Hi

I think you are quite amazing. I am going to have a busy few days from tomorrow. I have also been lucky to have an efficient hospital so far. Christmas eve noticed my lump by tuesday had got bigger so went to doctors. 4th January at ENT had nasalendoscopy to find enlarged abnormla tonisl one side hard mass, non painful. Ultrasoiund booked for thursday 14th with aspiration then got cancellation for MRI tomorrow 12th then today get telephone call asking me to have a preoperative appointment for biopsy and panoscopy? not entirely sure on this one but think it is some sort of chest endoscopy., Not worried about MRI have had a few of thiose before, bit worried about aspiration and will be worried when i get date for biopsy. I am supposing that if anything shows on aspiration I may get a call to go in and discuss or wait for biopsy?? consultant said I could get call at any stage. Was not told about the other tonsil possibly getting cancer perhaps each hospital is also different. Let us know how you are getting on,. 

Hi Elona

Welcome to the whirlwind!  I am glad that I am not the only one :happy:

Thinking of you at your MRI, I too have had a few...  The noise just strangly brings back memories of the 90s raves :laugh:

Sounds like we are going through pretty much the same at pretty much the same stage.  And luckily both with very efficiant Hospitals.

I originally went to the doctors back in May 2020 with an enlarged tonsil that had a couple of white patches.  Because it was the early days of Covid and it was a throat issue I had to see a locum in the surgery car park.  She said there was nothing wrong, but may have a bit of thrush.  She subscribed Thrush treatments and away I went...  Obviously the treatments didn't work :laugh:

I didn't know I was having the good tonsil (only the good one, with biopsy of cancerous one and tounge biopsy) removed until the day of the op.  Didn't even know I was down for a tonsillectomy until I was at my pre assessment.  The Nurse could find no info on the system...  As it turns out there were two perfectly good reasons.  I saw the dental surgeon (One of my MDT members) at my ultrasound and he told me that they were a victim of their own efficiency and that the op could change right up to the moment before I have the anesthetic.  Hence lack of info.  I don't mind, I'm just so impressed with everything.

What is an aspiration?

Let me try and put your mind at rest about the biopsy.  I had a fine needle biopsy which was done under local anesthetic.  This was a biopsy of the lymph nodes taken through the side of my neck. I could feel them pushing around, but no pain.  After the anesthetis wore off it was a bit uncomfortable for a day at the most.

Under general anesthetic I had a deep tonsil and tounge biopsy.  This was at the same time as having the right (good) tonsil removed.  All the staff were brilliant, the surgeons came and saw me pre and post op explaining everything.   Ooh and the bed was soooo comfortable.  I was left with no pain or discomfort from the tongue and deep tonsil biopsy as far as I know.  This may be due to the overall pain and discomfort from the tonsillectomy disguising anything from the biopsies.

All of my appointments were made via phonecalls or I was sent for a test whilst at the hospital having something else done.  

How am I getting on?  The throat is still sore from the op, but the pain is very managable.  It's a great excuse to eat icecream  :wink:  I wont lie there are moments of Ahhhrrrggggg!  But they do not last long.  Earache now in both ears Boooo!   I have been living with an invisible condition, for a few years, that causes a lot of unnecessary pain daily.  So me and pain are good ole friends, he is annoying but without him I wouldn't be here (I have no idea why I made my pain male) The trick with pain is to find other, better, happier things to occupy your mind.  Hence I've written so much here, whilst writing this my pain is dampened.

Keep in touch, as we are in such a similar position.  It'll be interesting to see how our treatment paths differ or assimilate.  It'll also be a good and informative read for others who pass by.

Take care, be strong

Hi

Thank you for your informative message. That is brilliant. I suspect mine may have been going on for longer too as it is under an ear I have had problems with for a while? 

MRI took an hour to do with contrast lasting only 8 minutes. As you said like a rave or due my age more of a heavy metal concert the banging! lol made me smile and at times i just concentrated on other things because you cant boogy to the music lol. The face mask is a little weid not too good if you are claustraphobic. But like you the staff were great. 

Interesting a difference alrady I had the nasoendoscopy which informed the ENT consultant tht there was abnormal growth on my tonsil described as level 2 mass which is simply lump upper neck. I did not get  CT scan and not sure if will have or not. I am presuming that since it is abnormal it is cancerous just what sort. 

Preop appointment tomorrow for panenscopy and biopsy. Due to pone call appointments mine have been done a little backwards as i have been obviousy top of list for cancellations. Very lucky. Will let you know what they say tomorrow. 

take care thank you for your support

Hi Elona

I had the nasoendoscopy too at my first ENT appointment (I say first and I've only had one) though I've been calling it NandoScopy as I can never remember what it is called.  I even had to copy the real word from your last message :laugh:  I don't even like Nandos.

Mine too was described as level 2.

Hope all goes well with your pre op today.  In mine they checked my weight and height, blood pressure, heart rate and lots of questions.  One question was really strange and I so wish I had asked the reason for it.  it was 'How many pillows do I have on my bed?', or words to that effect.  They should also be able to give you some idea of the op you are booked in for.  I also had a covid test on the same day.

I am on day 6 of my post tonsillectomy, they told me around day 5 the pain would increase for a couple of days.  But do not worry about it, it is normal and common.  Think I must be lucky, the pain hasn't got worse, just changed to a different type.  

My MDT are meeting today to discuss my future, really strange feeling knowing that these strangers will be talking and deciding my 2021 for me.    I believe they will be calling us to go in next Wednesday for THE meeting where we will find out type, size, treatment plan etc.

Reading your replies you are amazing, no matter what this throws at you stay that way!

