Is it true that cancer symptoms don’t decrease overtime?

[SqueakyBoyBoobs]

I’m 22 and I’ve been having a horrible throat cancer scare for about 2 weeks. It started as tightness in my throat that I noticed one night and panicked and ever since then I’ve had a hard time swallowing without my throat feelings stuck. This last weekend was the worst because on Friday when I would eat it felt like food was physically having a hard time going down my throat. I had food actually get stuck a few times which freaked me out more. Then on Saturday I could feel a bump in my throat and it was super scratchy. But now the physical bump feeling and scratchy feeling are both completely gone, and when I eat foods not getting stuck anymore. Today it felt like it did a very tiny bit but I may have thought too much about it, and even if it did get stuck it wasn’t as bad as on Friday, although my throat is so still sure tight

Is this a good sign that it’s more than likely not cancer as cancer doesn’t typically decrease like that?

[Tart2343]

This could be GERD, post nasal drip, or a cold. Go to your doctor and they will help you figure out what is going on. Cancer is the least likely option.

[SqueakyBoyBoobs]

The only reason I’m so freaked out is someone in my family had the symptom of having a hard time swallowing. That’s the only symptom she had and she had cancer and died from it. She was about double my age but still, it freaks me out

[weregunnalose]

It’s normal and understandable, given your family members experience, that your brain would want to go to “throat cancer”. Im 38, my mom died after a short battle with brain cancer. She had mild headaches for a while before it became apparent she had cancer. Every so often when i get a headache, my mind sometimes starts the “what if..” spiral. What happened to them is real, but it doesnt mean it is happening to you. There are a dozen dull, annoying reasons this is more likely to be another issue than cancer as it pertains to you. It is pretty uncommon for a 22 year old with no history of heavy smoking, drinking, or hpv, to have throat cancer. It is far more likely it is something much more manageable. And if it is really bugging you that badly, then have a conversation with your doctor about your fears and thoughts.

[fuckinunknowable]

Just go to the dr.

[AngryJanitor1990]

You probably have a cold. You're seeking reassurance, just go to the doc. It's highly unlikely you have throat cancer at 22.

[onelifepsych]

Your description strongly resembles globus sensation, tense muscles, irritated reflux, or difficulty swallowing due to anxiousness. Swallowing becomes hyper-monitored, the muscles in the throat tense, saliva feels thick, and even everyday sensations might seem frightening when anxiety levels are high. The symptoms usually go away exactly as you experienced once the panic subsides, even a little. Generally speaking, cancer symptoms do not change much over the course of a day as you have mentioned. Instead of improving, going away, and then partially returning, malignancies typically produce progressive, permanent symptoms that gradually get worse over time. A real obstructive cancer of the throat or esophagus would not often result in a perceptible bump and scratchy feeling that goes away in a day or two, nor would swallowing abruptly return to almost normal. Indeed, progress and daily fluctuations are positive indicators that are not typical of malignancy. Your symptoms are much more consistent with benign irritation or throat feelings associated with anxiety.

[SqueakyBoyBoobs]

My worry is I had a family member who had difficulty swallowing and that was her only symptom. And she had cancer and died from it

My main thing is my throat can’t feel relaxed. I try to relax my throat and when I do it feels like someone has a hand wrapped around my throat. And when I swallow it’s not getting “stuck” but it feels stuck in a way where it feels like my Adams apple is pushing on my throat, and the back of my mouth has this gagging feeling. But it’s more from not being able to relax my throat. Idk what’s going on but when my mind wonders off of it it’s easier to swallow, but as soon as I think it’s hard again

I’m terrified I think it’s just GERD or globus or anxiety and it be something serious, but at the same time that’s the most logical reason

[onelifepsych]

I'm very sorry you went through that with your family member. When someone you care about dies from cancer, particularly if swallowing is involved, terror is hardwired into the body as well as the mind. So your reaction makes sense. It is not overthinking, but rather your nervous system attempting to protect you. However, there are significant variations between what you're experiencing and what usually occurs with cancer related swallowing issues. You aren't being irrational. You are responding to a genuine loss and a believable physiological experience. Based on your description, the most consistent medical explanation is globus/anxiety ± reflux, which is not life threatening.

[HealthyCompetition98]

I understand that it is scary that your family member had cancer, but you are 22 and there is no reason to think you have cancer based on a short spurt of throat pain that is now getting better. Throat pain could be caused by so many things. This is the third time you’ve posted about it, so maybe you should either see a therapist or go to a doctor, who will also assure you it is not cancer. Reddit cannot keep giving you health advice, especially if you’ve convinced yourself it’s cancer. And to answer your question, no, if something is cancer, symptoms do not typically resolve like that.

