Jenn, did your doctors suggest cancer? or is that your worst case scenario? It could be a chronic infection or some other thing. I think it is safe to trust their opinion (although you'll hate the tonsillectomy) or ask them if instead a biopsy of one of the nodes would be better.

If it is cancer, Radiation treatment will be a likely treatment and can, in some cases, be done without removing the tonsils. Recently radiation is the preferred treatment and not always surgery.

Let us know what happens (and I am not a medical professional)

Mark, 21 Year survivor, SCC right tonsil, 3 nodes positive, one with extra-capsular spread. I never asked what stage (would have scared me anyway) Right side tonsillectomy, radical neck dissection right side, maximum radiation to both sides, no chemo, no PEG, age 40 when diagnosed.