Tonsil Cancer
Heya everyone, looking for a bit of advice/comfort really!
I started getting what seemed like tonsillitis all the time around Easter. One ear would ache, my throat would be sore, I'd feel a bit lethargic and one tonsil would be swollen. It was always the same side, always the same tonsil. I'd often get antibiotics, it would seem to last about a week and then go away. I never really noticed if the tonsil decreased in size but I don't think it did. This persisted off and on all summer.
Then in September, the game changed a bit. I got the usual 'tonsillitis', it disappeared but turned into breathing problems, I literally couldn't breathe through my nose a lot of the time, I had to mouth-breathe. But my breathing also felt very tight, I spent a lot of time out of breath; it was as though my throat was too narrow. I also had excess saliva. I was diagnosed with nasal polpys (this has since been disregarded) and got a nasal spray. I also linked it to my moldy university house and moved home.
I moved home about 6 weeks ago, since then the situation dramatically improved. I can now breathe better through my nose (but not completely ok), the excess saliva has gone, my breathing is far less tight (generally fine unless I exercise). I also haven't had any tonsil problems for months. The only problems have been slight nasal congestion and what felt like post-nasal drip.
On Christmas Eve, I saw an ENT specialist. I was expecting him to talk about my sinuses. He put a camera up my nose and said they were fine. However, he took one look in my mouth and said my tonsils needed to come out. One tonsil has been enlarged for as long as I can remember (at least 9 months), and I've had tonsil stones. But I didn't think anything of it. I just assumed it is how I was made, possibly just scarred from all the tonsillitis. However, he said that, even if I wasn't suffering any symptoms, he wanted to take the tonsils out and have them sent off for tests.
Since Monday, I've been consulting Dr. Google, and I'm now convinced that I have tonsil cancer. I have asymmetrical tonsillar enlargement. I still suffer from tonsil stones but it also has a couple of white spots at the top which are always there. I also constantly feel like I have postnasal drip, constantly swallowing but never coughing anything up. Throughout the last 3 months I've felt very lethargic, but this could be due to worry.
Does anyone have any experience of tonsil cancer? Does this sound like it?
The doctor said he expects I will feel better after they're removed. If this is just cos I have one gammy tonsil filled with bacteria then great, wap it out! But I'm very very worried at the moment.
I started getting what seemed like tonsillitis all the time around Easter. One ear would ache, my throat would be sore, I'd feel a bit lethargic and one tonsil would be swollen. It was always the same side, always the same tonsil. I'd often get antibiotics, it would seem to last about a week and then go away. I never really noticed if the tonsil decreased in size but I don't think it did. This persisted off and on all summer.
Then in September, the game changed a bit. I got the usual 'tonsillitis', it disappeared but turned into breathing problems, I literally couldn't breathe through my nose a lot of the time, I had to mouth-breathe. But my breathing also felt very tight, I spent a lot of time out of breath; it was as though my throat was too narrow. I also had excess saliva. I was diagnosed with nasal polpys (this has since been disregarded) and got a nasal spray. I also linked it to my moldy university house and moved home.
I moved home about 6 weeks ago, since then the situation dramatically improved. I can now breathe better through my nose (but not completely ok), the excess saliva has gone, my breathing is far less tight (generally fine unless I exercise). I also haven't had any tonsil problems for months. The only problems have been slight nasal congestion and what felt like post-nasal drip.
On Christmas Eve, I saw an ENT specialist. I was expecting him to talk about my sinuses. He put a camera up my nose and said they were fine. However, he took one look in my mouth and said my tonsils needed to come out. One tonsil has been enlarged for as long as I can remember (at least 9 months), and I've had tonsil stones. But I didn't think anything of it. I just assumed it is how I was made, possibly just scarred from all the tonsillitis. However, he said that, even if I wasn't suffering any symptoms, he wanted to take the tonsils out and have them sent off for tests.
Since Monday, I've been consulting Dr. Google, and I'm now convinced that I have tonsil cancer. I have asymmetrical tonsillar enlargement. I still suffer from tonsil stones but it also has a couple of white spots at the top which are always there. I also constantly feel like I have postnasal drip, constantly swallowing but never coughing anything up. Throughout the last 3 months I've felt very lethargic, but this could be due to worry.
