Hi Gordy, these things happen..
Steph already replied "It's not out of the question, but very unlikely. Why not
stop smoking?"

Once you've seen the nose/throat doctor (I suspect they'll go down your nose
and throat with a camera to look), they'll likely tell you the same, to stop
smoking.
So do yourself and your future health a favour and open a bank account and save
your "smoking money" for a trip, a home, a nice car, whatever you wish. There's
all kinds of aids, local support groups, newsgroups, buddy systems,
medications, patches, gums.

Perhaps you have GERD? (refluxing acid which burns the throat - if so talk to
your doctor about a medication and raising the legs at the head of your bed.
there's other tips out there on the internet as to what to do or not for that.
I use Google http://groups.google.com/advanced_search

Let us know if it is cancer, but I expect you'll be getting the "all clear".
To your health.
J