SCARED TO DEATH PLEASE HELP ME!!!

Hello My name is breanna. I am a 22 year old female. I smoked cigarettes for about 3 years and I smoked weed for about 3 years after. I am here Because I am scared to death. I have a right tonsil that is extremely larger than the other. I have seen many doctors who dont take me seriously AT ALL. this has been going on for about 6+ months. I have 4 swollen lymph nodes on the same side as swollen tonsil also. In addition about 2 weeks ago I tasted blood in my mouth and since then have spit up blood twice. I rushed to the doctors and saw an ENT who also thinks that this isnt anything to worry about by I am frighted that this could possibly be tonsil cancer. The Tonsil is EXTREMELY large, and the nodes have persisted for months.. any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Comments

  • Bkanter72
    Bkanter72 Member Posts: 39
    Understandable
    But I wouldn't worry until you know to worry. Have the drs considered a pet scan? They started with a ct and MRI with me, neither of which led to consider cancer. It wasn't until surgery and a pet scan that I found out. Likely your age has them optimistic. That being said, if I had it to do over again, and timing being invaluable, I'd request a pet scan if for piece of mind than nothing else. Good luck.

    Brian
  • Bkanter72
    Bkanter72 Member Posts: 39
    Understandable
    But I wouldn't worry until you know to worry. Have the drs considered a pet scan? They started with a ct and MRI with me, neither of which led to consider cancer. It wasn't until surgery and a pet scan that I found out. Likely your age has them optimistic. That being said, if I had it to do over again, and timing being invaluable, I'd request a pet scan if for piece of mind than nothing else. Good luck.

    Brian
  • ratface
    ratface Member Posts: 1,337 Member
    Bkanter72 said:

    Understandable
    But I wouldn't worry until you know to worry. Have the drs considered a pet scan? They started with a ct and MRI with me, neither of which led to consider cancer. It wasn't until surgery and a pet scan that I found out. Likely your age has them optimistic. That being said, if I had it to do over again, and timing being invaluable, I'd request a pet scan if for piece of mind than nothing else. Good luck.

    Brian

    something is going on but
    it's not smoking related cancer. To be smoking derived you really have to hit the drinking and smoking combined pretty hard for lots and lots of years. HPV derived is a possibility but then so are a dozen other reasons for your symptoms. Keep going to the ENT until you know the answer.
  • Greend
    Greend Member Posts: 678
    My opinion
    I had tonsil cancer in the right tonsil and mine never did swell up much I did have enlarged lymph nodes. If ENT isn't concerned then I don't think I would be. Sounds like an infection to this layman.
  • adventurebob
    adventurebob Member Posts: 691
    Get an MRI or a new doc
    Hi Breanna,
    I had a swollen lymph node that the docs tried treating with antibiotics and allergy meds for almost 6 months. They also did about 6 different ct scans and 3 needle biopsies. Tested for cat scratch fever, lyme disease and all kinds of other things. Docs didn't think cancer because of my age and because I was in excellent physical condition; being a guide and personal trainer and eating organic for years. Next symptom was a migraine that never went away. Still no thoughts of cancer. Next symptom was one of my pupils not dilating and the other eye not tearing up. Finally a neurologist ordered an mri. MRI showed multiple tumors in my head and neck. Neck dissection revealed cancer. PET/CT revealed bone mets. Not sure but kinda think if they would have looked harder for cancer earlier on I wouldn't have had the bone mets which made the cancer technically "incurable". If I was in your shoes I would insist on an MRI. If your lymph nodes are swollen your ENT should do a needle biopsy at the least. Whatever is going on, the docs need to figure out why. Because you're worried about it they should be. Telling you it's nothing to worry about is easy for them. Make them earn their money. Insist that they find out why your body is doing this. Catching cancer now could be the difference between a long life and a short one. And let us know how it works out.

    Bob
  • zaac23
    zaac23 Member Posts: 27
    SCARED TO DEATH PLEASE HELP ME
    has anyone considered you might have lymphoma. I have lymphoma and and scc left side of tongue. I don't want to scare you more but now is a time to attack. put fear aside for now and go totally pro active. go to another doctor. a good internist and discuss what and when you have done for this condition.
  • Daddisgrl
    Daddisgrl Member Posts: 116
    Have you been sexually
    Have you been sexually active?

    If you are in the US; you should find a large university teaching hospital; see the ENT department there. It's amazing how knowledgeable they are; the one we saw could see the tonsil had cancer. They can give an ultrasound of the nodes or do needle biopsy. While you are young; there was a male member at another board that was your age & he was HPV positive for tonsil cancer; so you never know.

    Good luck
  • bpell0402
    bpell0402 Member Posts: 61
    Daddisgrl said:

    Have you been sexually
    Have you been sexually active?