Does anyone have any experience of tonsil cancer? Does this sound like it?
The doctor said he expects I will feel better after they're removed. If this is just cos I have one gammy tonsil filled with bacteria then great, wap it out! But I'm very very worried at the moment.
I know it sounds like silly advice, but seriously, stop worrying about it!
The stress will be making you feel worse, and you never know what other "illnesses" may develop due to it.
If you are seriously worried about it, go to see this doctor, or even send him an email or something if this is possible, and discuss your worries: he will be able to tell you the likelihood or the unlikleihood (not a real word, i know!) of you contracting Dr Google's diagnosis.
The main thing is: stop using google to diagnose yourself! Seriously, just pack it in!
The stress will be making you feel worse, and you never know what other "illnesses" may develop due to it.
If you are seriously worried about it, go to see this doctor, or even send him an email or something if this is possible, and discuss your worries: he will be able to tell you the likelihood or the unlikleihood (not a real word, i know!) of you contracting Dr Google's diagnosis.
The main thing is: stop using google to diagnose yourself! Seriously, just pack it in!
Do not use google for diagnosing yourself! You could search for sore head related illness' and it would tell you have 17 different diseases.
Anyway your to young to have any form of oral cancer
Posted from TSR Mobile
Posted from TSR Mobile
Thanks for all your advice! I really appreciate it 
I'm a bit of a hypochondriac, you may have noticed! Its just a bit unsettling when doctors don't seem to be able to work out what's going on, and then the big C got involved at it knocked me over the edge! I know Google is the worst think I can do so I'm gonna lay off it. They say misery loves company; the internet is full of people's worst cases. I saw a different ENT for my pre-op consultation yesterday, and he said cancer was very unlikely, especially at my age. I know its becoming more common in younger people as its linked the HPV virus, but he still said the youngest case he'd ever seen was in their 30s. He said it was obviously one thing they had to check for, but he looked and said it was unlikely. So that's positive, I'll try to stop sending myself round the twist now!
I'm a bit of a hypochondriac, you may have noticed! Its just a bit unsettling when doctors don't seem to be able to work out what's going on, and then the big C got involved at it knocked me over the edge! I know Google is the worst think I can do so I'm gonna lay off it. They say misery loves company; the internet is full of people's worst cases. I saw a different ENT for my pre-op consultation yesterday, and he said cancer was very unlikely, especially at my age. I know its becoming more common in younger people as its linked the HPV virus, but he still said the youngest case he'd ever seen was in their 30s. He said it was obviously one thing they had to check for, but he looked and said it was unlikely. So that's positive, I'll try to stop sending myself round the twist now!
The amount of times I've convinced myself I've had lymphoma when I've just had a swollen throat... if the doctors aren't worried, then don't worry yourself! In relation to your operation, good luck. I had my tonsils out last month and I'm all healed so if you need any advice or anything, PM me
Seriously, the likelihood of it being something serious is pretty small, so try not to worry about it! I know from experience that nothing anyone says will stop you worrying, but try not to think about it too much and talk to someone about it, it WILL make you feel better I have chronic migraines and there was a point where I was getting them every day and my doctor and neurologist were really worried about it being cancer, but in the end, it was only down to stress, which shows just how much of an effect it has on your body! Please try not to worry too much, and never use google, it told me that I was dying when I cut my foot! I hope this helps you not to worry too much and sorry for going on too much; I hope it all turns out well for you though
Posted from TSR Mobile
I have chronic migraines and there was a point where I was getting them every day and my doctor and neurologist were really worried about it being cancer, but in the end, it was only down to stress, which shows just how much of an effect it has on your body! Please try not to worry too much, and never use google, it told me that I was dying when I cut my foot! I hope this helps you not to worry too much and sorry for going on too much; I hope it all turns out well for you though Posted from TSR Mobile
(edited 11 years ago)
if you've had tonsilitis a lot your tonsils will be damaged (mine are covered in scars and lumps and bumps from childhood tonsillitis) - like everyone else has said - try not to worry about it too much! There's no point in worrying about something until you know what it is you're worrying about...
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