Possible Oropharyngeal Cancer?

New guy here, age 33

So im freakin out..

Lost Mom in 91, breast cancer. Dad got bladder cancer in Feb 08.

Heres my deal. Since march i got flu (i think). had fever and fatigue like i never felt before. It all passed. But i had this feeling in back of my throat. I take a look and my right tonsil looks weird and swollen. My left tonsil is pretty much non existent or small. Never had them taken out.

Now my lingual tonsil on right side. with is actually the far back part of the tongue i get a bump, which is painless, but i feel it. then the rt lymph nodes on neck swell for a week.. It goes down (whew). Next another bump on lingual tonsil shows, then rt side lymps swell again for a week. swelling goes down on bump and lymph. It cycles like this for the past 3 months. All different spots, same general area. what an emotional rollercoaster ride. Each time its a different bump on the right side, far back on tongue (lingual tonsil).

Is this type of recurring cycle, on different spots a sign of cancer?

it seems to be working its way down the back rt side of my tongue. everything is on rt side.

1.  Went to ENT in march after my bout with flu and asked about the feeling. He scopes me and says, all clear.

2. Went to urgent care 5 day later for fatiuge, could be flu lingering. got strep quick test, showing negative. got antibiotic zpack. it got rid of fatigue.

3. Went to GP in April cuz other bumps showed. and he says the recurring thing in different spots not like cancer. but had me check with ent again. got a cbc blood test all normal.

4.Went to ENT June 2. explanined the cycle and showed bumps that receded.. he says not likely cancer. He swabed my tonsil crypt for culture. And i got a blood test for EBV mono.

awaiting results of culture. and mono blood test.

If both negative, i will biopsy the lymphs. cuz although they do go down each cycle they're still swelled and rubbery feeling. wanna catch this sucker early if its cancer.

This board is very informative and you have all taught me to been persistent. I wish all of you warriors well. My heart goes out to all of you. Keep on fighting and dont ever give up... God Bless.

also wanna add.. that i get muscle twitches all over. during this whole time. which leads me to believe not cancer.

BUT 2 packs a day for the last 5 years, and smoked for a total of 14 yrs. I work in sales. AND horrible oral hygiene last 5 years.. brushed only 3 times a week. Also had xrays of teeth in april. I need deep cleaning and had one small shallow cavity. no abcesses.

Dont worry someone already slapped me up side my head. Im currently working on ridding the bad habits. 

 Once again. God Bless you all. Prayers sent out for all of you..

Hi Alfred, 

Cancer doesn't usually grow and then recede. It just keeps on growing. Also it is usually hard as opposed to soft and rubbery. That doesn't mean that what you have going on isn't cancer, but chances are your doctors are right.  Keep an eye on it anyway. When I noticed my tonsil cancer I had one tonsil bigger than the other. My wife told me to touch it and see if it was hard (she is a thyca survivor). I stuck my finger in there and it was hard as a rock. That's when I had it looked at and they found the SCC.

I gotta slap you on the head here also...take better care of yourself! There are folks on this site that would kill to have teeth, or a tongue, or a jaw, or lungs. Don't squander the ones you've got. Take care of them or you might lose them. My 2 cents.

Good Luck 

I agree with Defjoeb, cancer doesnt come and go in cycles, and every lump I ever felt in my throat that was cancerous was hard as a rock.

Get those teeth fixed up asap. Smoking and poor dental hygiene ( along with heavy alcohol use) are the biggest risk factors for oral (and other) cancers. Keep on the docs for a diagnosis...if it is HPV, that also is a factor in oral cancer ( so I have heard).

Take care...

Mike

Thanks to all for the responses so far. I'll be watching my health carefully.

God Bless.