Hi Mich4, the discomfort lasted for over 9 months when the ENT showed concern and referred me to the hospital for a thorough check. Initially, I discovered that when I talked especially teaching my students, there seemed to be a layer covering my voice but when I looked at my throat, I did not find anything unusual. Then my left tonsil started swelling gradually until a day I found it very painful and went to my family doctor who said it was just infection and gave me antibiotics and the pain reduced but the tonsil remained swollen with irregular edges. I went to another doctor who said that it was nothing to be scared about and the swollen tonsil might stay with me for life.More antibiotics but no reaction. In between the time, I had a severe cold with sore throat that lasted a week but I recovered from that without seeing the doctor. So I thought my body was strong .After I recovered from my cold, a lump developed on my left neck and again I was not concerned because it was very common for me to have this in my past and it usually disappeared after 1 to 2 weeks without medicine. But this time, I was wrong because it got bigger and bigger, much harder than previous lumps I experienced. There was occasional pain when I moved my neck and then I went to 2 ENT for checking. They still felt nothing to be afraid of until I took so many antibiotics but both the tonsil and lymph nodes (2, one of the size of a goose egg and one of a golf ball!)did not respond. There came the final verdict everyone knew.
I often blame myself for my ignorance and over confidence of my body. I seldom took any sick leave in my job , not more than 5 days in my 20+ years of teaching. With the cancer, I took 7 months! Ha!
Hope my story alerts people to care more about their body.

Karen stage 4 tonsil cancer diagnosed in 9/01.