Hi mrs zebra, I did have an enlarged left tonsil for more than half a year that did nt respond to any antibiotics. I thought (so did my doctors) that it was just tonsilitis that could be cured. I realized my voice had changed a bit and it sounded if a layer was covering it. People around didn't notice it and after I talked a lot or ate some spicy food, it could change raspy. I ignored the problem and there was a time when I had very severe cold with sore throat. It went away after a week and everything went well again but the enlarged tonsil was still there with a lot of irregular small bumps on the surface. Then the lymph node started getting swallon and within two months, it changed from a peanut to a goose egg. When I was diagnosed , it was T2N3M0, a stage 4B tonsil cancer. If I had been a bit more knowledgeable or cautious, the cancer could have been caught much earlier and I didn't have to suffer so much. I realize you have the insurance problem to consider but bear in mind early detection makes a whole world of difference. I always think how different the medical situation is between your place and mine. I never have medical insurance and since I work for the education department in the government, all the medical charges are covered and I only spent less than $500 on my hospital charges during treatment. Kirk Georgia, yours is three zeros more!That's one great blessing I have counted: I need not worry about medical expenses.So mrs zebra, move things faster and of course the best scanario is that your problem is nothing related to cancer.

Karen