Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsFrequent SymptomsSerious SymptomsComplicationsWhen to Have an ENT ConsultSymptoms After Surgery
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Frequent Symptoms
Serious Symptoms
Complications
When to Have an ENT Consult
Symptoms After Surgery
Tonsillar cancer (or tonsil cancer) is a type oforopharyngeal(throat) cancer. Symptoms of tonsil cancer originate in the back of the throat and can include alump on the neck, persistentsore throat,earaches,swallowingissues, or a feeling of something stuck in your throat (globus sensation).
This article discusses the signs of early-stage tonsil cancer, what it looks like and how it feels, and when to see a provider.
Frequent Symptoms of Tonsil Cancer
Early-stage tonsil cancer symptoms may include:
Can You Get Tonsil Cancer If You Had Your Tonsils Out?Even if you’ve had atonsillectomyto remove your tonsils, if any tonsillarlymphoid tissueremains, you can get tonsil cancer.
Can You Get Tonsil Cancer If You Had Your Tonsils Out?
Even if you’ve had atonsillectomyto remove your tonsils, if any tonsillarlymphoid tissueremains, you can get tonsil cancer.
HPV Can Cause Tonsil CancerTonsils consist of lymphoid tissue that can harbor cancer-causing strains of thehuman papillomavirus (HPV), such as HPV type 16.It is estimated that about 56% to 70% of tonsil cancer is associated with HPV infection.Although HPV infection increases tonsil cancer risk, getting theHPV vaccineat a younger age can lower your lifetime risk of HPV-related cancers.
HPV Can Cause Tonsil Cancer
Tonsils consist of lymphoid tissue that can harbor cancer-causing strains of thehuman papillomavirus (HPV), such as HPV type 16.It is estimated that about 56% to 70% of tonsil cancer is associated with HPV infection.Although HPV infection increases tonsil cancer risk, getting theHPV vaccineat a younger age can lower your lifetime risk of HPV-related cancers.
Tonsils consist of lymphoid tissue that can harbor cancer-causing strains of thehuman papillomavirus (HPV), such as HPV type 16.It is estimated that about 56% to 70% of tonsil cancer is associated with HPV infection.
Although HPV infection increases tonsil cancer risk, getting theHPV vaccineat a younger age can lower your lifetime risk of HPV-related cancers.
Serious Tonsil Cancer Symptoms
Like other types of throat cancer, tonsil cancer symptoms are the most serious when they cause difficulty breathing or the coughing up of blood. Other serious tonsil cancer symptoms may involve not being able to swallow solid foods and difficulty drinking liquids to the point that afeeding tubeis required.
4 Stages of Tonsil Cancer
As with other throat cancers, tonsil cancer symptom progression is categorized on a 0 to 4 scale, as follows:
Comorbidities and Overlapping Conditions
If you smoke cigarettes, usesmokeless tobacco(“dip”), or drink alcoholic beverages, you are more likely to experience complications and comorbidities (co-occurring conditions) of tonsil cancer. Not using smokeless tobacco products,quitting smoking, and drinking less alcohol may help your prognosis.
Your healthcare provider will conduct follow-up testing to make sure that tonsil cancer has not spread to other areas of the ears, nose, or throat.
If any of your ear, nose, or throat symptoms are persistent, don’t respond to antibiotics, or last longer than two weeks, speak to a healthcare provider about getting referred to an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist, known as anotolaryngologist.
The fear and anxiety of living without an accurate diagnosis when you believe there’s something wrong can be psychologically draining. If you’ve been experiencing any symptoms associated with tonsil cancer, advocate for yourself and insist upon having an ENT consultation as soon as it’s possible.
Symptoms After Tonsil Surgery
If you needradiation therapyin addition to surgery, recovery symptoms may last even longer. For example, radiation-related alterations to taste function can last for six to 12 months after radiotherapy is completed.
Recovering from tonsil surgery may take up to two weeks. Common symptoms after tonsil surgery include:
Summary
Common early signs of tonsil cancer, such as a persistent sore throat or a small, painless lump on the neck, may not be concerning at first.
However, if symptoms persist or if they worsen, including having difficulty breathing or coughing up blood, and you have suspicions something is wrong, make an appointment with your healthcare provider for a consultation and evaluation. Early diagnosis and treatment will lead to a better outcome.
