Letter: Reason to pester the doctor Take sore throats seriously

THE ARTICLE "How to treat your doctor" (Real Life, 17 March) has caused much concern in the Laryngectomee community. The National Association of Laryngectomee Clubs has undertaken many awareness information projects, one of which was to GPs, clearly informing them that all patients presenting with sore throats of more than two weeks duration must be sent for further diagnosis. The reason for this advice to be given such urgent attention is that throat cancer is a very swift killer, but it is a cancer that can be beaten, if diagnosed early. The quote from Dr Laurence Buckman ("Don't come with a sore throat unless you can see yellow pus") worried us enormously.

Ron and Jean Fraser

Newcastle upon Tyne