Six weeks ago I became ill with a sore throat and fever. It was difficult to swallow and it looked like I had a swollen tonsil with flesh-colored bumps on the right side and like my soft pallete was covering part of the throat on the left.

Upon looking at my throat, my GP prescribed an antibiotic for strep. After taking it for 10 days, my throat still hurt and I was given another 10-day antibiotic. When that didn't work, I was tested for strep and mono. Both tests came back negative, and he recommended I see an ENT.

I made an appointment, but in the interim, still wasn't feeling better so I saw another GP who prescribed a steriod for the swelling.

This didn't help either, but when I finally saw the ENT he looked at my throat and said that my swollen tonsil looked like it was left over from a virus and the other side of my throat looked like an effect from sleeping with my mouth open and snoring.

But I still have a sore throat and difficutly swallowing! What kind of virus would cause these symptoms for six weeks? And why did I never notice the soft pallete before this?

Do you think I need a second opinion?

Also, I read online that HPV (a virus that is linked to cervical cancer) may also be linked to cancer of the orthopharnyx. I had pre-cancerous cervical cells removed about six years ago. Should I be concerned about cancer? Or should I trust my ENT that it is nothing?

Thank you.