17 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Bannister M, Ah-See KW.Is oropharyngeal cancer being misdiagnosed as acute tonsillitis?Br J Gen Pract. 2014;64(628):e742-4. doi:10.3399/bjgp14X682537Shin H il, Cho KJ, Kim MS, Joo YH.Predictive factors of distant metastasis in surgically treated HPV-positive tonsil cancer. Birkeland A, ed.PLoS ONE. 2023;18(3):e0283368. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0283368Cedars-Sinai.Tonsil cancer.Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Tonsil cancer.American Cancer Society.Lymph Nodes and Cancer.University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.Q&A: What you should know about tonsil cancer.Thavaraj S, Stokes A, Mazuno K, et al.Patients with HPV-related tonsil squamous cell carcinoma rarely harbour oncogenic HPV infection at other pharyngeal sites.Oral Oncology. 2014;50(4):241-246. doi:10.1016/j.oraloncology.2013.12.012Lechner M, Liu J, Masterson L, Fenton TR.HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer: epidemiology, molecular biology and clinical management.Nat Rev Clin Oncol. 2022;19(5):306-327. doi:10.1038/s41571-022-00603-7Liao CI, Francoeur AA, Kapp DS, Caesar MAP, Huh WK, Chan JK.Trends in human papillomavirus–associated cancers, demographic characteristics, and vaccinations in the us, 2001-2017.JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(3):e222530-e222530. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.2530Mount Sinai.Throat or larynx cancer information.Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Throat cancer stages.Rzepakowska A, Marcinkiewicz B, Żurek M, Wiśniewska D, Niemczyk K.Motivation to smoking cessation in head and neck cancer and dysplasia patients in confrontation with the attitudes of otorhinolaryngologists in delivering anti-smoking therapies.Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2022;279(7):3645-3655. doi:10.1007/s00405-021-07209-2University of Utah Health.Ear, nose, & throat (ENT) doctor or primary care physician: When to dee an ENT.Deshpande TS, Blanchard P, Wang L, Foote RL, Zhang X, Frank SJ.Radiation-related alterations of taste function in patients with head and neck cancer: a systematic review.Curr Treat Options in Oncol. 2018;19(12):72. doi:Alm F, Lööf G, Blomberg K, Ericsson E.Establishment of resilience in a challenging recovery at home after pediatric tonsil surgery-Children’s and caregivers' perspectives.Paediatr Neonatal Pain.2021;3(2):75-86. doi:10.1002/pne2.12051Nationwide Children’s.Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy.Wang YP, Wang MC, Lin HC, Lee KS, Chou P.Tonsillectomy and the risk for deep neck infection-a nationwide cohort study.PLoS One.2015;10(4):e0117535. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0117535
17 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Bannister M, Ah-See KW.Is oropharyngeal cancer being misdiagnosed as acute tonsillitis?Br J Gen Pract. 2014;64(628):e742-4. doi:10.3399/bjgp14X682537Shin H il, Cho KJ, Kim MS, Joo YH.Predictive factors of distant metastasis in surgically treated HPV-positive tonsil cancer. Birkeland A, ed.PLoS ONE. 2023;18(3):e0283368. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0283368Cedars-Sinai.Tonsil cancer.Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Tonsil cancer.American Cancer Society.Lymph Nodes and Cancer.University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.Q&A: What you should know about tonsil cancer.Thavaraj S, Stokes A, Mazuno K, et al.Patients with HPV-related tonsil squamous cell carcinoma rarely harbour oncogenic HPV infection at other pharyngeal sites.Oral Oncology. 2014;50(4):241-246. doi:10.1016/j.oraloncology.2013.12.012Lechner M, Liu J, Masterson L, Fenton TR.HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer: epidemiology, molecular biology and clinical management.Nat Rev Clin Oncol. 2022;19(5):306-327. doi:10.1038/s41571-022-00603-7Liao CI, Francoeur AA, Kapp DS, Caesar MAP, Huh WK, Chan JK.Trends in human papillomavirus–associated cancers, demographic characteristics, and vaccinations in the us, 2001-2017.JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(3):e222530-e222530. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.2530Mount Sinai.Throat or larynx cancer information.Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Throat cancer stages.Rzepakowska A, Marcinkiewicz B, Żurek M, Wiśniewska D, Niemczyk K.Motivation to smoking cessation in head and neck cancer and dysplasia patients in confrontation with the attitudes of otorhinolaryngologists in delivering anti-smoking therapies.Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2022;279(7):3645-3655. doi:10.1007/s00405-021-07209-2University of Utah Health.Ear, nose, & throat (ENT) doctor or primary care physician: When to dee an ENT.Deshpande TS, Blanchard P, Wang L, Foote RL, Zhang X, Frank SJ.Radiation-related alterations of taste function in patients with head and neck cancer: a systematic review.Curr Treat Options in Oncol. 2018;19(12):72. doi:Alm F, Lööf G, Blomberg K, Ericsson E.Establishment of resilience in a challenging recovery at home after pediatric tonsil surgery-Children’s and caregivers' perspectives.Paediatr Neonatal Pain.2021;3(2):75-86. doi:10.1002/pne2.12051Nationwide Children’s.Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy.Wang YP, Wang MC, Lin HC, Lee KS, Chou P.Tonsillectomy and the risk for deep neck infection-a nationwide cohort study.PLoS One.2015;10(4):e0117535. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0117535
