Actor and producer Moshe Kasher recently announced he has been diagnosed with HPV-positive tonsil cancer at age 46. He first noticed a bump on his tonsil three months ago while working on The Comeback Kid. Though he described the recovery as difficult, he noted the cancer has a high cure rate.
Kasher called the disease an epidemic in men under 55 and urged people to get checked. His announcement has brought renewed attention to the early signs of tonsil cancer, which can be subtle and easy to miss.
What tonsil cancer looks like
Tonsil cancer is a tumor on the tonsils, located at the back of the throat. It is the most common form of oropharyngeal cancer.
Symptoms often mimic less serious conditions, so they are frequently overlooked.
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4 signs that warrant a doctor’s visit
A persistent, one-sided sore throat is a red flag. Daniel L. Faden, a head and neck surgeon at Harvard Medical School, said patients may also feel a “foreign body sensation” in the throat.
One-sided ear pain can be an early clue.
Chronic bad breath is another possible sign. Caitlin McMullen, a surgeon at Moffitt Cancer Center, explained tumors can produce odor, and the growth may trap food debris. Pain from a throat lump can also make oral hygiene harder, worsening the smell.
The most common presenting sign, according to Faden, is a painless lump in the neck—an enlarged lymph node. HPV-related tonsil cancers often spread to neck lymph nodes early, making this a frequent first symptom.
Other possible signs include blood in saliva, trouble swallowing or speaking, mouth pain, and sores in the back of the mouth that don’t heal.
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When to push for answers
Doctors caution that these symptoms don’t always mean cancer. Tonsillitis, mononucleosis, abscesses, and even tonsil stones can cause similar issues. Reactive lymph nodes from a recent infection are another common culprit.
If symptoms last longer than two weeks, McMullen advises seeing a primary care doctor or an ear, nose, and throat specialist. They may perform a physical exam and order imaging, such as a CT scan.
Faden added that most tonsil cancers today are linked to HPV and often appear in otherwise healthy, middle-aged nonsmokers. This is part of why they’re frequently missed.
Kasher’s case highlights the importance of early detection. Even with a high cure rate, catching the disease early improves outcomes.
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