hi my husband went to the ent doc yesterday... they tell him that in 4-6 weeks they want to take out his tonsils because they are asymmetrical and his right side is a lot bigger than the left along with his lymphnode being enlarged.. they tell him they are concerned with lymphoma.. THey didnt order any type of blood work or anything just dump the word lymphoma on him and say ok see ya in 4-6 weeks..now to me that was very stupid to do.. if you are concerned with lymphoma in a patient wouldnt you think theyd atleast do bloodwork or not make him wait 4-6 to remove the tonsils? Just not sure what to think here he is so worried now that he will have them removed and find out he has lymphoma.. anyone know what the chances are that this asymmetrical tonsil could be cancerous? any advice or comments would help

syn - I have definitely heard that before. About 8 months ago, I went to my ENT and he said my tonsils were asymmetrical, the right one also being larger than the left. He mentioned the "L" word and he did do blood work on me and said it was normal. I didn't have any lymph nodes enlarged though. I've never heard of an ENT just saying see ya in about 4-6 weeks. I even went and got a second opinion with my tonsils. Your doctor needs to check more into it I think. My tonsils were huge, I finally had mine out last month (4 weeks tomorrow). I went ahead and got them out partly because I couldn't breathe and partly because leaving them there could be setting someone up for lymphoma but my doctor also said that he has taken out asymmetrical tonsils before and he could count on one hand how many were lymphoma, (very few). How old is your husband? I know they look at several things, does he smoke and does he drink? Do some research.

He is 23 right now, and yes he does smoke. He had a incident with a lymph node under his arm that they said could have been lymphoma but apparently that blood work came back fine about a year ago.. Now this whole thing with his tonsils has got him freaked out.. Do you think that if he were to go to a regular doctor that he could ask that doctor to do some blood work for him since the ent was excuse me for saying this but, since the ent was a "assho*le"? I really could have just slapped him for doing that.. "We are concerned with lymphoma see ya in a month or so" I think I would have freaked out just like my husband did..

syn - I would probably go to another ent. Ask around about reputable ent's. Like I said, I sure got another opinion. He definitely needs to get it seen about. But don't worry until you have something to worry about. I am 42 and I got my tonsils out. The doctor I got the second opinion from said that in an adult with asymmetric tonsils, in the back of a physician's mind is that "L" word but some people just have asymmetric tonsils. Like I said, don't worry yet. I would go to another doctor. Even if it was, you gotta know so you can treat it. Enlarged lymph nodes can also be from infection. Are his tonsils infected and are they really big?

The doctors didnt say anything about them being infected just that the right is a lot larger than the left. They even did one of those scopes down his nose and his throat to look. The left is a little large but, nothing compared to the size of his right one. He just in general has large tonsils. They have been that way as long as he can remember. No one has ever said anything about taking them out or anything before now. The main reason for him going to have them looked at now is because he is in the military and he can not breathe when he runs due to them being so large. The doctors dont think this could have that much of an affect on his breathing but, if you saw how large that right one is youd see lol..

Don't tell me that large tonsils don't affect your breathing, they do too. My right tonsil was touching my uvula. Between both tonsils, I might have had about 1/4 inch between them. I know after my surgery, the doctor told my husband that "now she can breathe." My tonsils were obstructing my airway. I was having trouble at night, I would stop breathing (sleep apnea). Also, my tonsils had been that way also for a long time, one being bigger than the other. I think I would get a second opinion if I were you. I wanted my tonsils out so I could breathe and it always felt like there was something in my throat, both doctors I went to recommended it. At least your husband is only 23, I am 42.

I had asymmetrical tonsils. That is not the only reason I had them removed, but I was concerned about cancer. The pathology report came back clear.

It does sound like he needs a second opinion because that doc doesn't sound too helpful.