Lumps in throat, should I worry?

Hi there I was wondering if anyone could help or just shed some light on me as recently I’ve been feeling very unwell and continuously tired, ive had a lot of colds and chest infections over the last year but I’ve not really put much on it and just blamed it on the weather as I’m only 21. I noticed a hard unmovable lump on my right collar bone near my throat and also didn’t think a lot of it until one day I just started to feel uncomfortable and like it aches but this feeling doesn’t last all the time as well as struggling to swallow to which I’ve notice my right tonsil is always swollen and has been for months. Anyway I went to doctors and was sent for bloods and an X-ray, my bloods came back low vitamin D and I assume my X-ray was normal as it still hasn’t come back. In the mist of all this I found another hard lump in the front of my throat. My doctor has just told me to take it easy and referred me for an utrasound. My cousin was diagnosed with thyroid cancer last year with the same symptoms, I can’t help but think it couldn’t possibly happen to me because I’m young and have always been healthy, on the other hand I have a personality disorder and have a little monster in my head screaming at me to panic. Should I be worrying? I hope I’m worrying for nothing as I’m a single parent with a 3 year old

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    Hi Girl,

    I am so sorry to hear about your symptoms. Have you got an appointment for an ultrasound yet, or did your GP give you any indication of how long it would take to get one? It is always a worrying time waiting for results when you discover lumps like this. If you haven’t heard anything about your x-ray yet, it would be worth phoning your GP again to see if the results are back yet. It is all too easy for things like this to get lost in the system, so you cannot take it as read that no news is good news.

    Unfortunately, cancer is no respecter of age. Whilst it may be uncommon to get it at 21, it is not unheard of.

    There is certainly no need to panic, but it might be worth going back to your GP to see if s/he can get you an earlier referral if you have already discovered another lump. Did you tell your GP that your cousin was diagnosed last year? It might be worth letting them know, as this can also explain why you are so anxious.

    Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you whenever you want to chat.

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx

  • Hey I just checked today with hospital about my ent appointment 2-3 weeks to wait on Letter for appointment so won't be a long wait thankfully once I get letter I assume thats the earliest they can do emergency appointments so better than nothing I guess they can't leave it to long incase it is cancer lump hopefully not but they couldn't diagnose in hospital so I assume it could be as I've heard cancer can be hard diagnose in the throat I'll let yas no updates sure

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    Hi Arrow,

    I note from your other post that you have been waiting some time for a diagnosis. Some cancers can be difficult to diagnose, but your care team will do additional tests if they feel it necessary.

    I hope that you get your ENT appointment soon and that you remain cancer free. Waiting for clinic appointments and test results is always a worrying time.

    Do please let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx