Is it too late

[ShelleyStressed]

Approximately 2 & a half year`s ago I had noticed a Lump inside on my throat sort of on the side a bit but mostly under chin.I was checked for my thyroids but that turned up fine,so then I was sent to a throat specialist & he only saw what looked to a bit of an Irritation & if it got worse or started to bug me then come back.Now he for some reason (that I could not explain)did not feel the lump although I could.
Since that day I have done some Blood work & my Red Blood Cells were high yet as I told my Doctor I eat ALOT of meat,for sure once a day or twice,so she wants to do more test to explain this new findings.
After one divorce & 3 beautiful children Raising them alone for year`s,I have finally met the man of my Dreams.This here December 29th will be our 1 year Anniversary but I am really scared that I wont have many of them left.
Finally I have a man who does not abuse me in anyway but treats me like a Queen every day & a big plus is that he excepts my 18 17 & 10 year old Children this is something I have waited for all my life but what if I have Cancer & miss out on 60 year`s of his love??
See the reason why I`am saying this is because the lump is getting bigger in my neck & I feel another one on the other side starting & at times they both are painful without touching the area & when I do touch to check if it has gotten bigger,it will hurt for days or weeks.Sometimes after singing 1 or 2 songs I end up loosing my voice for day`s & it hurts there again,now for me this here is odd because I have always sang plenty songs in a night & never had an issue until this lump appeared.As well in the past perhaps 4 or 5 month`s I have noticed no matter how much sleep I get I`am always feeling tired just plain exhausted & I don`t even work so it cant possibly be the reason.
So truly Sorry for the Long Details however to help me in anyway I thought it was needed.
I`am scared to **** that I may not be here to watch my kids get Married & have my Grand children or to grow old togeather with my Husband .

PLEASE I`AM BEGGING CAN SOMEBODY HELP ME & MAYBE GIVE ME PERHAPS SOME OTHER REASONS AS TO WHAT COULD BE HAPPENING TO ME & IF IT COULD BE CANCER.
See if it is then I`am worried it could be tooo late because it started 2 or 3 year`s ago at least when I noticed it.
Thank-you for your Patience & help,hopefully I can get a reply soon

[ShelleyStressed]

Yes it is the white blood cells from what I know for blood cancer`s such as Luchemia,however there is something that has caused my red bllod cell count to be a little high & even though they have ruled out Thyroids etc....,she also ruled out anemic & I eat my proper meat every day so who knows.
However I have just been enjoying the holidays with my Husband & Children & trying not to think of it until I get results back.
So Merry Christmas & happy New Year for everybody in 2009 & God Bless.
Oh yeah by the way My husband & I met & started dating September 2007 & 3 month`s later we were married on December 29th of 2007 so as of December 2008 we had our One Year Anniversary & we cant wait for hopefully a Hundred more

[Barb135]

I, too, am happy to hear that you got your partner involved.  I agree with Kipp44 that this could have ruined your relaitonship if you kept your concerns from him.  

Just hang in there and give the doctors a chance to figure out what's going on.  

BTW - you said your red blood count was high and that's what made you think you had cancer.  I thought it was the white cell count that would be high, because the white cells are the ones that fight disease.  I've known several people who had various types of cancer and the white cells were the ones watched the closest for signs of recurrence.  Just a thought and I could be backwards.  

[Kipp44]

I am so glad you have involved your partner with this difficult road you are travelling, just imagine how he would have felt if he found out what was happening and you had not involved him - that alone could have destroyed your relationship.

I am glad the Doctor is taking this seriously and everthing is being done that needs to be. My thoughts are with you and I hope that all turns out for the best.

[ShelleyStressed]

From what she has told me yes I had been checked for that as well,see whaen she checked my Throat & felt the lump it caused her some concerns.So while I have been waiting to see the ENT specialist again in Toronto,she had every blood work done that she could think of.Now she wants to check my Red Blood Cell count again to see if it has gotten higher & if yes she said she will run more test to find out what else can be causing this.
I was there today so she will put a rush on these test she said considering how the growth has Grown in size & she said it was a big change considering the first time she could barely feel it but now it is impossible not to feel it.
My husband came with me & even thogh he has to rescheadule his court cases to other dates(he is a lawyer) he does not care to him this is more important.I want to thank everybody today because after reading all the sugestions I have sat him down & explained that eventhough I have spoken To him about it,I wasan`t really letting him know how scared I was that it may be Cancer again considering the past.So Thank-You so much because if it were not for the people I most likely would not have made him aware of just how scared I really am & that I cry a lot when he is at work.
I#am pretty sure she checked that in the past however I will mention it to her again when my test results are in & I see her.If at all Possible the ENT said they may be able to get me in hopefully before Christmas because of the Doctors Concerns & all my new Symptoms,so for now I just have to wait for the call but now my Husband knows just how upset I really am & I#am not trying to hide behind my true fear
Thank-You In So Many Ways & I shall keep everybody Posted for sure
Shelley Stressed

[Barb135]

I can't explain the lump in your throat - but the fact that you are exhausted all the time, no matter how much sleep you get, makes me ask the question: Since your thyroid tests came back normal, has anyone thought to have your B-12 levels tested to check for pernicious anemia?  

I have pernicious anemia, which was actually diagnosed before my hypothryoidism and I take a vitamin B-12 shot every 2 weeks, along with my daily thryoid med.  Just a thought that might be worth checking out!

