Just answering the question. A tumor can be in the BOT, even Tonsil, that may not be seen, felt or have pain. That area is highly lymphatic, BOT has deep musculature, and relatively is painless area, especially with HPV being its transformation to cancer is different than tobacco caused. My lymph nodes tested positive SCC, CT, PET showed tumor in Tonsil, BOT, Valleculla, but was not seen on three flex scopes by two different ENT's, and oropharynx looked fine, but they knew I had cancer from FNAB. A direct biopsy under anesthesia confirmed cancer in the tonsil. Good luck.