I noticed a white spot on my tonsil two weeks ago. I went to urgent care and they said it was some sort of infection and gave me amoxicyllin. It is still there. Not any bigger, but not any smaller either. I am freaking out that I might have throat cancer. I do have acid reflux, this couldn't be because of that could it. I am not a drinker or smoker, but I am overweight and trying desperately to loose the weight to help the reflux. Help, I am already a hypo without this.

Hi HalieLorene

Tonsils are small masses of lymphatic tissue visible on either side of the back of the mouth along the top of the throat. The tonsils trap bacteria and viruses entering through the throat and produce antibodies to help fight infections.

The tonsils contain many pits and pockets...called crypts. These, in some patients tend to become impacted with white foul-smelling (especially to the owner) debris that is composed of bacteria and dead cells. It may cause a low grade intermittent sore throat owing to chronic cryptic tonsillitis caused by the deposition of white debris in tonsils. Antibiotics are only transiently helpful. The white spots themselves may not cause a problem, unless infected. The only consistent cure is a tonsillectomy...althought the problem often is minor enough that no therapy is necessary. You could try irrigating your tonsil daily with water-pik or syringe to try and keep very clean. Rarely tonsillar debris will become calcified (known as a tonsillolith) and if symptomatic, may require removal in a physician's office. See my previous post.

Hope that helps.

Best wishes
Vinod

Thank you so much doctor. I just went back into Urgent Care to have them look at it again. He said the same thing and said not to worry. He looked at it and said "no cancer today" Thank you so so much for answering me. I love this website!

I know this is a bit late and it seems you have heard this question before therefore I was not going to start an entire new thread BUT..

Ok, I get the whole food debris explanation. It makes sense! (I would be lying if I wasn't relived; my mother had me almost convinced it was cancer.) What I don't get is that I am 25 years old and this just started happening to me about 6 months ago. Why now? I would think that this would have been an on going problem since childhood. It seems to be an ongoing problem since 6 months ago. If you have an answer, please share! Have a great day, night, week or year! God Bless!

Hi Lit'l Bit

Here's my
Disease conditions aren't well understood; they arise owing to 'conditions being right'.
Hopefully, it will right itself with removal of the debris. Please see your ENT specialist for his opinion. Hope he has a better answer than 50¢... a lil bit o' dis a lil bit o' dat...

Best wishes
Vinod

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Dr Vinod K Joshi,