hi mike, welcome i'm very new too. i was diagnosed on 8/4/06 SCC right tonsil and lymp nodes stage IV. and i understand your fear i have a 15, 8, and 4 year old. what i remind myself everyday is that there is a 90% survival rate and i'm a fighter. i must be.... when i watch my children play and see them so full of life it helps me to look within and find that life. i find out tomorrow about my treatments and i'm scared but i 'll do everything i can to make this process less emotionallly effective on my children... and with this forum we can all help eachother.... god bless you and good luck, i'll be praying for you...