Ask The Doctor

Dear Ask The Doctor: I have been a cancer patient since 2006, with Lymphoma, however have been in remission since late 2008. I have just discovered a new lump in my neck/throat area that has brought on swelling and pain to the area. With that, I don't have insurance to go see an oncologist currently, and with the pain from the lump from simply burping or swallowing, difficulty breathing at times, and difficulty talking (the vibrations send pain extremely horribly). I have a very high tolerance level for pain but at times its unbearable. Furthermore, my husband heard me wheezing while I slept a bit. I have checked my tonsils, nothing out of the ordinary there, no sore throat. Mainly the symptoms are pain in the neck/throat, a lump or two in that area, swelling, difficulty breathing, swallowing, talking. I am on the verge of going to the ER without any other options. I have tried Tylenol for pain, and IB Profen for swelling, ice wet rag, and none of it has worked for me. I'm concerned that when I go to the hospital they will send me home because I don't have a current oncologist for admitting me to do any tests. If I can get any help, advice or anything on what to do, what to try, whether or not to go to the ER, and what to expect, possible causes I would appreciate it. There was no trama or injury at all to that area. Please Help. Sincerely, In Pain

Dear Concetta: I think I am going to tell you what you already know.

1/ Cancer patients require life long regular checkups to assess for recurrence. Initially, followup is done every 3 months and then after a period of no cancer remission, the followups can be extended in a step wise fashion to a yearly basis.

There are very few cancers I would feel comfortable with following on a basis of less than once per year.

2/ Any mass in neck in lymphoma patients has to be ruled out a a cancer recurrence before considering other diagnoses.

3/ A visit to the ER will likely not be as beneficial as a visit to your oncologist.