Hi

Well hope the MDT meeting goes well and they can provide you with the best there is. 

My pre op appointment went well, not as long as had anticipated. Blood pressure slightly up but what do they expect so they gave me an ECG as well as the rest you described. I didnt have a date for surgery untol I got home to find that they had tried to telephone whilst I was in my appointment so I go in week friday the 22nd. At the moment all I know is it is a penenscopy and biopsy but like you that could change then we will see. I have been lucky with life I have spinal stenosis and psoriasis but apart from injections in my spine have not had any anesthetics yet so that is a little daunting. The closest I came was the heavy sedation i had for one of my injections. I am not worried more concerned for my hubby who is in a wheelchair. I feel calm and accepting until i know what i need to do so will save the fighting energy! 

I think anyone going through cancer and cancer scares are amazing it is not easy for anyone so thank you for saying amazing no more than you. 

tomorrow ultrasound and aspiration. speak then 

take care

Elona 

well ultrasound and aspiration today. Seen very quickly lovely consultant and nurse but ouch!! no local anaesthetic and two injections to ensure they took enough cells. The external lump the consultant took a sample from is a gland so lymphoid and she said could be reactive but the MRI and biopsy will give them a better idea. Although she was looking at MRI this afternoon she said I may not get results until all the information is collected. iam presuming that actually could be a good thing? so assumption so far could be reactive lymph nodes to enlarged tonsil. the waiting game continues. 

Hi Elona

I had been wondering what an 'aspiration' was so I used good ole Google.  Didn't realise that that was the technical term for a fine needle biopsy.  Every day is a school day :happy:

Can't believe you went through it with no local, that really must have been ouch!!

Another thing we have in common is an ongoing condition, see I knew you are amazing, two ongoing conditions, husband in a wheelchair, facing an unknown and keeping good spirits!!!.  I can empathise with you with any pain that the spinal stenosis causes.  I was diagnosed with a rare brain dissorder a few years ago which affects the nervous system much like MS.  They know very little about it and all they can do is manage symptoms such as chronic pain.  I do think in some ways it has prepared me well for this.

I understand your concern for your husband, it is hard isn't it.  In many ways I believe its harder for those around us in these kinds of situations and I do think that we are guilty of worring more for others than ourselves, if guilty is the right word.  With ongoing conditions and disabilities something you, your husband and I are good at is adapting to the things most take for granted.  No matter what this throws at us we will face it head on and and no matter how hard it gets we all will come out the other side much stronger.

We will get our wobbles, I had one myself on Thursday...  But hey!  I'm only human.

I will be thinking of you on the 22nd.  I made the mistake of coming home on the same day, should have stayed in overnight.  I have promised the wife that the next op I will stay in hospital until the next day as I was like an unsafe drunk at home.  It's strange as I felt fine when leaving the hospital, may have been the fresh air.  Strangley, or fortunately, the post tonsillectomy throat has taken my mind somewhat away from everything else that is going on.   Though I know its just the beginning of a long wobbly road.

I had a phone call from ENT on Friday asking my wife and I to go in on Monday 11:40am for the reults etc.   It's going to be a long weekend.

Be strong

Al

Hi,

Im 23 and i suffer with anciety really bad.

I have known for a while that one of my tonsils have been bigger than the other but thought nothing of it till last week when i read on google that one bigger than the other is a sign of cancer. Ive been reffered to ent but they said thia could be up to 12 weeks waiting list. 

Im really worried that its the worst, i cant get it out of my head. I wish i went sooner about it but its never actually bothered me and i dont know how long it has actually been there as its not something i check. 

I have had bloods and they were all okay and my lymph nodes are feeling okay as the doctor checked these last week 

Thanks.

Hi Flopsy2

I appreciate that any changes in your body can be frightening, especially when you are young and suffer with anxiety.

As I am not medically trained all I can do is try and help reduce your anxiety a bit. 

First stay off Dr Google, no good ever comes of that.  You can put any symptom in Dr Google and eventually it'll tell you you may have cancer. 

Second, an enlarged tonsil can be soooo many other things.

Third, you have youth on your side.  I am 51 and even for someone my age neck cancer is very rare.  Cancer as a whole is rare for someone your age.

Fourth, 9 out of 10 people sent for tests come back negative for cancer.

If your doctor suspected cancer you would generally see an ENT specialist within 2 weeks.  That said Doctors are only human so I would suggest if your symptoms worsten or you have new sympoms such as an enlarged lymph node, ear ach etc then contact your doctor agian and ask if you can have an urgent referal.   If the doctor says no, kindly ask why.   Be honest with your doctor regarding your anxiety.

Try not to worry, easier said than done I know.  But anxiety its self can make you feel poorly and down.  

What I do to help with the worry is break each day down with doing things that make me smile and or simply make me happy.   If you do that your body will produce its own happy drugs which will help to not only make you feel better, it'll also make coping much easier no matter the outcome of your tests.

Hope this helps and good luck moving forward.

Thank you for replying so quick.

The actual doctor did refer me as urgent on the phone to ent but they were the ones that maybe didnt think it was urgent, as far as im aware anyway. 

I dont have any other symptoms, all lymph nodes are how they should be etc dont have a sore throat, only occasionly but thats surely normal? 

I just panic cause it is quite alot higger than the other and it does have a tonsil stone on it to, i have tried to remove that but my gag reflex is awful. 

The doctor said i may have to have a MRI or have them removed..this alone makes me think they think its something bad. 

Is it a good sign my bloods came back clear to?

Sorry, i just find i need reasuring that everything will be okay. 

Thanks.