Hi,

I posted about 5 months ago,worried about patch on mouth, and some swelling.

I saw the dentist twice and insisted to see oral surgeon.

Went to oral surgion who said white patch was tonsilectomy residue and swelling was 'within boandries'

this was my second false for the dreaded 'c'

So I figured its all in my head, I must stay of the internet and just forget about it, as my Dentist said,don't worry till youre told you have cancer.

So I ignored the swelling and put it down to my wisdom teeth which are impacted.

5 months down the line and suddenly im getting blood in my spit so Im worried.

Took a good look down my throught and noticed a bump on one side of my Tonsils at the back of my tongue ..

I went to the doctor on Friday but he said he can see 4 lumps.I tried to explain , I know the 4 lumps are the taste buds at the back but I was looking further down the back of my throat.

I now also have earache and my jawbone/chin.

Im going to go back Monday, and try again to get somebody to see what I can see.

Im scared,and angry that I've had to wait for the symptoms to advance before anyone takes them seriously.

Im feeling terribly naseaus from the ear thing , and the anxiety and everythin.

I tried to get a photo of the abnormal growth but to no avail.How can I get the doctor to look properly down the back of my throat? Im very scared if its cancer it has spread now for 5 more months from when I first felt my jaw/neck didn't feel right.

Scared stiff

John.

Hello John

It is best not to assume that the blood in your spit is related to the bump by the side of your tonsil as the commonest cause of blood in the saliva is gum disease.

The ear ache and jaw ache could be related to a temporomandibular disorder and myofacial (muscular) pain.

So you see, it may not be 'C'. So, relax and see the ENT specialist for a diagnosis of the bump and then your dentist to check for gum disease. Meanwhile, my advice re jawache and myofacial pain can be found here. There is also TMD info at this site

Hope that helps and do let us kmnow how you get on.

Best wishes
Vinod

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

Hi, thanks for the prompt reply Dr Vinod.

I have visited this site twice before and you've always replied !!

Im in tears now because I found one of those dentist mirrors and had a look down the back of my tongue. The one side has a large whitish crater and red growth. It is not the same on the other side.

Im going to the Doc tomorrow,but was due to go on holiday for 2 weeks, to see my family. I don't know what to do..cancle my trip, or wait 2 weeks...

Thanks again for being there guy's .Don't know what I would do without this website.

Hi John,
I know how you feel, as i said to Dr Vinod i went to the doctors yesterday as i have a lump on the side of my tongue. The doctor didnt even want to look in my mouth saying that if it wasnt hurting then not to worry about it! I am worried and am going to try and see someone else tomorrow. Judgeing by what you have said iwould say that you really should put the trip on hold. It would be benificial if it was going to allow you to get away from it all and relax but it wont. You will worry yourself sick the whole time. Insist on getting checked out properly and let us know how you get on.
Take care
Melody

Hi

On 28ovember, I went to the Wexham hospital and insisted on seeing an ENT.

He put a scope down my nose into my throat and said all looks ok.

He also checked out my blocked ear.

I went on my 2 week holiday and had a good time, but felt a little ill a couple of days.

Im back in UK now and have a follow up on 22 December.

I still have the lump on my tonsil at the back of my tongue,
and it makes a funny squish noise when I swallow.

My ear is also still feeling blocked.

Im still worried but figure if the ENT didn't see anything, and there is anything wrong,
Its early enough to be sorted out.

Holding thumbs for 22nd.

John.

Hi John,
It's obvious you're a bit worried. But you've done the right thing. The next thing that will be offered (probably - in my opinion)
is antibiotics. A lump on the tonsil which doesn't go away has to be checked out. Should you get an enlarged lymph node - possibly one higher up the neck behind the ear. Danger signs.
The only definitive test is to get the tonsil out and have a pathology lab teat it. Maybe they could scrape tissue off the tonsil under a local anaesthetic and test that.
This is the only way you will get piece of mind - I'd do it for sure.
I developed secondary cancer after I was put off after tonsilitis. Monthly checks here and there. 6 months later I had a radical neck dissection.
Good luck - get it sorted - don't take no for an answer. Let us know how you get on.
cheers Tony

Thanks Tony,

I seem very calm after the initial shock for some reason.

Wish I knew what else could be causing the swollen tonsil, as its not red or anything .

What bugs me is that the Doctors cannot see what Im talking about, to the point that I got a laser pointer so next visit I can show the doctor exactly which lump is concerning me.

Also when I said there is a clicking noise when I swallow, the doctor didnt seem concerned enough to ask me to swallow and try locate the sorce of the clicking noise?

Its looks less than a centimeter wide ,which is making me relax a bit.

Also they looked down my throat already, and didnt see anything ,
so its got to be small if anything is there.

Hope can still eat xmas dinner if they take off a piece of my tongue on 22nd.

I had an unknown primary for my necl cancer. The tumour and lymph nodes where secondaries.
I now realise that they probably knew my enlarged lymph node was due to cancer and they were waitng for a primary to emerge somewhere.
The secondary tumours nearly killed me in the end. The primary is still unknown.
Insist on a tonsilectomy so as they can test the tissue.

Good luck - Tony