    If you are in the US; you should find a large university teaching hospital; see the ENT department there. It's amazing how knowledgeable they are; the one we saw could see the tonsil had cancer. They can give an ultrasound of the nodes or do needle biopsy. While you are young; there was a male member at another board that was your age & he was HPV positive for tonsil cancer; so you never know.

    Good luck

    advocate for yourself.
    In my opinion you should not panic and jump to " i might have cancer". . . however as cancer can be a difficult diagnosis to come to you should advocate for yourself and insist on a second opinion..3rd opinion .. or more testing.

    chronic unilateral tonisillits is often also overlooked and this should be treated as well

    unfortunately our regular family ENT and moms primary care doctor did seem to "miss" my moms tonsil cancer. however at times i can understand why they did not jump to the diagnosis and insist on testing as hindsight is 20/20.

    find a specialist who SPECIALIZES in tonsils, not a general ENT... being associated with a teaching hospital like Daddisgirl recommended would be my recommendation as well .. and an ENT who operates.

    just my opinion. good luck to you
  • robinleigh
    robinleigh Member Posts: 297
    My husband had exact same
    My husband had exact same symptoms. To diagnose him they did a needle biopsy of his lymph node and it came back inconclusive so then they did a needle biopsy of his tonsil which lead to diagnosis of tonsillar cancer. He had robotic surgery at Mayo Clinic and then a pet scan to make sure the cancer hadn't spread elsewhere, which it hadn't. He followed with radiation and chemo and is now on the road to recovery. Not a "walk in the park" but a VERY treatable type of cancer. PUSH for a quick diagnosis so you can get on with the treatment and get it behind you!
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    Same Answer as Greend
    I had tonsil cancer and HPV+ and I'm 57..

    I only had an irritation that wouldn't go away for a few months, never became swollen or spit blood...and I had STGIII SCC HPV+ right tonsils and a lymhpnode.

    I personally don't think that you need to go to any special facility to be diagnosed for HPV. Most ENT's are familiar and aware. HPV is very much on the rise and is presumed to actually over take tobacco related dervied H&N Cancer in the near future years...

    HPV is a real concern as many of us,especially 20 - 50+ have been exposed one time or another.. But that also goes for cancer...we are all exposed, usually your body's immune system gets rid of it, sometimes for what ever reason it doesn't or can't.

    Stay persistant and diligent, with your ENT or two or three more opinions and examinations.

    Has anyone performed any cultures or swabs, CT, etc.... actually to me it sounds like it could even just be your tonsils...my daughter is 25 and just had her tonsils out a year ago,.

    Stay concerned and have it checked out , but don't get too worried just yet.

    Best,
    John
  • Scambuster
    Scambuster Member Posts: 973
    Skiffin16 said:

    Same Answer as Greend
    I had tonsil cancer and HPV+ and I'm 57..

    I only had an irritation that wouldn't go away for a few months, never became swollen or spit blood...and I had STGIII SCC HPV+ right tonsils and a lymhpnode.

    I personally don't think that you need to go to any special facility to be diagnosed for HPV. Most ENT's are familiar and aware. HPV is very much on the rise and is presumed to actually over take tobacco related dervied H&N Cancer in the near future years...

    HPV is a real concern as many of us,especially 20 - 50+ have been exposed one time or another.. But that also goes for cancer...we are all exposed, usually your body's immune system gets rid of it, sometimes for what ever reason it doesn't or can't.

    Stay persistant and diligent, with your ENT or two or three more opinions and examinations.

    Has anyone performed any cultures or swabs, CT, etc.... actually to me it sounds like it could even just be your tonsils...my daughter is 25 and just had her tonsils out a year ago,.

    Stay concerned and have it checked out , but don't get too worried just yet.

    Best,
    John

    Biopsy
    Girl88,

    If it was visible. then they should have noted it as a tumor rather than just swollen tonsils. I would have thought a quick biopsy is the fastest and easiest way to rule out T Cancer. They just nip a small piece off the swollen area (the tonsil) and get the path lab to run their tests. Your ENT will spray some Lidocane on first to numb the area and that is usually worse than the nip.

    The swollen lymph nodes are either handling the infection from the inflamed /infected tonsil, or handling necrotic tissue in the case you had a tumor. If the nodes sometimes swell and then subside, it is most likely the first situation.

    The biopsy should give you the answer. Regardless find a Doctor that will figure this out for you.

