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Tonsil Cancer/HPV
I am a 24 yr old F who has been experiencing swelling of my left tonsil with daily tonsilith formation for 8 months now. My right tonsil has also recently started swelling. Although now currently monogamous (for many years now), I wasnt in my younger years and I am concerned that I have developed tonsillar cancer due to high risk strain of HPV. I have seen physicians about this problem but although the walk in doctor felt I needed a referral to ENT my GP refused saying I wasnt high risk ( not old, smoker or alcoholic) so now I am stuck in a rut with my tonsil just getting bigger. My questions are
1. Is it possible for cancer to metastasize to right tonsil without involved my soft palate/uvula??
2. Are there some telltale symptoms of HPV induced tonsillar cancer? and how common is HPV+ tonsillar cancer in young people?
3. What other conditions could be causing my symptoms, and what is the likelihood of me actually having tonsillar cancer?
4. Can tonsillar cancer fluctuate in size? ( a few months ago I thought my L tonsil swelling went down a bit for a few weeks and then increased in size again)
Anyways, any insight on this would be great. Thank you,
K
1. Is it possible for cancer to metastasize to right tonsil without involved my soft palate/uvula??
2. Are there some telltale symptoms of HPV induced tonsillar cancer? and how common is HPV+ tonsillar cancer in young people?
3. What other conditions could be causing my symptoms, and what is the likelihood of me actually having tonsillar cancer?
4. Can tonsillar cancer fluctuate in size? ( a few months ago I thought my L tonsil swelling went down a bit for a few weeks and then increased in size again)
Anyways, any insight on this would be great. Thank you,
K
Dear Dr.Saini,
Thank you very much for your response. I am now on antibiotics ( 2wks penicillin) and am going to see an ENT if this doesnt clear it up. I appreciate your comments and help in this matter.
Thank you very much for your response. I am now on antibiotics ( 2wks penicillin) and am going to see an ENT if this doesnt clear it up. I appreciate your comments and help in this matter.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi,
You have a history of swollen left tonsil for 8 months now, with some fluctuation in size. Now the right tonsil too is beginning to get enlarged.
This is not how a typical story of cancer of the tonsil unfolds. I would not worry about cancer just yet.
Please get the opinion of an ENT surgeon, get a tonsillar swab for culture and sensitivity, do daily warm saline gargles, and take a course of appropriate antibiotics.
If you do not feel better in a few days, then pl discuss with your doctor the possibility of doing an FNAC (fine needle aspiration cytology) of the swollen tonsil.
About your specific queries:
Tonsil cancer usually spreads locally, and into draining lymph nodes, and not directly into opposite tonsil.
HPV is certainly a risk factor, but how do you know you have a carcinogenic strain, or any infection at all? Just having a few partners earlier does not automatically make you HPV positive.
I would rule out infection before considering the possibility of cancer.
Typically a cancer grows relentlessly in size.
All the best, and God Bless!
You have a history of swollen left tonsil for 8 months now, with some fluctuation in size. Now the right tonsil too is beginning to get enlarged.
This is not how a typical story of cancer of the tonsil unfolds. I would not worry about cancer just yet.
Please get the opinion of an ENT surgeon, get a tonsillar swab for culture and sensitivity, do daily warm saline gargles, and take a course of appropriate antibiotics.
If you do not feel better in a few days, then pl discuss with your doctor the possibility of doing an FNAC (fine needle aspiration cytology) of the swollen tonsil.
About your specific queries:
Tonsil cancer usually spreads locally, and into draining lymph nodes, and not directly into opposite tonsil.
HPV is certainly a risk factor, but how do you know you have a carcinogenic strain, or any infection at all? Just having a few partners earlier does not automatically make you HPV positive.
I would rule out infection before considering the possibility of cancer.
Typically a cancer grows relentlessly in size.
All the best, and God Bless!
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