I'm sorry to hear that you or someone you care about has been diagnosed with tonsil cancer. It's understandable that you might have some questions about treatment.
We have information about treating tonsil cancer on our website that may be helpful. I'm going to tag in one of our regular members RadioactiveRaz, aka Hazel who has been through treatment for HPV+ tonsil cancer and has shared lots of helpful posts about her journey in the different posts she has made on the forum. I'm sure she will pop along when she gets the chance.
In the meantime, if you'd like to talk things through with one of our team of nurses you're welcome to give them a call. I know they will be happy to listen and offer any advice, information and support they can. They're available Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm on 0808 800 4040.
I it’s rare for tonsils to be taken out unless they have been biopsy. The normal treatment for terms of cancer is radiotherapy and if lymph nodes are infect affected chemotherapy I’m now eight years post treatment for HPV driven tonsil cancer. The only surgery I had was a biopsy on my right tonsil to determine the staging of the Cancer. if tonsils are taken out the recovery time is around about 10 to 12 days first couple of days usually okay then the next from what I understand quite painful but you wouldn’t be given strong painkillers and do advise you to take them
Hi Elaine. The biopsy informed the status of my cancer that is was squamous cells as the fine needle biopsy for my lump. Also the cancer was caused by hpv virus which does have an effect on the final results. As hpv driven cancers respond differently to non hpv to treatment and they can target.my biopsy caused me no issues at all I wasn’t in pain. I went inti theatre at 1-30 pm hkne by 7 on abs ate *** and oral soup that night. Took a codeine that evening but no urged pain relief. what are they saying.
plus they got the staging from biopsy which aided the treatment pathway.
Im getting little and contradictory information depending on what Dr from the consultants team i see. ( I haven't actually met consultant)
On the first visit Dr said tonsils were A symmetrical, had camera to look at back of tonsils. Advised that consultant may suggest having tonsils out, she said if they weren't bothering me then not to have them out. She wasn't overly concerned, however requested MRI, which I had a week later.
I went back to clinic and saw a differant Dr who examined me and said i had stone and or cyst on the left (i thought it was the right)but was unaware I had been for MRI until I asked for results of MRI. Having looked at MRI he left the room and came back with the lady Dr who had seen me first and requested MRI. They both said cancer and the suggested way forward was to have both tonsils out.
I went for a pre op assessment today and they said the MRI showed a mass, not necessarily cancer. A letter from consultant who i assume has looked at MRI stated I had a mass on one tonsil and maybe have a biopsy first and then surgery to remove one tonsil.
None of this has been discussed with me.
I am trying to contact medical secretary to request copies of MRI report and letter from consultant.
HimElaine no problem. Yes I see there’s contradictions all way round. I had a lump in my neck hence the fine needle biopsy which showed cancer cells then it was a case of mri and ct scan with contrast which clearly showed cancer cells the biopsy confirmed i was HPV postive I then had a pet ct scan to check for metastasis which I didn’t have apart from to Lymph nodes. Are you at a cancer centre or just a local hospital ? Yiu can ask for a 2nd opionion
let me know how yiu get on it’s perturbing for them to say cancer without having a biopsy If it’s any consolation over 99% of refferals are not cancer
