Tonsil Cancer? Am i fooling Myself?

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Hi Everyone.

First post here so really hoping for some advice. I saw ENT after a 2 week referral Friday. I honestly wasn't expecting anything to come of it and nearly cancelled. Dr looked in my mouth, i have a swollen right tonsil, and instantly said he was concerned. He took 3 biopsies right there, and used a camera to look up my nose/down throat. Hes sending me for MRI and CT scan and said the lump will be cut out.

Now, am i fooling myself in thinking hes just being on the safe side?. Im 42, a heavy smoker, and ive already had bladder cancer in 2015. I did quit, but started again after a family tragedy.

If it is tonsil cancer, then it is!. But only symptom has been bit of a sore throat. No lump in neck. Although the lump is quite large and kind of solid.

Im a single parent to 4, and my youngest is 6 and has severe learning dissabilities. She needs a lot of care. He Dad was killed in a hit and run last Aprill and we are still coming to terms with that. Anyway, it was the Drs obvious concern that worried me.

  • Hi vic1969 welcome to the group. The ENT consultant is doing all the tests he needs so he knows exactly what is going on. Then it will be decided the best treatment, if any is needed, let's hope not. However, if it does turn out to be cancer, be assured that these types of cancer, respond very well to the treatment, with very high cure rates. Stick with us, and ask any questions you have. Sorry to hear about the family tragedy.

    Ray.

  • Thanks for your reply. As everyone says, its the waiting that gets you!. What is your experience of timescales after a biopsy? Couple of weeks maybe?.

  • Yes a couple of weeks, is about the time scale for biopsies and tests.

  • Great, thank you. I forgot to ask when i was there!

  • Hi Vic. 
    Ray is spot on. I’m afraid it’s just a waiting game. I really hope it’s not cancer but your ENT consultant has to check. 
    If it is cure rates are in excess of 90%.  
    If you haven’t heard about the biopsy in two weeks, chase it up. 

    Dani 

    Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019

    I wrote a blog about my cancer. just click on the link below 

    https://todaymycoffeetasteslikechristmasincostarica.com 

    Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm

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  • Brilliant, thanks for your reply. Daft question, but why would they do a CT, MRI and surgery to remove the tonsil if ive had biopsies? Wouldn't those give the answer first?

  • They are looking for the extent of a possible cancer. Sometimes the cancer is bigger than you can visualise. Often tonsil cancer spreads to lymph nodes so they have to be checked too. 
    They check your chest with CT as well. 
    I had cancer in the tonsils at the base of my tongue rather than the throat. 
    They didn’t find any nodal spread so I avoided chemo. 
    They HAVE to check your chest though it is extremely rare for tonsil cancer to spread there. 
    I had two chest nodules but not cancerous. 

    Dani 

    Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019

    I wrote a blog about my cancer. just click on the link below 

    https://todaymycoffeetasteslikechristmasincostarica.com 

    Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm

    Community Champion badge
  • Daft question

    Nothing is daft! You just ask away. Please leave Google alone though. It’s full of information that is alarmist and a lot of it out of date. 

    Dani 

    Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019

    I wrote a blog about my cancer. just click on the link below 

    https://todaymycoffeetasteslikechristmasincostarica.com 

    Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm

    Community Champion badge
  • Hi Vic

    T2N1M0 tonsil cancer   Diagnosed Feb 2023

    Hopefully it will be benign....On the plus side if it is tonsil cancer they have caught it and treatment can be started....positive out comes for 90% of  Tonsil cancer HPV-positive cases....try to keep Google to a minimum....use Macmillan, NHS etc.

    Best of luck

    Peter

  • Thanks Peter. Its def hard to stay away from Dr Google, but i will. Im the type of person who just wants the answer so i can get on with it haha!