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Bannister M, Ah-See KW.Is oropharyngeal cancer being misdiagnosed as acute tonsillitis?Br J Gen Pract. 2014;64(628):e742-4. doi:10.3399/bjgp14X682537Shin H il, Cho KJ, Kim MS, Joo YH.Predictive factors of distant metastasis in surgically treated HPV-positive tonsil cancer. Birkeland A, ed.PLoS ONE. 2023;18(3):e0283368. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0283368Cedars-Sinai.Tonsil cancer.Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Tonsil cancer.American Cancer Society.Lymph Nodes and Cancer.University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.Q&A: What you should know about tonsil cancer.Thavaraj S, Stokes A, Mazuno K, et al.Patients with HPV-related tonsil squamous cell carcinoma rarely harbour oncogenic HPV infection at other pharyngeal sites.Oral Oncology. 2014;50(4):241-246. doi:10.1016/j.oraloncology.2013.12.012Lechner M, Liu J, Masterson L, Fenton TR.HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer: epidemiology, molecular biology and clinical management.Nat Rev Clin Oncol. 2022;19(5):306-327. doi:10.1038/s41571-022-00603-7Liao CI, Francoeur AA, Kapp DS, Caesar MAP, Huh WK, Chan JK.Trends in human papillomavirus–associated cancers, demographic characteristics, and vaccinations in the us, 2001-2017.JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(3):e222530-e222530. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.2530Mount Sinai.Throat or larynx cancer information.Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Throat cancer stages.Rzepakowska A, Marcinkiewicz B, Żurek M, Wiśniewska D, Niemczyk K.Motivation to smoking cessation in head and neck cancer and dysplasia patients in confrontation with the attitudes of otorhinolaryngologists in delivering anti-smoking therapies.Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2022;279(7):3645-3655. doi:10.1007/s00405-021-07209-2University of Utah Health.Ear, nose, & throat (ENT) doctor or primary care physician: When to dee an ENT.Deshpande TS, Blanchard P, Wang L, Foote RL, Zhang X, Frank SJ.Radiation-related alterations of taste function in patients with head and neck cancer: a systematic review.Curr Treat Options in Oncol. 2018;19(12):72. doi:Alm F, Lööf G, Blomberg K, Ericsson E.Establishment of resilience in a challenging recovery at home after pediatric tonsil surgery-Children’s and caregivers' perspectives.Paediatr Neonatal Pain.2021;3(2):75-86. doi:10.1002/pne2.12051Nationwide Children’s.Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy.Wang YP, Wang MC, Lin HC, Lee KS, Chou P.Tonsillectomy and the risk for deep neck infection-a nationwide cohort study.PLoS One.2015;10(4):e0117535. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0117535
Bannister M, Ah-See KW.Is oropharyngeal cancer being misdiagnosed as acute tonsillitis?Br J Gen Pract. 2014;64(628):e742-4. doi:10.3399/bjgp14X682537
Shin H il, Cho KJ, Kim MS, Joo YH.Predictive factors of distant metastasis in surgically treated HPV-positive tonsil cancer. Birkeland A, ed.PLoS ONE. 2023;18(3):e0283368. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0283368
Cedars-Sinai.Tonsil cancer.
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Tonsil cancer.
American Cancer Society.Lymph Nodes and Cancer.
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.Q&A: What you should know about tonsil cancer.
Thavaraj S, Stokes A, Mazuno K, et al.Patients with HPV-related tonsil squamous cell carcinoma rarely harbour oncogenic HPV infection at other pharyngeal sites.Oral Oncology. 2014;50(4):241-246. doi:10.1016/j.oraloncology.2013.12.012
Lechner M, Liu J, Masterson L, Fenton TR.HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer: epidemiology, molecular biology and clinical management.Nat Rev Clin Oncol. 2022;19(5):306-327. doi:10.1038/s41571-022-00603-7
Liao CI, Francoeur AA, Kapp DS, Caesar MAP, Huh WK, Chan JK.Trends in human papillomavirus–associated cancers, demographic characteristics, and vaccinations in the us, 2001-2017.JAMA Netw Open. 2022;5(3):e222530-e222530. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.2530
Mount Sinai.Throat or larynx cancer information.
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Throat cancer stages.
Rzepakowska A, Marcinkiewicz B, Żurek M, Wiśniewska D, Niemczyk K.Motivation to smoking cessation in head and neck cancer and dysplasia patients in confrontation with the attitudes of otorhinolaryngologists in delivering anti-smoking therapies.Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2022;279(7):3645-3655. doi:10.1007/s00405-021-07209-2
University of Utah Health.Ear, nose, & throat (ENT) doctor or primary care physician: When to dee an ENT.
Deshpande TS, Blanchard P, Wang L, Foote RL, Zhang X, Frank SJ.Radiation-related alterations of taste function in patients with head and neck cancer: a systematic review.Curr Treat Options in Oncol. 2018;19(12):72. doi:
Alm F, Lööf G, Blomberg K, Ericsson E.Establishment of resilience in a challenging recovery at home after pediatric tonsil surgery-Children’s and caregivers' perspectives.Paediatr Neonatal Pain.2021;3(2):75-86. doi:10.1002/pne2.12051
Nationwide Children’s.Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy.
Wang YP, Wang MC, Lin HC, Lee KS, Chou P.Tonsillectomy and the risk for deep neck infection-a nationwide cohort study.PLoS One.2015;10(4):e0117535. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0117535
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