Swollen tonsil - urgent referral

[minerva7]

Went to my nurse practitioner the other day after feeling a lump when I swallow for a couple of months.

She did a thorough exam and has made an urgent referral to ent to rule out anything serious. Sh said my tonsil is very swollen and has pushed my uvula to the side. The concern I think comes from the fact that I've no pain.
I was a heavy smoker for around 35 years. Stopped around 8.

I recently went through this for a lump in my breast - which thankfully was nothing to worry about.

I have noone I can speak to about this without worrying them. I don't want to do that to my family.

Can anyone reassure me here that this might be nothing?

Thanks in advance.

My teenage son has one huge tonsil and one normal sized tonsil and has no pain, it was only noticed incidentally and might have been like it for years, he has no pain. No one was concerned. Hope yours is ok.

Thank you @pinkroses79 💐
I hope your son's never gives him bother.

I've had some throat problems recently and was put on the 2-week fast track cancer exclusion pathway (with an appointment for two weeks' time).

I was pretty worried about the tests and any adverse findings (knowing that my whole life's course could turn in a moment).

I decided to try not to think about it until the appointment and I didn't really tell anyone. I thought, if they say there's a problem I'll deal with it emotionally then. If there's a problem, it's not necessarily cancer, and if it is cancer, there will almost certainly be reasonable treatment options.

I had a nasendoscopy at my appointment - that was fine - and was given the all-clear then and there which was a huge relief!

Good luck. It is really worrying. Xx

Thank you @NameChanges123 for sharing your experience. It helps.

So glad all was ok for you.

My dad had swollen tonsils and it turned out to be quinsy. He ignored it and ignored it to the point where he started developing sepsis and ended up in hospital to get the fluid drained and an IV to flush out his system. He was complaining of a lump in his throat but started to feel very poorly.

I actually had that a few months ago and was hospitalised too. Solidarity with your dad it was no fun.

However that was painful, whereas in contrast I've no throat pain at the moment at all.