Diagnosis?

[Cherbear013]

My husband has been complaining of a sore throat for almost a week. He has been gargling salt water and drinking tea, but nothing is helping. He says the back of his neck is sore and he thinks he sees a lesion in the back part of his throat. He is freaking out because he thinks its throat cancer. Anyone have any advice?

I am asking because he does not have medical insurance right now and we are trying to decide if we need to go straight to the ER, or just the regular doctor. TIA!

 

[princessnoelly]

Maybe strep? Does he still have his tonsils?

Call your doctor. Most office visits are under $100. I'd hold off and avoid the ER- that's a big expensive bill and a long wait. Most Dr's will also work with you and help you find an Rx that is one of the cheap $4 generic ones.

Good luck.

 

[turkeymama]

I would not go to the ER unless he was having trouble swallowing or breathing. Sore throat? Not an emergency in and of itself. If it has waited this long, it can keep one more day till he can get in to see a doctor.

 

[Styx Fan]

I am totally no doctor or have any medical training. But it seems if it has been bothering him for a week and has not gotten suddenly much worse, there is no reason to hit the ER. If the condition is pretty much the same as it was this morning, seems like you can wait until tomorrow and the office.

Now, if he has developed some new symptoms that make the situation seem more serious, like pain has gotten much worse, breathing issues, passing out, heart acting strange...that's different and makes it more like an emergency.

Could it be strep?

 

[Cherbear013]

Could be strep, but he says it isn't getting any better. Also is difficult because he has to go out of town tomorrow until Friday...so going to the doctor might be difficult.

He is just freaking out and I don't know how to help him or calm him down.

 

[turkeymama]

Why is he freaking out? Does he have a tendency toward being a little on the hypochondriac side?

If he isn't having any other symptoms, I'm not sure what else he would think it is. A sore throat and neck with a lesion is more consistent with strep or possibly even mono. My dad had esophageal cancer and he didn't really have pain, especially at first. He had a myriad of other symptoms, however.

Btw, strep is not going to get better on its on. It must be treated with an antibiotic. Mono could get better, but it certainly takes its time (at least in my experience.)

ETA: Not sure what time he has to leave to go out of town, but many urgent care centers are open early, take walk-ins, and charge the same as a regular doctor's office. Maybe he could get into one of them first thing in the morning.

 

[JessicaR]

Rather than speculate he should go to his doctor if he has one or just walk in to a walk in center/clinic. Walgreens has them in many locations now. At least to rule out strep.

Hope he feels better!

 

[Cherbear013]

That dang internet...too much information. He found a pic of something and of course he thinks that's exactly what his throat looks like. So he is just thinking the worst.

Hopefully he can manage it for the next few days, if its still hurting we'll go to the doctor on Friday.

Thanks everyone!!

 

[scrapquitler]

It certainly sounds like strep to me. Remember, whatever is most common is probably most likely. Throat cancer is a lot less common than strep, so it is more likely to be something like strep.

There has been tons of strep throat going around (at least here in the NorthEast) this winter. A lot more than I remember in past years, it seems that everyone has had it since Christmas.

If he can get in to see his regular doctor, that would be the best thing. If he can't do that, try a walk in clinic. I'd leave the ER for a last resort solution. But that's just me.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

I'm thinking strep, too.

 

[disneychic2]

Also, a week is not very long to have a sore throat. As a pp said, strep won't just go away. He can expect it to get worse before Friday. I used to get strep frequently as a young adult and I had lesions and lost weight with it. I'm glad you'll be going to the doctor Friday, but if it is strep, it's highly contagious until you start on antibiotics. See if he can do an urgent care where he is. The sooner he starts the meds, the better off everyone will be. Good luck!