HomeAnswersOtolaryngology (E.N.T)tongue disordersI am experiencing ear and tonsil pain and I have bump on my tongue. Please help.

Can little bumps on the posterior part of the tongue be cancer?

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The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.

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Published At April 25, 2022
Reviewed AtDecember 14, 2023

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

For the past two weeks, I have been suffering from sore throat and pain in the tonsil and ear region, especially during swallowing. It went away after taking antibiotics, but I did not complete the course, and now the pain is back. I am worried about my tonsil pain. I also have these weird bumps where the tongue meets the tonsil area. Both strep and the COVID tests were negative.

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I would suggest you do mouth gargle thrice daily. It helps in removing tonsil stones and cleaning the throat in general. Can you please tell me the name of the antibiotic you have used? And for how long? Do you suffer from reflux in the form of a burning sensation in your chest or stomach? Do you suffer from a bitter taste in your throat when waking up in the morning? The part at the end of your tongue is called lingual tonsils; it is normal anatomy and can be inflamed as the original pharyngeal tonsils in case of infection.

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

I had taken tablet Amoxicillin-Potassium 500 mg and Potassium Clavulanate 125 mg tablets twice daily for seven days. I have bad pain when swallowing, accompanied by ear pain. I had quit smoking for around ten years and had started the habit for a few months on and off over the last couple of years. I smoke only about four per day. On searching online, I found it causes cancer. Do the pictures point to that conclusion as well? What is the explanation for the earlobe-like piece by my tonsil and the ear pain? I quit smoking about a month back, after which I started to have a sore throat.

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

The throat picture you showed (attachment removed to preserve patient's identity) does not seem to be cancer. As you have told me, the throat problem responded well to antiboiotics, and cancer does not respond to antibiotics. I would suggest a mouth gargle and another course of antibiotic Augmentin 1000 Duo (Amoxicillin 875 mg and Clavulanic acid 125 mg) 1 g for another week, twice daily. I also suggest adding anti-inflammatory drugs such as Brufen (Ibuprofen) 400 mg once daily for four days. Consult your specialist doctor, discuss with them and take the medicines with their consent. I suggest you drink warm fluids and avoid icy and spicy meals. Your ear pain can be a referred pain from your throat. Stay away from smoking. As a former smoker, you need to get your throat checked once every six months.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Mohammed Osama Aboborda
Dr. Mohammed Osama Aboborda

Otolaryngology (E.N.T)

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