Hello everyone,

I'm so glad I came across this thread. I am going through this at the moment. My right tonsil is so much bigger than my left and a very odd shape like it has 2 bulbous floors/layers and weird holes and slits in it. I used to suffer with tonsillitis alot and tonsil stones, so my tonsils have always been cryptic and large from my late teens, but the right side is now so big and seems to have gotten larger over time and I can feel it in the back of my throat all the time. I visited the GP today who has referred me to an ENT, she says it doesn't look like a cancer, but she's never seen it before, she felt for swollen lymph nodes, but said there are not any that she could feel. I'm so worried, I'm 30 years and am now fearing the worst. I did google my symptoms and tonsil cancer seems to be the only thing that crops up. I suffer with anxiety anyway and now the anxiety of this is taking over my life. Anyone had any experience like this. I'm so frightened and just fearing the worst. Sorry for long rambling post. 

Hi Mojo, 
As you would have read from this thread, there are soo many examples of this, where it turns out not to be Cancer. That gave me a lot of hope when I was at my lowest. (and I was low, crying myself to sleep thinking I was going to die etc.). 

The worry really doesn't help you at all. You are doing all of the right things by going to your GP, going to the ENT. Just make sure you keep on top of the appointments and call them if you need to double check any dates so that you dont miss anything. (I nearly missed my MRI as I needed a blood test before hand, which I didnt realise until two days before the MRI was due). 

If you have already had the ENT tell you it doesn't look like Cancer, take that as a good sign. Let the tests do their thing and then you can find out whats really going on and they will be able to help. The medicine available in this day and age is amazing. My mum worked at a Cancer centre in London and she was not worried at all when I told her about my situation. She sees more and more people surviving and being Cancer free. Its no longer a life ending condition as it used to be. Just another illness that needs to be treated early.

Please do try not to worry about it, as it will make you actually unwell! also, within your age bracket the actual likelihood of you having throat cancer is incredibly low (at least that is what I was told and I am 37). 

Best of luck and keep us posted. 

Nando  

Hi Mojo & Nando,

I completely agree with NandoUK - I made a previous post on this forum and it did help me with the waitng game. My advice is to stay off Google it only made me stress out. 
I finally have an update on myself as to my concern. Went to see the ENT today and he's confident that my swollen tonsil is an infection, but unsure to what extremes and to cover all bases he took a sample of my tonsil to be sent off to check for cancer (not nice, but quick procedure). 
I explained that I have an issue with my nose (had this problem for about 8-10 years) and not breathing well in the right side and finally I have a diagnosis that I have a deviated septum that no amount of nasal spray will resolve, so this means an operation on the septum - This could be an underlying cause of why I get so many tonsil infections and the cause of the current issue. 

I will keep you updates on what the reuslts show, but i'm less anxious about it being cancerous. So just occupy yourself and stay off google until you can attend your appointments :)

I am freaking out like most people here.. maybe anyone had anything similar? I have slightly enlarged tonsil on one side with absolutely no other symptoms. I wasn't ill recently, now pains, can't feel any lumps. Going to urgent care tomorrow. But really worried, mostly because my husband is fighting Lymphoma now. Maybe anyone could possibly tell me what else might it be? I noticed enlarged tonsil about 2 weeks ago and I am 32

Hi there im new here 

 i just seen some few chats about tonsils so i thought i write about mine if theres any advice pls leme no down below.

 i have tonsils on both side on one side is big and its got couple of tonsil stones and on the other side its spreading its a bit small n also my tonge is hurting i cant eat its hard for me to talk my jaw is hurting i cant breath properly around my mouth area it feek itchiness also tonsil effect my ears i have been taking antibiotics and ive been garling warm water with salt but this has been for a week now but the pain is the same just those tonsils r red fat is there anything i can do i did before go to couple of docters to get my tonsil checked but docs said its fine just take para youll get better but this has never happen to me before its much worser ive got sore throat tonge is hurting hard to eat hard to swollow its everything tbh wid u, i want to go docters n get it checked but due to covid i dont think they wil let me in as u know appoiments r thru calls now so i thought i tell u my side if theres anything or like any advice can you please let me no asap 

       Thankyou For Your Time

Hi all, 

I too am very happy that I found this chat page. Like others I have found something concerning. My left tonsil is red and huge. I had tonsillitis constantly as a child but even though my mum pushed and pushed they wouldn't take them out. As I got older I've had quinseys, which are quite nasty. For the last few months I've noticed my left gland is enlarged but I don't know how long it's been like this. This time last year I had a breast cancer scare and gallbladder surgery. I'm hoping with lots of medical people looking down my throat a year ago they would have spotted something.

I went to the gp who has referred me to ENT, they have contacted me and I have a phone appointment in 5 days. I'm very worried, I have a 4 and 2 year old and last year I found Christmas was ruined with worrying about breast cancer and surgery. I have read many chat forums today and even if I get the worst news it is nice to know there are others who share and support. 

Hello,

This forum is very reassuring but still I'm worried! 
I went to the dentist for a routine check up last week and she asked if I had a sore throat. I said no. She said that one of my tonsils was really enlarged! I thought nothing of it but then googled and got myself into a right panic. I rung my dentist back and she said that she didn't see any sign of pathology but she was going to get her senior dentist to look at it when I go back on Monday. But she said it was worth me going to GP.

I rung GP and they said it was nothing to worry about but they didn't ask to see any pictures. I have literally no symptoms apart from occasional sore throats? I am really worried so if anyone has advice that would be greatly appreciated! 
claudia x

Hi Claudia, 

It's such a horrible situation. If you are really worried see the doctor and ask for an ent referral or contact your dentist as they can refer you if you are concerned. It is worth doing if it is a constant worry.

Hello.

I know it's horrible! I have a dentist appointment on Monday and she is going to ask her senior to come look at it. 
I hope you're feeling okay? Do u have any updates? 
 

thank you so much for replying xx
 

I had my phone ent consultation (bit of a waste of time as I want someone to see it) was told it would be very rare if it is sinister as I'm a woman and relatively young. As I am very anxious about it he said he would see me. I heard nothing for a week so I chased it, unfortunately I had been forgotten but one phone call to the consultants secretary and I have an appointment for Tuesday.

Hopefully when the senior dentist looks that will put your mind at rest. If it doesn't though push to get a referral to ENT. I was worried about wasting people's time but when I think of some people who have drunken fights or do stunts on motorbikes where they get injured, I'm not bothered anymore.