Antibiotics and steriods for my tonsils don't seem to be helping any of my one-sided symptoms. I have re-discovered a lump under my soft palate not near the midline, but rather on the same side as all my other symptoms. I have another ent appointment scheduled for next week. This time I'm demanding a biopsy. I can't deal with this stress. This lump on the soft palate was palp'd by a dentist months ago and he wasn't concerned but something in my gut is telling me that this is the monster. I've researched alot and nothing else hard and fixed should be there (tori seem to be found exclusively on the midline). I should have pointed this out to the ENT. I think I'm soon going to know what the price of being a chemical abuser for over a decade is. The sad thing is, everyone that loves me is going to have to pay it.

Get another ENT, for a second opinion, AND A BIOPSY!
IT'S BEEN 2 WEEKS NOW AND YOUR ARE WORSE, NOT BETTER.
I've read so many misdiagnosis here it's scary.
I had a biopsy 9 months ago, benign..last biopsy 3-19-2007, malignant, and the tumor is growing.
Chemicals no, tobacco products yes.
I'm not a Doctor, but have read many horror stories here.
Maybe it is just your tonsils, but YOU expressed a cancer concern, and it so far has fallen on two Drs, With Deaf Ears. You have lumps that are not on your tonsils. Your tongue feels something else.
All I know, is that after all this waiting, MY cancer is to the point where they have to cut half my tongue out, maybe the whole thing.
I'm praying for you that it's JUST the tonsils.
See what other people here say about this.
Good Luck, Petey

Definitely get a biopsy. My husband saw two dentists and an ENT. They all said that his lesion did not look like cancer; they thought it was a traumatic injury

I totally agree with Barbara and Petey. Get a biopsy and find out for sure what this is. My husband had an exam and CT scan one month after finishing his radiation therapy for tonsillar cancer and was given the "all clear." Two weeks later he got a sore throat on that side that wouldn't go away. The ENT and RO said it was just normal healing following radiation. But after many rounds of antibiotics without any improvement, a PET scan was done and showed residual tumor at the original site. A biopsy was then done and was positive, and on Monday he goes in for major surgery to resect the entire area. So much for "all clear." I think you should keep pursuing a biopsy so that you can be sure it isn't cancer.

Good luck and hopefully you'll get a biopsy done that will show it is NOT cancer.

-Tricia

Thanks for the replies. That lumps been there for atleast two years. Could the fact that it's been there so long indicate that it might not be malignant? It's hard, fixed, painless, submucossal and it's located on the side of my soft palate. What else could it be?

Hey Youngin. it's PeteyB again.
I see in your profile, that you are a scientist.
Are you familiar with the "OCCAM"S RAZOR" principal?
We need to quit assuming here. No one here is qualified to tell you what you want to hear, or do not want to hear. As a man of science, this should be obvious.
I need to stop being terse, and you need to stop being obtuse. As far as I know, you only live once.
Go get a biopsy my friend, and we all will sleep better. Everyone here wants you to win, but you have to play the game.
I'm praying for you.
PeteyB

You're absolutely right Petey. Thanks for the honesty. I'm just scared right now. My fear is not of the physical pain and misery that probably lies ahead. My main fear is about what my small children will have to endure. I've spent the last ten years of my life trying to kill myself with chemicals with no regard to myself or anyone around me. Now I've come to a point in my life where I absolutely am in love with two little children. It is just hard to accept the fact that they may suffer because of my actions. Either way that biopsy is coming next week. I'm just fishin for something to make me feel better. My prayers go out to you Petey, as well as any of the other souls suffering on this board.

Youngin: Just DO IT! Make sure and get that biopsy. Your children and all those who love you will be better off as soon as they can see you start fighting this and doing what needs to be done! My son's 5 year old daughter was one of the biggest reasons my son was able to make it through the treatment. Just to see the light in her eyes when he reached a particular milestone and knowing that she had helped was beautiful! I'll never forget the day she ran to me so excited with the news that "Daddy can eat jelly beans and he can taste them, too!" So, do it, do it, do it! And keep us posted.

Youngin,

If you love your children then get the biopsy and do whatever the Drs tell you to do ...As Mom of 5 young ones I know ! Believe me they will do quite well and will get you through it with an amazing sense of I dont even know what to call it ..GRACE ? Kids just do so good ..That was one of my biggest fears ..how do I get them through it ..truth is .they got me through it. and still do everyday ! SO GET THE BIOSPY !! I was told by my dentist ..Primary and Oral surgeon that the lesion in my mouth was no way cancer ..i was to young, didnt smoke or drink and just wasnt possible ..reassured over and over and over ..told don't think that way ..2 days after biopsy my phone was ringing and it was cancer ..........hmmmmmmm ..the naked eye dosent tell us what we need to know ..the pathology does . SO GET IT DONE @!!! I am now having my tonsils out as well ..7 weeks after 1st surgery....because to maney infections since Jan and antibiotics ( up to 875 mg now) dont work !! No lesions on them ..but you bet your butt I want them Biopsied !

Hey everybody, thank you for taking time and responding. My wife called the DR and had my appointment bumped up to this morning. So I've been seen by a GP, dentist, and two different ENT's. This last trip to ENT at Parkwest, Anne-Marie you probably know where I'm talking about, I carefully explained all my symptoms, risk factors and lumps. I told the guy I was sure I had OC. The guy said I was fine. Lumps were nothing. So can I rest now? Maybe I should be seeking the expertise of a different type of head DR.