Throat & mouth masses

[DrLemur]

I'm male 29 living in Australia. I have two issues that probably aren't related.

1.  About a year ago I noticed a lump on the left side of my throat (near my tonsils) it swelled up enough so that I could feel it there when I swallowed but was painless. I could feel it if I put my finger down my throat. In a few weeks I forgot about it as the feeling of it being there disappeared. ( I guess it decreased in size ) Now a year later I feel it there again for about 3 weeks. Again no pain but annoying. I was just wondering if there is a simple explanation for this. Allergy etc.. is it a common complaint? Can it be dangerous if I've had it for at least a year.. possibly longer with no symptoms?

2. Feeling around my gums I have a few ulcers recently but also I felt a rock hard mass in my gum that at first felt like bone before I realised it's not on the other side like that and seems just to be a hard painless mass about the size of a small pea. Just no idea what that is.. Seems to have been there for ages as well..

I tend to be very aware of my body and things I perceive "shouldn't be there" so I tend to find things like these all the time and worry. I'm sure doctors are sick of me by now asking about things that are harmless because I don't know any better. Hence this post online.. Any info would be great.

Thanks,

- Daniel

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hello and hope you are doing well.

Persistent one sided enlargement of the tonsil can sometimes be due to a lymphoma. It would be worthwhile to see if other lymph groups are enlarged namely, axilla and groin, these can be palpated, the others like those in the chest or abdomen may need a CT to detect their enlargement. Sometimes the tonsil may be removed for histopathological study. You will need to consult your primary care physician for further evaluation, who may then refer you to an ENT specialist.

Hope this helped and do keep us posted.

[Smiley2000]

G'day mate :)  I also live in Australia.

The lump in your gum could be a silavary gland that is blocked, abscess.  I would suggest you see a Dentist about this as it is in your gums and he would tell you if you need to get further tests done on it.

It is good that you keep track of things in your body as you should be your own Advocate and you'll know best when something in your body changes and appear.

All the best and let us know how you are doing and what the lump turned out to be.