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One tonsil enlarged - definitely cancer??

SSH
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Hi everyone,

First of all I've tried to make this as short as possible and I know only a doctor can tell us for certain, but I really want some reassurance that it might not be cancer so I don't completely breakdown everday over the next two weeks. 

My husband has had issues with a painless lump in his throat since before we met (nearly six years ago). He said it gets better and worse sometimes, but never completely goes away. Twice it has become so large it effected his breathing and he went to the doctor, and both times he was prescribed some antibiotics that made things better but it would always come back. He was also told one tonsil was larger than the other, but that it wasn't worrying. 

Fast forward to now. He has had some issues since we've been together with the lump making him cough at lot beacuse it's irritating his throat (his words!), but in general it has been pushed to the back of my mind. However, a few months ago I noticed my husband was sort of wheezing when he breathed out (breathing in is fine, as is eating) and I have been begging him to go to the doctor about it. He was relutant at first becuase he siad it had been worse than this before, but he finally agreed and we went to the doctor yesterday. 

The doctor commented that, again, one tonsil was much larger than the other and he wasn't sure what it was. He didn't think it was anything to be worried about because of how long he had had it and he wasn't really in an 'at risk' group (he's in his early 40's, no family history and doesn't smoke or drink heavily), but he gave him an urgent referral to an ENT. I panicked when I heard that, but my husband said it wasn't because he was overly concernced and it was just so we wouldn't have to wait months to be seen. He should have a throat scan (? sorry, don't know the correct word!) within two weeks. 

I am so so scared. I have had awful issues with health anxiety in the past and would use Dr Google for everything (I know I shouldn't) - I'm pretty sure I ended up diagnosing myself and my husband with every type of cancer out there! It got really bad and I was barely sleeping so I completely banned myself from Googling anything, which made things a lot better. However, last night I couldn't help myself and every single post about one tonsil being englarged (without pain) said it was tonsil cancer.

I can usualy talk myself out of panicking, but at the moment my conversations are just going: 

"The doctor said it was almost certainly nothing" - "But then why give an urgernt referral" - "To save us waiting months to be seen, he was a great doctor" - "But one tonsil larger than the other without pain is always cancer, he was just being nice and trying to stop you worrying becuase he knows in two weeks he'll be diagnosed with cancer" - "Even if it is cancer it can be treated, remember all the stories online about people who got better" - "Well it's been over six years, it's clearly going to have spread everywhere by now" - ect...

I'm sorry for going on so much. I know only the doctors can tell us for certain what it is, but does it HAVE to be cancer? I can't find anything else other than cancer for his symptoms and I just can't stop worrying. Is there anything else this could be? If it's cancer we'll deal with it, but these next two weeks are going to destory me if I don't have a tiny ray of hope that it might be something less serious. 

Thanks for reading :( 

Parents
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    hi SSH, just wanted to ask how's everything going now? Are you doing fine now and did the doctors find out what the issue was?

  • Offline in reply to nideba

    Hi! I was surprised to get an email about a reply on this post almost two years later :)

     

    My husband had the MRI and it didn't look like anything sinister, but the doctor offered to remove the tonsils to biopsy to double check and to allow my husband to be able to breathe normally again. We said yes to that and about a year later he had them out. The biopsy came back as 'reactive lymphoid tissue', which wasn't dangerous. Besides a heamorrage leading to ambulance ride and a stay in resus, everything is fine now. I'm glad he had them out as he can breathe again and we know it is nothing to worry over anymore. 
     

    Hoping anyone coming across this will find some comfort in that!

  • Offline in reply to Noodle90

    Hi, 

     

    how did you get on? My husband is due to have his tonils out on Tuesday due to one being larger than the other. No other concerns or symptoms. It was recognised by a dentist in hospital when he had wisdom teeth removed so was referred to an ENT. Wishing you well. Thanks 

  • Offline in reply to cassie1337

    Hi everyone,

    Reading this forum has been really helpful for me.

    I am early 20s and for over a month have had a very large left tonsil. Was given antibiotics but a month later and my tonsil is still as big if not bigger. Feel like it could be food getting stuck in it? However GP said that's not what happens and tonsil stones are not food but pus from an infection. I cannot see any tonsil stones though.

    Have now sent photos to GP and waiting to hear back, they are very understaffed at the moment so its taking ages. My throat has become sore and uncomfortable again on the left side as well as my ear.

    Hoping to get an appointment to see a GP in real life tomorrow. I may ask for possibility of a referral to ENT, however feel like they will jusy give me antibiotics again.

    Thanks again everyone for your posts. Hope you are all doing ok?

  • Offline in reply to cassie1337

    Hi there,

    Hope all went well with your husband's tonsil removal?

  • Offline in reply to Noodle90

    Noodle, 

    Can you please give us an update on your biopsy results? I came across your post and it sounds very much like my wife's case and I would like to know what happened. Thanks.

  • Offline in reply to ella222

    Hi, 

    it went well thank you. 
     

    he was in lots of pain day 4-7, the worse pain he's ever had but was warned by the nurse it would be the most painful stage. 
     

    we are actually still waiting results. We will have to chase as he was told would be sent within 4 weeks and he had his surgery the end of May. I'm hoping no news is good news. 
     

     

  • Offline in reply to cassie1337

    Hi, 

    I hope everyone is well. I never thought I'd find myself posting on one of these forums but here I am. I often read them in search for answers but today I had to post because of the reassurance it has given me reading all the previous stories. 

    I went to the doctor about a nasal issue as I feel my nasal passages are quite narrow resulting in snoring and a constant stuffy nose. I didn't expect the GP to say she was concerned about the size of one of my tonsils. 

     

    My left tonsil is enlarged and since this finding I have a feeling of something being stuck in my throat all the time along with a hoarse/croaky voice (like when you wake up in the morning) which hasn't gone away. 

     

    I had tonsillitis in mid November,  recovered after a course of penicillin then a month later had a painful sore throat for about 2 and a half weeks with no other symptoms. I was then prescribed amoxicillin which seemed to clear it up. However since then the above symptoms started and haven't gone away. Now headaches have started and the occasional ear pain. 

     

    Just like a few of you I am notorious for relying on Dr Google which never ever helps. However after days and days of looking online there seems to be no other option of what this could be apart from tonsil or throat cancer.

     

    I have just turned 36 and have 2 children under 5. I am going out of my mind with worry and have developed anxiety recently too. I feel so detached from reality and can't seem to get on with daily life whilst this is hanging over me. 

    I will be going for a blood test tomorrow and have also been referred urgently to ENT for a possible biopsy. 

     

    Trying to be hopeful after reading all the positive outcomes on here.

  • Offline in reply to SeptemberSun

    Hey, 

    im sorry you have this worry at the moment. If it helps to reassure you my husband has his removed completely as one was a lot larger than the other and they came back all clear. 
     

    wishing you the best! 

  • Offline in reply to SeptemberSun

    I was 36 when I had mine out (2 years back), with one child and pregnant wife. It only too easy to speak now, but I'd say take one step at a time - the rate of incidence in our age group is pretty low:

    www.cancerresearchuk.org/.../incidence

    I wish you all the best and look up!

  • Offline in reply to cassie1337

    Thank you so much for your well wishes. So glad to hear your husband got the all clear! 

     

    Keeping everything crossed for myself now! 

  • Offline in reply to ONO

    Thank you so much for the reassurance. Hoping for the best! 

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