Please get the lump checked out asap and do get your great man involved with what's happening; a truly loving relationship must be based on trust, so you should be able to trust him to help you through this.  

Good luck and keep us posted on the outcome.  

[ShelleyStressed]

Yes I have been to a ENT 2 year`s ago approimately when I had first felt it & it was waaay Smaller then it is now,he could not feel it good at the time & he put the camera in my nose down throat to get a good look but all he could see then was some obvious redness,irritation & somw swelling.He then sent me home telling me that if this were to get worse in Growth or Pain to then Definetley come back.This however because it has been 2 Year`s causes me to have to get a Referal again from a walk in clinic after an Exam because I have no family doctor due to the fact we just moved here.
Thank-you for your Questions & I shall do my best in Explaining them for you & perhaps this may help me in the end since I`am waiting for a Referal appointment again.
No it has not hurt before or after eating however my appetite has dropped & as well I find myself extremely tired no matter how much sleep I do or do not get & this here is new for me.Also I have what I thought was a knot on my Right shoulder near the bottom of the neck a bit over,this has not gone away even after a few appointments with a Massage Therapist who after 1 hour could not seem to get rid of it or even loosen it,this she can`t understand she said.
No I do not get any shooting Pain making it hard to turn my neck,sometimes the pain starts for no reason & at times there is no pain yet the lump does not ever go away but gets bigger & now starting in my left side recently.It is under my Chin / Jaw line & now up against my addams apple wich has caused that side to be larger now.I was checked for the obvious Thyroid & lymph Nodes that came back Normal so I`am not sure what to think.
Hope this answers your Questions looking forward to hearing back from you
Great Thanks & Appreciation
Shelley Stressed

[Totie]

Have you been to an ENT? I had trouble in the neck area, under the chin. Turned out it was my submandibular gland (sialenditis) and Eagle Syndrome (calcified ligament), along with two enlarged bening lymph nodes. I did have them all removed with surgery.

It did take 5 months and many CT scans, ultrasound, MRI to figure it out.

Do you have any pain during , or after eating? Does your neck sometimes get a sharp shooting pain at the base where it hurts to turn neck for a few seconds? Is most your pain under the chin/jaw line?

[ShelleyStressed]

I would like to start out by saying just how much I appreciate the ones who have replied to my Question with Love & Understanding, took the time out of their own busy Lives to help by giving me True Support as well other Suggestions.
I have had myself checked for Thyroids & the other thing however they came back Normal & I do not have High Blood Pressure or Low.So because of my Past History of Cancer yes I`am extremely Concerned & yes I do touch to check it however not a whole lot because as hard as it may be I don`t want to think of it.
My Whole life I have had  a lot of bad times but I have pulled through them all & this just made me Stronger as a Woman yet most Importantly it has made me the Mother I`am today.My son`s are 17 18 & my daughter is 10 & to this day they still kiss me say that they love me in front of friends even,plus they come to me with whatever problems they may have even girlfriend trouble.
As for the Great Man in my life I have told him & he constantly says I`am the best thing that has ever happened to him,that we will find out & if it is bad news we will fight it togeather that we will win because he can`t do it without me he needs 60 year`s.
I know I should talk to him but truly I have been alone with my children for soo long that I got use to dealing with everything myself,so for this reason it is hard asking for help & he is soo much in love with me & Sensitive that I don`t want to scare him the way that I`am.

Thank-You From the bottom Of my Heart & pls add what ever you like it is always nice to hear Kind true words & Suggestions
Shelley Stressed

[ChitChatNine]

You definitely need to have it addressed by a caring doc who will take the time to listen to your history.  I agree with above posts.  I do believe there is a head and neck area forum here too which I would post your post on to get their opinions too!

Pls. let us know the outcome.  

Vocal cord nodules are another possibility attributing to the voice after you sing .. they are usually benign.  My daughter had them for a few years and finally they are gone.  She did speech therapy, etc.  On scopes they looked like callouses!

Cheryl

[Kipp44]

I forgot to mention - the area you are describing is not traditionally associated with thyroid conditions but enlarged neck nodes. This can sometimes occur for months on end following an illness - for instance bronchitis. I got one when I was a student nurse after having cold after cold and had 3 weeks off work (I was getting used to sick people so my body wasn't use to being exposed to so much illness). I had my lump then checked out and it was just a scarred node that did eventually reduce. I used to get dizzy when I felt it - it turned out I was pushing on my carotid artery - constantly feeling can also increase the inflammation (I know it is hard not to do though once you are worried)

Hope this helps

[Kipp44]

Just remember that most lumps in any part of the body are usually not cancerous. Also a sign of high blood red count is not normally associated with cancer - it usually the opposite. I believe that many people with thyroid conditions can have high red blood cells.

You definitly need a work-up to find out exactly what is going on. Knowledge is empowerment. You will have some stressful times ahead whilst you find out what is happening but do not do it alone, include this wonderful new man as you need all the support you can get.

Do write down all your symptoms that you have noticed as it can help with the picture of what is going on, often we forget once in the Doctors rooms. Do research (there are some great sites in this community) that can help you understand pathology - and do ask for copies to take home.

Please keep us posted with what is happening so that we can support you. Many people have been down this road - treatment is available no matter what the outcome of results are.

Good-luck and take care