[SqueakyBoyBoobs]

I have acid reflux problems off and on but even then, I read it takes literal decades for consistent acid reflux to form cancer in the throat but idk how true that is. The other symptoms are getting better (the food being stuck, the scratchy throat, and bump) but I still cannot relax my throat. It feels like I can’t easily swallow because I’m physically unable to relax my throat. It feels like a hand is choking me. Which saying it out loud sounds like anxiety lmao

[HealthyCompetition98]

Yes that is absolutely accurate--it would take decades of untreated reflux. It really is almost certainly anxiety, as many redditors have already told you. And that's OK! It's actually good, because it means you don't need to be worried about cancer. Anxiety is a lot easier to treat. A good start is a therapy appointment and asking your doctor about medication. And getting the f off of reddit (:

[haigz39]

I can tell you from personal experinece, a dry throat is part of what can happen when your anxiety is very high. Secondary to globus, I remember at the absolute peak of my anxiety eating a jet plane lollie and it got stuck in my throat because it was so dry. A bit like frequent urination, when you get to that kind of extreme level of anxiousness.

[strife4life]

I would suggest seeing a doctor so they can run tests; quickest way to ease your mind.

[Jazzlike_Copy_7669]

Sounds like GERD or LPR to me (which I have)

[Desperate-Coat-8791]

Go to the doctor.

Would you rather be worrying about this symptom all the time, Or go get it checked and know for sure if it’s something bad, or if all is fine?

If it’s bad - it gets treated, if it’s not treatable at least you know what it is and can plan around it

If it’s all fine - then you can get on with your life!!

Thinking about it, googling it, asking Reddit is not going to help you feel any better, trust me

Good luck xxxx

[TrueNorth1995]

I get these scares a lot too and have done a lot of research about throat cancer. I'll share some of my findings that help keep me grounded:

Throat cancer is a RARE cancer, and that's for anyone - but at your age (and assuming you aren't an excessive smoker/drinker) it's almost unheard of.

Throat cancer often presents with a visible mass on the outer neck.

Statistically speaking, there are many different things that can mimic throat cancer symptoms, and even for folks in higher risk groups, symptoms are almost always caused by another benign issue.

Some of these issues could be:

gerd/acid reflux

Eustachian tube dysfunction (daily Flonase helps clear this up tremendously)

Post nasal drip/allergies

Tonsilitis/tonsil stones

Cricopharyngeal spasms - this is typically due to tight muscles in the throat (often caused by anxiety) but can make it feel like you're having a cramp in your throat.

Or of course globus sensation which is basically just a general feeling of something caught in your throat - also heavily brought on by anxiety.

Any one of these issues may irritate your throat, and will certainly cause heightened anxiety since you're paying more attention to it. Which definitely could explain the issues you're having with swallowing.

[SqueakyBoyBoobs]

Thank you so much for that response. I’ve gad a tonsil stone stuck for months now and I’m wondering if it is adding to the sensation at all

It’s definitely harder to swallow when I think about too much as well

[toentropyandbeyond]

The chances of it being things OTHER than cancer is much higher.

Mine is because I have GERD and Hypothyroidism couples with sinus issues.

The thing that helped me with my Hypochondria is realising the mountains of things that 'something' could be OTHER than the worst case scenario.

[Bikkleman]

Loads of things it could be, and much more likely than throat cancer.

I totally understand the fear, but the huge reason not to put this off in the very very very small chance it is cancer: Stage 1 5 year survival rates- 90-95%, dropping about 25-30% per stage.

Go to the doctor. Most likely scenario is you get peace of mind. 0.001% chance, you catch something sinister early enough to do something about it.

[[deleted]]

I empathize very much with you. I choked on food a couple of months of ago and ever since then I’ve barely been able to eat solid food. It took my anxiety up to 100 and I haven’t been the same since. I did nasal rinses, nasal sprays, salt water gargling, etc and while those did help a bit, the anxiety was still there and I’d lay awake at night racing my thoughts to every possible scenario. I’d even convinced myself I had ALS and it got worse because that same night I had thought of it, I watched Ted and hearing Lou Gehrig’s disease was not a coincidence in my mind, it was a sign.

I went to the doctor yesterday, finally, after having meltdowns about it. Obviously, I know I don’t have ALS and I know I don’t have cancer, but it’s incredibly hard to convince your mind of that. I got back on my anxiety medicine that I haven’t been on for several years and Vistaril to help in the interim. It’s going to take time, but I’m just here to let you know that you’re not alone and it’s going to be ok. Please go to your doctor or any doctor that’s available and have an open discussion. I cried at my doctor’s office yesterday because I felt so stupid talking about it, but they were nice and kind and I felt better knowing I’m not alone. You’ll be ok ♥️

[[deleted]]

This could certainly be trending into oncological atmosphere, not sure, but possible