    REgds
    Scam
  • kingcole42005
    kingcole42005 Member Posts: 178
    My son had an enlarged tonsil.
    My son had an enlarged tonsil. While it's not normal, sometimes it's nothing other than an enlarged tonsil. His was huge and took up over half his throat. They removed it and he's fine. Now as for the smoking cig's and weed, QUIT WHILE YOUR AHEAD!!! You don't want to end up like us! Hope everything works out well and I'll send positive thoughts your way. Take Care,Shelly
  • Tonsil_Girl88
    Tonsil_Girl88 Member Posts: 6

    My son had an enlarged tonsil.
    My son had an enlarged tonsil. While it's not normal, sometimes it's nothing other than an enlarged tonsil. His was huge and took up over half his throat. They removed it and he's fine. Now as for the smoking cig's and weed, QUIT WHILE YOUR AHEAD!!! You don't want to end up like us! Hope everything works out well and I'll send positive thoughts your way. Take Care,Shelly

    thanks
    I hope that my tonsil is just benign and not cancer like your son.. but either way I don't want to continue to play any guessing games. I want some answers. I went to my PC's office today and I have a another ENT appointment Monday! I plan on being firm and getting this settled. As for the smoking, I've completely stopped the weed and the Cigarette faze was over in 2008 lol It just wasnt for me, but thanks for the advice EVERYONE. It ment alot to me that you all seemed concern. thanks for listening =0
  • Tonsil_Girl88
    Tonsil_Girl88 Member Posts: 6

    My son had an enlarged tonsil.
    My son had an enlarged tonsil. While it's not normal, sometimes it's nothing other than an enlarged tonsil. His was huge and took up over half his throat. They removed it and he's fine. Now as for the smoking cig's and weed, QUIT WHILE YOUR AHEAD!!! You don't want to end up like us! Hope everything works out well and I'll send positive thoughts your way. Take Care,Shelly

    thanks
    I hope that my tonsil is just benign and not cancer like your son.. but either way I don't want to continue to play any guessing games. I want some answers. I went to my PC's office today and I have a another ENT appointment Monday! I plan on being firm and getting this settled. As for the smoking, I've completely stopped the weed and the Cigarette faze was over in 2008 lol It just wasnt for me, but thanks for the advice EVERYONE. It ment alot to me that you all seemed concern. thanks for listening =0
  • Tonsil_Girl88
    Tonsil_Girl88 Member Posts: 6

    My son had an enlarged tonsil.
    My son had an enlarged tonsil. While it's not normal, sometimes it's nothing other than an enlarged tonsil. His was huge and took up over half his throat. They removed it and he's fine. Now as for the smoking cig's and weed, QUIT WHILE YOUR AHEAD!!! You don't want to end up like us! Hope everything works out well and I'll send positive thoughts your way. Take Care,Shelly

    thanks
    I hope that my tonsil is just benign and not cancer like your son.. but either way I don't want to continue to play any guessing games. I want some answers. I went to my PC's office today and I have a another ENT appointment Monday! I plan on being firm and getting this settled. As for the smoking, I've completely stopped the weed and the Cigarette faze was over in 2008 lol It just wasnt for me, but thanks for the advice EVERYONE. It ment alot to me that you all seemed concern. thanks for listening =0
  • palmyrafan
    palmyrafan Member Posts: 396
    Scared to Death
    Hey there,

    First, you need to take a deep breath. Inhale, exhale. Repeat as often as necessary to calm down. Don't jump to conclusions about what is going on. Get some facts.

    Now, you need a plan of attack. First thing to do is to get a 2nd, 3rd or 4th opinion. I would ask for a CT Scan, PET Scan and/or an MRI. I would also ask for a CBC Blood Count (Complete Blood Count) to see if anything in your blood work is off-kilter. Next thing you need to do is to keep a ver explicit journal (if you don't already) to document what is going on, when new symptoms show up, how long these symptoms last, etc. Put it in writing. #1 - It is not near as frightening on paper as it is floating around your head and #2 - you have something tangible to show the doctors.

    I also agree that you should try to find a teaching hospital if possible. Many times, they are better equipped with newer technology, young eager residents and interns just waiting to show their knowledge and more importantly, most, if not all, the the departments you will need are all located on the same campus (ENT, Endocrinologist, Hematologist, etc.)

    You are doing well to listen to your body. I have 8 doctors of record (Primary Care Physician - PCP and 7 specialists). They all have said they wished all their patients listened to their body and paid attention to what was going on like I do. They believe me when I say something is wrong. But it wasn't always like that. It was only after proving what I had written in my journals and showing them did they start to believe that I knew what I was talking about. I wasn't making anything up and they could see that.

    There are other things that could be going on as well. So make sure you have a good internist who can do all the preliminary med work on you to rule stuff out. Then ask for the tests and/or recommendations from your PCP/Internist to doctors that they like, recommend and trust to help you.

    Good luck and keep us posted.

    Teresa
  • jr58
    jr58 Member Posts: 9
    Specialist scans .
    Insist on blood tests and scans, just because you are 22 dosn't mean a thing.Do it,hassle be persistant,if you can get your parents invovled hassling the doctors.Don't give up until they have done them.Good luck,better safe than sorry..