HPV tonsil cancer at 26?

Hello,

I know no one can medically diagnose here but I wanted to share my symptoms and experiences. 

Ever since 2017, I've had this sensation of something being stuck in my throat, I only really noticed it when swallowing funnily enough, water and eating almost alleviated this sensation. I also noticed a declien in my hearing in the right ear, almost muffled. I also had throat irritation as well, no pain, just allergy-like irritation. 

My main conern (and to this day) is HPV tonsil cancer. My nodes feel slightly enlarged, under my jaw, and they're not painful to touch. Anyway, to cut a long story short, I was up and down at my GP's explaining my concerns but I we just couldn't get to the bottom of my symptoms. I was offered (after a bit of a fight) an ultrasound for the lymph node, and the result was one small lymph node at 0.9mm I think, that wasn't investigated any further. 

Nothing was said of my tonsils. I was given antibiotics which didn't really do anything, and omeprazol as it was thought this irritation was caused by GIRD or acid reflux. Again, I took the medication but nothing changed and my symptoms persisted. I was then referred to ENT, but again, no answers were given and I still didn't have an explanation for my symptoms. I had a camera up my nose and nothing significant was found apart from a bit of 'swelling' but nothing more was said of that. 

I was constantly being told I was worrying for nothing by GP's, going insane by friends and family, but I know my body more than anyone and I just continue to feel something isn't right. I essentitally spent the next 2 years trying to 'ignore' these symptoms and put this all out of my mind, but NOTHING has gotten better. I've looked at my tonsils and it does look like there's a small lump at the bottom of my right tonsil but none of the GP's picked up on this.

I also now have a small lymph node on the top left of my collar bone which I've heard isn't good news. I'm just now petrified I still have this HPV tonsil cancer in me and it's just been growing. That's what the irrational side of my brain is telling me but I've heard this cancer is very aggressive and makes lymph nodes swell up very quickly and large (none of my nodes are big), so surely if it was HPV tonsil cancer, I wouldn't even be here right now typing this 2 years after?! 

I have a GP appointment on Saturday and the ENT did say if I'm still having problems I can go back but it's just so difficult because I don't know what tests I need to put my mind at ease, a biopsy? A PET Scan? CT Scan? This whole ordeal has affected my life majorly and I'm a shell of my former self, and I really just want to move on with my life but just can't with these symptoms still persisting. Has anyone else had anything similar or unfortunately been diagnosed with this cancer and had similar symptoms? I'd like to think the time frame means I'm most likely okay, in that I'm still the same 2 years after, but I'm not feeling any better. 

If you've read this, thanks so much for taking the time to read, and for anyone fighting this horrible disease you have my upmost respect. 

  • Hello Worried26

    Just wanted to drop you a message ahead of your appointment tomorrow to say I hope that you're able to get some reassurance. 

    Sometimes it can be helpful to write down all the things that have happened and what your concerns are and take the list to the appointment with you. That way hopefully you won't forget to mention anything. Do make sure that you explain to your GP just how much this has impacted on your life and the level of anxiety it is causing for you. 

    I hope things imrpove for you soon. 

    Best wishes, 
    Jenn
    Cancer Chat moderator