Could it be cancer?

September 2010 I had a very strong infection in my throat together with very high fever and swollen tonsils for about a month. After having taken antibiotics everything was normal again and since then I have been in excellent health. Last week, around wednesday, I started feeling a little bit sick and some tingling in my throat. I had rest for a couple of days and everything was seeming okay until I began feeling pressure in my left ear, but no fever, no swollen tonsils, nothing. I looked in the mirror and found an ulcer on the soft palate near the uvula, it is small, white/grey and surrounded by a red hallow. Is it the cause of my ear ache? Another detail I noticed: my right tonsil is visible while the one on the ulcer's side is flat, I can't see it, as if I have none.
I remember that last September they were asymmetric as well, could it be because of that old infection?

[Bhupinder Kaur, MD]

Hello,
From the symptoms, the only important lesion which I can think of is canker sores/aphthous ulcers. They commonly occur on the tongue or on the inside of the mouth. I don’t think there’s much to worry about as they usually resolve over a period of time and you need to seek an opinion from your health care practitioner only if they don’t seem to heal. Taking Vitamin B complex capsules/ tablets is thought to be beneficial if they occur frequently.
It is very difficult to precisely confirm a diagnosis without examination and investigations and the answer is based on the medical information provided. For exact diagnosis, you are requested to consult your doctor. I sincerely hope that helps. Take care and please do keep me posted on how you are doing.

[DanLeb]

Thank you very much for the answer!

I actually went to a ENT doctor who inspected my mouth and throat. He said that normally there should be nothing to be concerned about, as in his long experience he has seen hundreds of asymmetrical tonsils. "It is true that they are asymmetrical, and that one of them is a lot bigger and appears to be hard. But their color is normal and you have no other symptom. Therefore, considering your young age, I would say you're fine. It is written in medical books that tonsillectomy is required in the presence of asymmetry, but I suggest you take care of yourself and just keep on watching out for anything suspicious."

Right now the ulcer is gone and the earache as well, but the right tonsil is still bigger. Its color is normal and the size excluded, everything seems to be normal. I will keep on watching it though, and report back to the doctor if anything fishy comes up.

I think (and hope!) that everything is fine!

Thank you very much for your support doctor, cheers!