Hi there,
I am a 43 yr old female with a h/o Hodgkin's Lymphoma in 1997 (mediastinal nodular sclerosing) for which I rcvd chemo (MOPP/ABVD) and radiation. Mild - moderate GERD over the past several years, taking Protonix 40mg. For 9 months I have been suffering with so many esophageal and other problems. These have included dysphagia, a tugging sensation in my throat like I want to pull my throat skin down to make more room, a stinging sensation between my breasts but mostly in the skin, not from reflux, a chronic sore throat and cough,hoarseness,pain dead center below my chin about 1 inch, shortness of breath at times, pain at my biopsy site as if my skin is stuck to my chest...I have had an endoscopy which revealed nothing except a small polyp, a CT with barium which revealed esophagitis and esophageal wall thickening. Was placed on Diflucan for 10 days (got hives)(even though no candida showed) and Nexium for 10 days. I was almost symptom free while on this regimen.3 days later all symptoms returned. The Dr is keeping me on Nexium and says it is radiation damage. I had the radiation 7 years ago! I am concerned this is being misdiagnosed and the starts of cancer. I was 2.5 years complaining of problems when I was Dx with HD.
Is it possible these symptoms can in fact be caused from radiation this late after treatment or is there something else we may be missing? I have missed a lot of work (I am a teacher and lecture 5 hrs a day)due to the pain in my throat and hoarseness.
I appreciate your response and thank you in advance.
Kathy