Caregiver Intro - 01-17-2017 06:19 PM
Hi everyone! I've learned so much reading through the posts on this forum -- thank you for sharing!
My 21 year-old son may have tonsil cancer and the ENT would like to perform a tonsillectomy ASAP. We have a second opinion appointment tomorrow with a different ENT. I am trying to figure out the best next steps for a diagnosis.
Background: My son developed a sore throat about two weeks before Christmas. He feels like there is something caught on the left side of his throat. He's lost 5 pounds due to pain with eating and swallowing He was diagnosed with strep (no swab or cultures) and a double ear infection on 12/26. Antibiotics cleared up the ears but not the throat, so a new antibiotic was prescribed, but that was not effective either.
On Friday the ENT said both tonsils looked enlarged and craggy and infected, with the left much larger than the right. He listed several non-malignant issues that could be the cause, but was also concerned about cancer because of the asymmetrical size. He did not swab, scope, or use any mirrors during the exam. He recommended a tonsillectomy ASAP with pathology on the tissues removed.
Is a tonsillectomy the best next step? Should there be a biopsy or imaging before taking out the tonsils? Should I seek a third opinion at Hopkins or Cleveland Clinic?
My husband is a 4x cancer survivor, but this is our first brush with oral cancer.
Thank you!
My 21 year-old son may have tonsil cancer and the ENT would like to perform a tonsillectomy ASAP. We have a second opinion appointment tomorrow with a different ENT. I am trying to figure out the best next steps for a diagnosis.
Background: My son developed a sore throat about two weeks before Christmas. He feels like there is something caught on the left side of his throat. He's lost 5 pounds due to pain with eating and swallowing He was diagnosed with strep (no swab or cultures) and a double ear infection on 12/26. Antibiotics cleared up the ears but not the throat, so a new antibiotic was prescribed, but that was not effective either.
On Friday the ENT said both tonsils looked enlarged and craggy and infected, with the left much larger than the right. He listed several non-malignant issues that could be the cause, but was also concerned about cancer because of the asymmetrical size. He did not swab, scope, or use any mirrors during the exam. He recommended a tonsillectomy ASAP with pathology on the tissues removed.
Is a tonsillectomy the best next step? Should there be a biopsy or imaging before taking out the tonsils? Should I seek a third opinion at Hopkins or Cleveland Clinic?
My husband is a 4x cancer survivor, but this is our first brush with oral cancer.
Thank you!