Thanks for your feedback. I did read through many previous posts the other evening and that is what prompted me to post my story. I hope to hear more from others. The clear sticky phlegm is active today (but it’s more manageable than usual).

Hello Erika,
Yes, I have read through many of them, and still going! There are so many helpful suggestions. Because of this website, I have become more of my own advocate. If you are interested, here is how this started!

When I first started getting a slight sore throat on one side, the doctor attributed it to allergies. Around this time, the dental hygienist noticed a sore in my throat, but the dentist said he could see nothing. Later on, I found that the dentist had written in my chart that I had an "Oropharyngeal Sore," and even had a measurement of it! This was NEVER related to me at all. Soon, my ear on that side began hurting too. I went to an ENT, and she scoped me. Although I could feel the tip of the scope touching the area of my pain, she proclaimed that I probably had "Arthritis" in my throat!!! What??? She then stated that the scope was not long enough to see further down my esophagus. She suggested an Endoscopy, so that was the next item. I explained to the Gastroenterologist where my pain was, and he went ahead with the procedure. When I awoke, he proclaimed that the only thing he found was a "Hiatial Hernia," which is pretty normal after having three children.

However, the pain in my ear and throat was getting really bad...I could hardly swallow anymore, and my ear was agonizing at times. So, I went to a different ENT, and this ENT suggested having my tonsils removed. This was quite ridiculous, because my tonsils have atrophied away due to age--as many people's tonsils do. The ENT set up a date for surgery, but I cancelled it. At this point, I am in a quandary not knowing where to turn next. My Family doctor recommended I go for a contrasted CT Scan. The radiology report said they could find nothing wrong, except the "Styloid Bones" were slightly elongated, which can press into delicate nerve tissue causing throat/ear pain. They termed it as "Eagles Syndrome," after the doctor in the 1930s that discovered the condition, a Doctor Eagle. Still, I knew this was not right, and it was something more...that Feeling we all get when we know something major is wrong.

My family doctor was losing patience with me, but she recommended I go to an Indiana University "IU Doctor." She explained they are "the best," so that is what I did. This IU ENT, and he scoped me as usual. Within 3 minutes, he saw the white, cancerous spot. How the Radiologists missed the tumor is beyond me, because the Cancer Treatment hospital showed us the CT Scan on a screen, and it was VERY Visible. In fact, it would have been virtually impossible not to see it.

So you see, this site is a lifeline to people. People that can not rely on the medical field to solve all their problems. Hopefully, we learn from one another. I posted a reply on another page which I hope was not overbearing: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/parotid-gland-cancer/
But the words are true, and maybe can help some other person.
One thing is sure, I am very thankful to have found Mayo Clinic Connect.
The mentors such as yourself, are helpful and friendly. That is greatly appreciated!
Thank-you!