First ever cancer scare at 27 years old
As title says tbh. I started smoking roll ups when I was about 18ish at uni and I smoked weed and used baccy for joints. I didn’t smoke roll ups except if I was on a night out and had a smoke then. This progressed into smoking daily as I found drink and drugs in a big way, up until I was about 23/24 years old. I stopped smoking weed and have smoked daily since. Stopped drinking often but every time I did I’d buy a pack and that would start off the cycle again. I stopped for a few months then started again on and off the past year now. Recently I’d been smoking again but straights for about 2 months up until 2 days ago.
Yesterday I felt a swelling under my jaw, where salivary glands would be normally. I’ve rang the doctors this morning and just had an appointment where they felt it. It was barely palpable and not a hard nodule or lump but I subtle swelling that is more than the other side. I’ve noticed the past few months it does feel like there’s a sharpness to that side in general like something is slightly lodged there. My voice can go hoarse too at times and it feels strained when I talk a lot. I’ve had my bloods take for inflammatory markers and I am due to go back in a couple of days to discuss the results and get referred to ENT. I’m absolutely terrified:(
My dad died of brain cancer, both of his parents died of cancers and they all smoked but gave up. I feel so stupid because if I do have something then this was so preventable but I still smoked even when everyone said not to. We always think it’s never us until it happens to us. I’m going to push for the scan even if bloods are okay because I’ve got such bad health anxiety as it is and I am beside myself I don’t know what to feel. I’ve thrown away everything cigarette related and am never drinking again either, as both are huge risk factors for throat cancers. I’m so so scared. Please just don’t smoke. It’s not worth it, the anxiety is not worth it.