Enlarged Tonsil -- Cancer?

Posted by rjake12003 @rjake12003, Feb 3, 2023

Had a sensation of something stuck in throat. Went to ENT 4 mos ago and was diagnosed as reflux (ENT did not scope). Got medication. I was not consistent with medication (my bad).
I didn't follow up for about 4 mos. Holidays hit, I got COVID, etc.

Anyway, I finally saw another ENT because the sensation was still there. ENT this time saw one of my tonsils was larger than other. Ordered biopsy. He said he wanted to rule out cancer. Hmmm....

I had no other symptoms (no bleeding, no neck pain, etc.) except occasional hoarseness. Three questions:
1. Could there be some other cause for one tonsil to be enlarged other than cancer? During my Covid I took antibiotics.
2. Does the fact that I'm not experiencing other symptoms suggest an earlier stage if it is cancer?
3. How badly did I screw up by waiting the 4 months to followup?
Thank you for any insight.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Support Group.

@rjake12003

Positive for throat/tongue cancer HPV+16. PETscan also showed a bright spot in sinus cavity which needs checked out via CT scan. Waiting to schedule that and dental work before radiation treatment can start.

Jump to this post

I hope your treatment is going as scheduled. My husband has been confirmed for Squamous Cell Cancer HPV +16 by lymph node biopsy. Primary source unconfirmed but one tonsil suspected and will be removed in ten days. So many appointments but still so much waiting. I found a site called supermanhpv.com that has been helpful. HPV+ seems to have better outcomes. Best wishes.

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.