Hi guys
I'm a 32 year old female. After having a lumpy sensation and lots of mucous in my throat for a while, I was referred to ENT. The scoped my nose/throat and nothing was found.
I mentioned my tonsils, both have been up for a while and one is barely there, the other is walnut size. He had a look twice, once saying normal, then after another look he said 'pretty normal' and asked me to book in again for 3 months time.
I don't know how long this tonsil has been bigger....or if they suspect something is wrong. I have read that they can't tell without removing them which I am scared of.
Other symptoms are a pea sized node either side of my neck and swelling under my jaw. He felt all over and didn't seem concerned. Slight earache and jaw pain....not really bad and not all the time.
I am concerned. He was a GP who practices ENT from a clinic, rather than solely ENT like in a hospital.
I've got a gut feeling something is wrong and either he won't know or can't be sure.
I'm so scared of tonsil cancer as I stupidly have been reading DR Google. I'm also a big girl and don't just want them taken out as I'm scared of operations and being put out.
Is there any other way of calming me? Any way to know for sure this isn't tonsil cancer??!
My DR only referred me to ENT to keep me quiet...you could have a leg falling off and they'd say you're fine :/
The anxiety is destroying me. I can't even get out of bed :(
Just to give you a bit of info. My partner was diagnosed with tonsil cancer - it didn't cause any sore throat but the GP saw an enlarged tonsil - and also a node about 1" on same side of this neck. A fine needle aspiration of the node gave the diagnosis. The fact that both sides are swollen seem to indicate infection to me (but I am no medical expert). I think you will only really be reassured if you get a referral to a consultant ENT at hospital.
I agree with ackers, it could be an infection and if you are not happy with the Dr you have seen then you need to ask for a second opinion. My mum has throat cancer (not tonsils) and this was diagnosed firstly by a camera down her throat, followed by a PET scan and then a biopsy to confirm. Mum had been getting a lot of ear pain and could feel a slight swelling in her throat. I think the only way to stop you from worrying is to ask for a second opinion and then you will know for sure, let us know how it all goes, take care Tusk x
It's the difference in size that worries me. Although the small one was apparently swollen 2 when I saw a nurse the other week. ENT was yesterday.
The node is only small...about 1cm and a nurse said if you have to go looking for it, it's fine.
I've had the mucous from about 7 months and phlegm had been yellow....with a slight chest wheeze which I had antibiotics for. The yellow phlegm remained though :(
I would ask for a second opinion if I were you. It does however, sound very much like infection that could be causing it but I am not a Dr. I know when the consultants look with the camera they can often tell if it looks like anything nasty so to speak but not always. The only way of knowing is to push for a second opinion. Tusk x
Hello Ishy. I would recommend that for peace of mind you seek a second opinion, it's always best to get these things checked out. It could well be that you have an infection and antibiotics may sort it out, but as you are worried and have the ' gut feeling ' then don't let it pass by ... ask to see a specialist ENT Consultant again.
Oh, and don't rely on Dr Google as some of the stuff is irrelevant and out of date ... if you have to check then use a reliable site like Macmillan or Cancer Research UK.
I understand how scary this is and you will feel so stressed out with worry, but we are all here to help and support you x
I do have health anxiety but feel like something is being missed. I've never trusted my GP surgery and I feel like the ENT GP didn't really look that well or listen. I guess I will need to go back to my GP and ask for a referral for a second opinion.
My husband will go mad as he hates that I get like this and he thought it was all over.
I understand I shouldn't google, but I stumbled on this site last night which made me worry....would be great to hear of how people were diagnosed. I'm not convinced a quick look is enough. Plus I kept on gagging from the wooden stick thing...he barely had time to see. The camera obviously went down my throat but no light or camera was used to check tonsil :(
I felt relief for so of 5 minutes now panicking again x
Do asymmetrical tonsils always mean cancer? Can they tell just by looking that I'm fine? Should I push for them to be taken out even though I'm scared?
Hello again Ishy. I quite understand your worries and it is so easy to get carried away with thoughts of having cancer ,,, but in all honesty the only person who can really help is a Consultant. I tend to feel that unless you get a second opinion you won't be able to be at peace - however, he should know what he was looking for and if there was any doubt at all then he would have had a biopsy done ? That is the only sure way of diagnosing any cancer.
Quite often these things do turn out to be harmless but I understand the need to make sure. So take deep breaths and try to calm down ... ask for that second referral if it helps x
Hi Ishy32, I don't have cancer but my brother has throat cancer and has been undergoing treatment.
He was told by his GP that his swollen neck, large swelling on one side, was his glands and nothing to worry about. After 3 visits over 12 months( and after my sister was finally diagnosed with lung cancer after being treated for asthma) he pushed for a second opinion and had his tonsils removed but the cancer had spread to his neck. Now he has had 6 weeks of RT and Chemo and we hope that he will be Ok.
Please don't accept what your GP tells you .I have had 2 family members misdiagnosed and lost my sister in June just 3 months after she finally had an x ray and they found the shadow on her lung.
Perhaps we would have had a better outcome if they had found this earlier instead of telling her she had asthma !
Don't want to scare you and your problem might not be serious, but get a second opinion.
I was told they don't biopsy as it bleeds too much so they just take them out.
As scared as I am, I will do everything I need to. Going to my GP tomorrow to ask for a referral for a 2nd opinion. Even if I have to pay for it xx
