Question: Hi doctors,

I was hoping you could help me. About 8 or 9 months ago I went through a huge HIV scare and that caused me to a little tightness in the throat. Anyway it went away in May after my regular military physical only to return a few weeks later when I had more worrieds so I believe it is anxiety. Anyway for some reason I can't get larynx cancer out of my head. I have looked up symptoms such as persistent cough and sore throat, lumps in neck and so forth. Anyway the only real symptom I have had is this tightness in my throat. I think I may sound a little hoarse today and feel like something is in my throat but that only started a day ago. I fully want to believe it is just anxiety. I am a 24 year old male. I only drink in the weekends and smoke maybe once a month. I never inhale however and have only been doing so since maybe 20 or 21. I am very scared an was hoping for your advice.



I was wondering specifically,

Does this sound like cancer to you? I have no problems breathing or swallowing.

I have seen my military doctor here and after feeling for masses in my neck and looking down my throat he told me I didn't have cancer and not to worry, should I believe him?

I had a chest x-ray in late May that showed nothing out of the ordinary, would it have shown up on it?

Why is this type of cancer so rare in my age group?

What do you think my risk is?



I know I'm probably being crazy but I've been so worried. Any help will be appreciated.

I have asked this question once here and received a very good response. I just wanted another opinion as I am going into the field for two weeks and would like to have this out of my head.

Thank you for your response doctor. Between my two military doctors and the one other doctor I spoke to on this site everyone seems to doubt cancer. I think it may be anxiety die to the fact that any "hoarness" from earlier has disappeared. Anyway I have quit smoking as of three weeks ago and scaled my drinking well back in the two years since college graduation. I only had two follow on questions if you don't mind answering them,

1. Due to the fact that I am at training I will not be able to see my doctor for another 3 weeks, in the small chance it is cancer, would the condition worsen in that small amount of time?

2. Just as to this type of cancer in general, I know that even for heavy smokers my age this is a rare cancer for us to get, I was wondering why it would be so rare for younger people?

These will be my final questions and I thank you for your time and expertise on the subject.

Thank yo again doctor, I do have a few more questions after all.

1. My maternal grandfather had lung cancer due to smoking heavy in his 60s and my material grandmother had breast cancer. My fathers side of the family sometimes gets prostate cancer but no one in my family has ever had any type of throat cancer. Due to my family history, with both maternal grandparents being heavy smokers, with no one getting this type of cancer would that lower my chances or simply not increase them?

2. As stated in the first question I have had this feeling in my throat for a while, mainly due to anxiety thanks to the HIV scare, but not a single other symptom. When it says things like cough, sore throat, or ear pain that doesn't go away, does that mean if any of those symptoms were cancer then any sore throat or cough I would have had would still be present, or take longer than a week or two to go away?

3. In your opinion, am I probably worrying over nothing?

Thank you again doctor.

Thank you again doctor, you have put me at a great deal of ease. Best wishes and thank you for all you do.