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Is it unusual for NHFOLLICULAR LYMPHOMA to affect the tonsils and throat?

A MyLymphomaTeam Member asked a question 💭

I have had a sore throat for about 10 days- Dr diagnosed as Pharyngitis and prescribed Amoxicillin which has improved the soreness along with a spray to use in mouth.
He checked for swollen lympth nodes in neck along jaw line and all ok.
I am more curious than concerned at this point.

October 8
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A MyLymphomaTeam Member

Keep in mind our bodies are trying to adjust to this so called meds with side effects lol. That's why my Dr was shocked when I would tell her about how my body is doing weird things after treatment, I think we all have the most common side effects but each of us are different so different effects, wish you ❤️‍🩹 well

October 8
MyLymphomaTeam

Can follicular lymphoma affect the tonsils and throat? Yes, it can, though it's relatively rare. Lymphoma in the tonsil area accounts for about half of head and neck lymphomas that occur outside of lymph nodes, and while it's most commonly a different subtype called diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma can Show Full Answer

Can follicular lymphoma affect the tonsils and throat? Yes, it can, though it's relatively rare. Lymphoma in the tonsil area accounts for about half of head and neck lymphomas that occur outside of lymph nodes, and while it's most commonly a different subtype called diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma can still show up there. The good news in your situation is reassuring on a few fronts:

- Your doctor found no swollen lymph nodes along the jaw line
- The sore throat has responded well to antibiotics
- A bacterial infection like pharyngitis is a very common and straightforward explanation for throat soreness

It's worth knowing that people with lymphoma can be more susceptible to infections, so keeping your care team informed about recurring or persistent symptoms is always a good idea. Since you're already improving and your doctor has examined you, that's a positive sign. That said, if the sore throat returns or doesn't fully clear up after finishing the antibiotics, it would be worth flagging it to your oncologist specifically, given your lymphoma history. Better to mention it and have them say "all clear" than to wonder! 😊

October 8
A MyLymphomaTeam Member

Throughout my treatment and even since I have had a number of “odd” things show up. I was hospitalized for “infectious colitis” (no idea where that came from), this summer a fungal throat infection and needed three weeks of anti fungal as well as antibiotics, RSV this winter, swollen areas in my mouth last fall that took me from my dentist to an endontist to an oral surgeon (!!), and this resolved with antibiotics.
I have had a few more things beyond this, but I guess I have experienced sort of unusual (but continued) weird infections. I do get IVIG infusions monthly for about two years now.
All I can guess is that our bodies have been through so much with treatment let alone the B cell lymphoma.
My oncologist explained that just having lymphoma itself will suppress your immune system, because your B cells are part of your immune system and MCL is a B cell lymphoma (so your immune system is all ready not functioning properly) then to get treatment on top throw things off more.
My doctor said MCL is a disease of the immune system so I guess that is why all these issues pop up. Just strange that they come out of no where without exposure to most obvious things (except the RSV I had).

October 8

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