Linn, my 2 cents: Call and ask the "local woman nose & throat doctor that a friend has recommended" if she can somehow record the laryngoscopy digitally. If so, go see her, get a first look, and take from her a copy of the video or the multiple snapshots, in case you want to show another doctor for another opinion. I bet even Dr. Z would take a quick look at your images and tell you if there's anything suspicious. In other words, get some specialist to take a look soon. After all, even the local doc whom you don't trust anymore knew that Tom had a cancer, despite being wrong about how far advanced it was. Start the process, and you may get a load of stress relieved if you find it's a benign condition.