Possible esophagus cancer?

Bweiss5421 · New User Joined: 14 Jun 2009 Posts: 2

I have been experiencing discomfort (no pain, just irritation), in my neck and my cheek, both on the left side, and a very very slight pain on the right side of my back. Nothing else really ever hurts and I don't have any trouble swallowing my food, although I have in the past, like a long time before these symptoms showed up. About a year and a half my neck started having this feeling of pressure on it, which was in the middle, and that moved to it feeling like someone is always touching the right side. It feels like a vein or something on the left side of my lower neck is stressed or something, because I can feel it all the time but I can only feel the vein on the right side of my neck if I flex it or if I move my head around. I am a 19 year old male. I have basically accepted the fact that if this is cancer then I am screwed. I was just wondering if this sounds like it is cancer and if it is am I screwed since it started over a year ago, but never really started to feel like it does now until like last summer.

Edit:
Also, I haven't lost any weight at all since I started feeling this, but I have actually gained weight, am I just being paranoid or is this something serious.

Ereshkigal · Regular Joined: 19 Jun 2008 Posts: 34

Hi there,

I couldnt' give you an answer that is even close to 100% on this question, however, a few things you wrote stick out to me.

One: You said that in the past you felt like you had trouble swallowing your food, but you don't anymore. If it truly was cancer then I can't imagine the symptom would just "go away" like that.

Two: You mention pressure in your neck. Don't immediately jump to the "cancer" conclusion. It could be any number of things, ranging from acid reflux (which can cause pressure in your throat/neck area; I know because I have that) to a pinched nerve. So dont' worry about it; if you start having other symptoms (spitting up or vomiting blood, nausea, severe weight loss, night sweats, etc. etc.) then go to your doctor. But otherwise I can't imagine that based on what you've said here your doctor will even order tests... as far as I know nothing really "matches" for cancer. If they do end up doing tests I highly doubt it would be for cancer, but rather for one of the things I mentioned above (or whatever other condition they suspect your symptoms might be caused by).

Oh, and also, if it is cancer I wouldn't jump immediately to the "I'm screwed" way of thinking. There are many stories of survival, even with Stage IV (The most advanced, hardest to cure) cancer. Best of luck in finding out what's wrong with you in any case.

Bweiss5421 · New User Joined: 14 Jun 2009 Posts: 2

thanks for the reply. I talked to my doctor about it and she didn't find anything. As for it being cancer, I did a symptom checker and it came up with tmj as one of the possibilities. I read about it and it seemed to be right about what I am feeling. Since I last wrote on here my jaw on the left side has started to make a clicking noise when I eat, and my ear has started to hurt, along with a slight headache. TMJ is also acompanied by a slight discomfort when swallowing. And also backpain which I also have sometimes but only very slight, and also throat discomfort which I also have. So I think I may have found what it is.

TrustinHim · New User Joined: 09 Oct 2009 Posts: 4

I am so glad this young person went to the doctor to check his symptoms.

It is NEVER a good idea to wait until symptoms are as far as spitting up blood etc because with almost all gastro cancers that is too late. Most gastric cancers present NO or very mild symptoms in their early stages. Once you are spitting up blood or having blood in a bowel movement you usually have a late stage cancer.

There are also conditions such as Barrett's esophagus that develop from something as simple as acid reflux and highly risky of developing into esophageal cancer if left untreated. I know as I am being treated for that as we speak and have to have repeat upper endoscopy to keep a check on it. There are numerous gastro cancers in my family and I had a partial colectomy in Dec of 2004. Great news is that I also have several young friends that developed gastro cancers and were late stage but are now cancer free. So there is always hope and you were so right about that. If you visit www.TheColonClub.com you will see a lot of young gastro cancer survivors.

One thing I like to remember that a good friend reminded me...:

"Be strong and believe that God has the best in store for you, Lean not on your own understanding but trust in Him always."

Hoping you are all blessed with wonderful health always.

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