1 enlarged tonsil and 1 side of my neck is very swollen can’t differentiate between glands and lymph nodes

It all started was before I had my son. My son is currently 5 months old. It started in around 2019 I got tonsillitis and the one tonsil was obvisouly more effected that the other. Ever since my tonsil never went back down and there is a clear enlargement compared to the left. Been back and forth from the doctors when it inflames and gets infected. Just left with antibiotics. Fast forward I became pregnant with my son 2024, still having this 1 enlarged tonsil I started doing my research and everything boils down to tonsillar cancer. I pushed it to the side as had a very traumatic pregnancy and birth. But since having my son my tonsil has still stayed the same but a lot of wholes and bumps and lumps have formed. I’ve started to have severe anxiety attacks working myself up about it. I’ve got an appointment with my ent for urgent suspected cancer. People keep saying to keep calm if it was cancer they would’ve seen in my bloods/scans whilst pregnant. Even though I’d like to keep up with that thought. I can help but feel I’m in borrowed time. My appointment with the ent is Monday. I’m just hoping all goes well. And trying to see if anyone else has experienced this or anything similar, and what the outcome of their condition was? 
thankyou in advance

  • Hi Privpidge123, 

    I just wanted to wish you the best of luck for your appointment tomorrow. I hope it all goes well for you. It sounds like you have had these issues for a while now and that it was initially triggered by the tonsillitis and it must have been rather stressful to have had to go back and forth to the doctor's when it would get inflamed and infected. I can completely understand why it left you feeling anxious when it would not go away when you got pregnant in 2024 and doing online research often doesn't help as it will always give you the worst case - and least likely - scenarios and make you worry unnecessarily. I think it's best not to anticipate the worst if you can but I think you were right after you had your baby to try and find out more about this persistent enlarged tonsil. I think it's normal that you are finding it difficult to keep calm despite what people around you are saying but keep away if you can from anything that will exacerbate your anxiety and make you fear the worst possible outcomes when in  reality all you can do is take one day at a time and wait for the results and a diagnosis. I think it's good that you will see the ENT specialist tomorrow and hopefully they will give you a clearer idea of what to expect and what the next steps might be. 

    Waiting for answers is not easy and it must be nerve-racking for you as this has been going on for so long that you must be desperate for a bit of clarity. It might take a little bit more time to find out what is going on so I thought I would share with you these helpful tips to help you cope while waiting for important news. 

    I hope that you will hear from other members of our community who have experienced something similar and I will let them come and say hello and share their story with you. 

    Best wishes, 

    Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator