Hey Dino,

I have read MANY of your posts and have yet to reply. I am no expert, but I am a patient who has done much research, and I also work in healthcare. I am glad that you have tried to put this behind you. I see you are considering a biopsy. If I am not mistaken, it seems you said you've had biopsies in the past...all negative. You have been seen by many specialists, none of whom suspect cancer. You state that the main reason for your concern is because you smoked. Genearally (not always), smoking leads to cancer in the 6th or 7th decade of life, if I recall, you are much younger than that. I am very glad to hear that you quit. Many (not all) are preceeded by a precancerous lesions that can be detected by a thorough oral examination. It sounds like you have had plenty of those. Granted, there are some cases that remain asymptomatic until later stages, you do not seem to be at any great risk. My cancer (a Stage II) was very obvious. I had a 2 cm lesion (sore), that felt somewhat like a burn/blister on the lingual surface of my lower gum (beneath my molar. It was there for a while before it was dx'd as cancer. I was truly blessed that I was only a Stage II. As many people have stated, many, many things can cause a swollen tonsil. It does not sound like cancer is a concern in your case. I have had several biopsies, and, I don't know about you, I don't enjoy getting my mouth cut up...AT ALL! However, if this will give you peace of mind...please have the biopsy, move on and enjoy your life. Useless worry gets us nowhere, and could cause us to feel symptoms when there is nothing wrong. Best of luck to you, and hopefully you will be able to put this to rest in the near future for your sanity's sake.

Take care!

Dino, I am waiting to go to hospital to have a biopsy because my dentist found something that he thought might be cancer and sent me to an oral surgeon who thinks it needs a biopsy. I feel fine, fit as a fiddle, can't even see the thing that they are worried about myself. I was a sufferer of tonsillitis during my teens though and that was a different story. I was chronically ill. Of course it is important to consult a doctor or dentist if you are concerned about something, and to follow up on any treatment or procedures that they recommend .... but as people keep saying, there are many, many causes for these symptoms that are not cancer. I will pray that neither you nor I do have it. I am truly inspired by the people on this forum, but I do not want to have cancer myself.

I received the results from my Barium Swallow test. Im more confused know then before. It says they compared this test on 6/28/05 to the prior ct scan on 5/5/05. The Impression reads. 1.) Moderate gastroesphageal reflux. 2. Possible slight enlargement of the palatine tonsils. 3. Otherwise unremarkable exam of the hypopharynx and esophagus.

Prior to this test the ENT said that my left lingual tonsil was enlarged and know this report says my palitine tonsils are slightly enlarged. This is the first that I heard of this. The ENT said he thinks this is from reflux and told me to see a GI doctor. I asked him if a biopsy would be in line to rule out cancer. He said that he did not see anything to biopsy.

Are the enlarged tonsils reason enough for me to have a biopsy? Given my past history of smoking and drinking.

What or where would you like them to biopsy? A biopsy is a specific removal of suspect tissue from a specific area. It is usually VERY small in sample size, sometimes only a few cells. The odds that if they took a random piece of your tonsile that they woud even get something (assuming it was there in the first place) is very small. I sent you a private email not long ago explaining the issue of enlarged tonsiles and lymph tissues as a normal function of the body dealing with common infections and irritations. It is likely time to let this idea of biopsy go and follow the recommendations of the doctors that you are seeing.

Dino, I know how frustrating it can be to see multiple health care professionals, especially if they are dismissing your very real fears.

This being said, I went to 4 GP's in my local neighborhood who all dismissed me.

Finally I saw a big city ENT who was a totally different type of medcine.

ENT's are trained to spot cancers in the earliest stages...

I've seen 7 of them in the last 30 days.

They are all professional, honest and if anything, error on the side of caution.

If you seen one or more ENT's I would rest assured that if something was wrong they'd have found it.

You know the way my first ENT found the primary was be FEELING the tonsil. Not CT's, etc. Touching it.

Did yours do this kind of physical exam too?

You know we really are our own worst enemy sometimes. You need to relax and not assume the worst...

Be well...Michael

I went to a head and neck cancer specialist at Memorial Sloan Kettering in NYC.

His report states he did do a physical exam.

The part of this report reads -

Examination of the oropharynx reveals tonsilliths more prominent in the left tonsil. This was cleared. No other lesions are identified in the tonsil or base of tongue region by visualization and palpation.

Im not to sure what all that means?

I think it means you do not have Oral Cancer. Clearly, you are not seeing the appropriate health care provider! This entire posting has become an insult to everyone here that has fought to survive this cancer. You should be ashamed of yourself at this point.

Glenn
New York

Well said, Glenn. People here have demonstrated compassion and patience. Time to find another place to get attention, Dino. You have a life. Live it and be well.

Amen and Amen. Amy

Dino,

Tonsililiths are accumulations of bacteria and tissue that collect in the crypts of your tonsils. If they get large enough, you can feel them rubbing on the back of your throat or on the back of your tongue. They can irritate your tonsil, make it become enlarged, give you a sore throat, bad breath and a terrible taste in your mouth. There is no treatment for them except to remove the tonsiliths when they occur, which usually happens when you sneeze, or cough. I have been dealing with tonsiliths long before I got oral cancer and ever since I was diagnosed. One has nothing to do with the other but I believe that many of your symptoms can be explained by the presence of tonsiliths. They are a real pain the the neck (or tonsil) but they are not cancer nor do they cause cancer. You may be able to see them poking out of your tonsil the next time your symptoms flare up. They are white/yellow chunky balls. They can be big or small but at any size they are gross. I hope this information helps you relax.

Barb