Hi everyone,

For the past few months I've noticed that one of my tonsils is enlarged and feels bulbous. It feels hard to the touch itself but also feels like there is a harder yet smaller lump inside it. I'm getting quite concerned about it. It isn't enlarged in the way that some describe here (much rounder towards the centre of the mouth etc) but the size and feel is very obvious when touched.

I saw my GP who gave me some antibiotics. The lump didn't go away so I saw an ENT Dr at the hospital a few weeks ago. He had a look which included putting a scope just at the tip of my throat so he could see down it. He wouldn't touch the lump as he said it looked fine but also because of Coronavirus. The problem, or my concern, is that you have to touch it to feel that it's enlarged or at least hard and not like the other side. I've also started to have some ear ache on the same side which comes and goes. No sore throat. But my voice is sometimes a bit huskier than normal. But that also comes and goes.

Ive tried to get in touch with the hospital again but they've just added me to a list and can't tell me when I'll see anyone.

Back story - I'm a 33 year old male smoker (10 cigarettes/half a pack per day for 2 - 3 years). In my early to mid twenties I suffered from moderate to severe bouts of Ulcerative Colitis. For the past few years I have been symptom free and UC doesn't tend to effect the mouth anyway.

What could this be? As I'm here I'm obviously worried that it could be cancer. And of course Googling 'one enlarged tonsil and ear ache' seems to always loop back to the big C being mentioned.

I'm quite worried overall and it's now constantly on my mind. Not really sure what to do anymore as my GP has said that outside of antibiotics further investigations or treatment would be via the hospital.

Am I worrying over nothing?