Can throat cancer cause swollen tonsils?

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Your throat seems infected. It is not cancer. The tonsils are congested with pus pointing from the crypts. Crypts are small canals inside the tonsillar tissue that can get infected. When infected they produce pain, fever, and soreness. They may cause a change of voice and difficulty in swallowing as well. The diagnosis is supported by the congested pillars and posterior pharyngeal wall.

In my office, I would take a swab for culture sensitivity. Meanwhile, I would put you on a course of Clarithromycin 250 mg to be taken twice daily. In addition to the antibiotic, I would suggest taking some anti-inflammatory medicines and pain killers. Warm saline gargles would be very helpful. Otherwise, dilute Benzdymine gargles will also remove the debris and infection.

Smoking, spicy food, masala, alcohol, coffee and tea tend to worsen the inflammation. They impair with normal defence mechanisms of oral mucosa. Moreover, if the infection is left untreated it can cause cough, earache, fever, expectoration, and breathing trouble. The tonsils can act as a source of infection in surrounding areas.

Do revert if you need any further support.

Thank you.