have brought on sinus problems. I’ve try to maintain them with medication (Zyrtec D and Flonase daily). Whenever I get a sinus infection it is usually accompanied by ear pain and pressure in my left ear only. Sometimes there is an infection present or a fluid build-up, but just as often there are no signs of what could be causing the pain and pressure.

2-3 months ago, I started having pretty persistent sinus infections (every 2-3 weeks) that didn’t seem to be brought on by any allergy symptoms. I had a severe stabbing pain in my left ear with fluid build up. My doctor would put me on antibiotics and the symptoms would improve, but never completely go away and then would return in a few weeks.

Three weeks ago the symptoms started again and a few days later I choked on food. I thought something felt weird so I stuck my hand into my mouth and found a fleshy, hard, fixed lump (less than 1 cm in diameter) on the very back of my throat behind the uvula (pharyngeal wall). I went to my PCP, who said it was “nothing” and gave me 10 day course of antibiotics. I’ve finished the antibiotics with only slight relief and the lump is still there. I called my PCP back and she said there is no reason for me to see an ENT.

Here are my symptoms:
-lump in throat
-persistent sinus issues
-intense ear pain/pressure, ear popping (left ear only)
-dizziness
-headaches
-blood streaked mucus (worse in the morning)
-voice hoarseness
-unintentional weight loss (15 lbs in 2-3 months)
-blurry vision, flashes
-extremely fatigued
-horrible breath/rotten taste in my mouth mainly coming from left side

Also, I am in a Li-Fraumeni family. My brother, my mom, all of her siblings, my grandfather, some of my cousins, and my cousin’s children had rare cancers (sometimes multiple cancers) at very young ages. Most notably my mom had a Chondrosarcoma (bone cancer) in her mouth at 34 and my uncle had a Leiomyosarcoma (a rare soft muscle tissue cancer) in his arm that started out as a small painless lump that doctors said was “nothing”. I have not been tested for the genetic mutation, but I feel as though this should at least be considered.

I saw an Internal MD with a specialty in genetics this week. She said the lump looked like a pimple, but didn’t try to explain any of the other symptoms. She said she will not run any kind of diagnostic tests on the lump until I test positive for the Li-Fraumeni mutation. I’m not comfortable with having the test before I acquire life insurance.

At this point, I’m desperate. Every doctor I go to says that people my age don’t get cancer even if they know about the mutation and my family history, yet they can’t explain my symptoms and don’t want to run any tests or perform a biopsy yet. I have an appointment with an ENT late next week but I’m not hopeful. I just want a doctor that will review all of the information seriously, not brush me off because I am young, and be willing to do a biopsy.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

Ereshkigal · Regular Joined: 19 Jun 2008 Posts: 34

Hello there,

It's hard for me to believe that any doctor would simply "brush off" those kinds of symptoms. I'm not going to assume I have any idea what those types of symptoms might actually be, but based on the frequency (and number) of them; not to mention your family history, I do certainly believe that you deserve a thorough examination. Certainly, you know your body better than anyone else, and if you are noticing that things are not right - and if you are noticing "lumps" in places that they have never been before - then obviously you'd be in a better place than any of us to really judge their severity and abnormality (compared to how you normally feel).

Now, I know sometimes it's easy to say "Well I have this and this and this, so logically it makes sense for me to have this." I know because that's kinda the way I was thinking for a while. I was spitting up blood, had unintentional weight loss (30lbs in only a few months) had severe chest pains, horrible taste in my mouth, was very fatigued, etc. etc. Yet, I've been to many many doctors, who tell me it's nothing and that I shouldn't worry about it.

So, I only mention that to tell you that sometimes - even if we have symptoms of cancer - it turns out to not be. Now obviously your case is different than mine; I would never presume that just because I had all those symptoms and turned out to not have cancer that the same would be true for you. I don't know. I just hope to give you some comfort that, perhaps, your symptoms are nothing. But, having said that, I do think you should be seriously examined by a doctor, because obviously as you know those symptoms are troubling and certainly do deserve to be examined.

I hope they turn out to be nothing; and best of luck on finding a doctor that will take you seriously. I know sometimes that can be the hardest thing of all...

Vee Smith · Moderator Joined: 12 Feb 2006 Posts: 992 Location: UK

[quote="shantron"]

At this point, I’m desperate. Every doctor I go to says that people my age don’t get cancer even if they know about the mutation and my family history, yet they can’t explain my symptoms and don’t want to run any tests or perform a biopsy yet. I have an appointment with an ENT late next week but I’m not hopeful. I just want a doctor that will review all of the information seriously, not brush me off because I am young, and be willing to do a biopsy.

Does anyone have any thoughts on this?[/quote]

I hope you can resolve your insurance problem soon and that you find a sympathetic doctor. I agree that this is one of the most important aspects of medical care - a doctor who is on your wave-length and prepared to take note of your views. It does seem that the sooner they identify your problem the better all round.

I am not sure what they mean "people of your age don't get cancr". The statistics do not support that general claim. And if you are Li-Fraumeni the sooner the better that you get confirmation.

Good luck, and keep in touch.

FieldsOfGold · New User Joined: 12 Apr 2009 Posts: 2

I am sorry to be the bearer of bad news. But the news could become much worse if you don't do something. I know a young woman close to your age who had very similar symptoms. It was nasopharyngeal cancer. Treatment of this is usually successful if treated before it has spread beyond the head and neck. But don't delay. Find another ear, nose and throat doctor.

	Cancer Forums Forum Index -> Head and Neck Cancer/ Thyroid Cancer Forum	All times are GMT - 5 Hours
Page 1 of 1

A website for discussions about any type of cancer, including lung cancer, breast cancer, mesothelioma, prostate cancer, laryngeal cancer, leukemia, lymphoma, multiple myeloma and others