I tried to put this all behind me, but i still have symptoms. My symptoms are that i feel somthing in my throat and I have a sore throat feeling that seems to come and go. This has been going on for about 21/2 months now. I am down to one local ENT that seems to be very good. Basically he told me that my left lingual tonsil is enlarged. But that he does not see anything that is of major concern to him. I have had three other ENT's scope me and all said they do not see anything that is of major concern. Basically that they do not see a growth or spot or anything to that extent yet. Also, my ct scan of my neck was normal. I am supposed to get a Barium Swallow today to check for Reflux. I have not had a biopsy yet and I am still pondering if I should go that far or not?

All I can say is I wish that all my visits to the ENT, CT scans etc would be "nothing there"

Literally, I would go outside and kiss the sky and breathe in the incredible relief!

For the record, when I got diagnosed with cancer, I had no sore throat, no feeling that there was something there. The only indicator that there was cancer was swollen lymph nodes on my neck.

Truthfully, if I had seen three ENT's and they found nada, zip, nothing, I would be sleeping the sleep of babes.

Count yourself as lucky.

Jen

" He`s Baaaaack "

Dino,

It seems that you'll never be happy unless you get cancer.

Jerry

"All I can say is I wish that all my visits to the ENT, CT scans etc would be "nothing there"

Literally, I would go outside and kiss the sky and breathe in the incredible relief!

For the record, when I got diagnosed with cancer, I had no sore throat, no feeling that there was something there. The only indicator that there was cancer was swollen lymph nodes on my neck.

Truthfully, if I had seen three ENT's and they found nada, zip, nothing, I would be sleeping the sleep of babes.

Count yourself as lucky.

Jen"

I tell you what, as much as it pains me to hear you have to endure this struggle, it sure doesnt put any comfort in me to hear you felt nothing at your time of dx. I go in tomorrow and Ive had everything from hoarseness in my voice on occasion, to occasional soreness in my throat, both my tonsils have been enlarged for over a year, tightness in my neck and a reddish area on my right tonsillar pillar.... yep thats right ladies and gentlemen... common site of presentment... Sigh. Waiting for tomorrow is torture. Theres nothing like thinking that at this time tomorrow my life might well be very different.

Dino if you have gone to all those ENTs then you probably do not need a biopsy. Acid reflux can cause swelling in the throat and many other symptoms including chest pain simular to a heart attack.

When I went to my ENT I was short of breath. I was hoarse but I have been hoarse for ten years after I had some throat surgery in 1994. I never had a sore throat or any other symptoms.

May you find peace,
Barbara~

This is coming from a caregiver who recently lost her mom, due to a misdiagnosis. Get the biopsy or you will never find peace! If u dont get it done then dont come here looking for our sympathy. This disease sucks, u dont want it, Yes there are misdiagnosis, my mom had been seen by her ent since 1993 for scc. First line of treatment was surgery. Several years later she was given the speech of your cancer free. If u havent had a reaccurance by now your cured. She was so happy that day. Only to be diagnosed with stage IV a couple years later. While continued to be seen by her same ent. Get The Biopsy, and then live your life!

While I know there are LOTS of things I don't understand, I'm not afraid to ask a dumb question. If tonsils are causing a problem, why not have them removed and then see what happens? Is this too simplistic ?

I had a barium swallow test on tuesday.....Im not sure what this test is for? I think it is a test for acid reflux? But does this test also show any abnormalities?

I guess im so fixated on this because of my past history of smokeing. I just dont know what else it could be at this point and none of these doctors really have given me a difinitive diagnoses. What I do know is that it has been about 2-1/2 months that I have had my left tonsil enlarged and soar throat pain. Yes...my CT scan did show nothing and I realize that is a good thing. But, from what i read these scans are only as good as the person reading them.

What I dont know is if my tonsil is enlarged...if it was due to cancer...what does that mean? Does it mean there is a tumor there that is enlarging it? Would there be a growth or mass inside the tonsil? Or is it just cancer cells that are irritating it and it is becoming enlarged? Does anyone have any specifics on any of these questions?

Barb is right, acid reflux can cause many of the symptoms you are having. Given your nervousness about all this, it would not surprise me that you have developed these kinds of problems. Surgical removal of something just to eliminate it as a suspect just isn't done. I wouldn't have some part of me, significant or otherwise, removed and go through a surgical procedure which isn't as easy in adults as it is in kinds, without knowing for sure there was a need to. Tonsils become enlarged all the time from regional infections etc. That is not a good indicator of something dangerous by itself. You have now had a lot of tests that have come out negative. Oral cancer right now, even giving your tobacco history, isn't falling into what they are finding. Perhaps your reflux issue will finally put this to rest. I forget from all your posts but I thought I read that you had blood work done in the past which showed no infectious process or elevated white counts that might indicate it. Differential diagnosis is a process of elimination many times, and your moving on to a gastro specialist may be a good thing as it seems that your doctors have eliminated oral cancer.