Met with oncoligist today. He agreed with ENT on surgury and also thinks it's all contained in tonsil and lymph nodes from all test he has also gone over. Adding mamogram this week before surgury so everything ought to be pretty well squished, scanned, poked and prodded. Said radiation will be 5 days week app 7 weeks and chemo will be cisplatin only 3 courses 1 every 3 weeks during radiation tretment and that should get anything that might be floating around that they might not have found. Cardiaoligist tom. for pre surgury screen have had prev. heart problems and heart attack. But looks like as of Monday next week Get R Done.

Son has made it home last night boy he's pooped after about 30 hrs of flying and 8-9,000 miles Wants to know if going to pay him by the mile (in profile you will see I'm ex over the road tractor trailer driver) yea laughed at him and told him he'd get my starting pay of about 2.5 cents a mile you know you gotta to start at the bottom. But so very proud to have him home and of the Navy and Red Cross for getting him here so quickly.

Donna,
Your at the begining of a long journey.
Lean on us as much as you need to.
You are among friends.
You will have lots of questions,concerns,and fear.
It sounds like you have picked the right place for treatment. Thats the very most important thing.
This site offers hope,prayers,laughter, and tears.
But most importantly it offers information and fellowship. Information that you will need for your jouney. Fellowship you will need for your spirit.
Too many of us out here found this site after treatment and had to go it alone. It was the most frightning thing I have ever gone through. I found this site just after I finished treatment. It made me feel so good to know that this wonderful family exsits. I just assume never met them. But I am sure glad I did.

Stay strong.
Robert,Chistine,Alison,Robby, Tommy, Billy, and Scotty Hamilton

Robert and Family Thank you so much for the note.
Yes I am so happy I found this site now before all my treatment started and have already found so much helpful info here and questions yesterday for the oncoligist. It makes me have so much more hope of surving this thing. My attitude has greatly improved in that I'm now I'm going to beat this thing. Now if I can just convience my back that it can make daily trips to have the radiology done I may have it made.
I know it had to be frightning to you not haveing anyone to talk to that had been through it and making alot of the decisions without knowing what others had done and what other choices their may be. I believe I have found a good place to go and everyone from my GP on are all working as a team and have been available to me. They all think we treat it now and aggressively we can win. forgive my rambling I had just told my husband that I think I may be over medicated today as nerves seem to have setteled down and the worry of son is over as he is home and not in the war now. Ready for Monday so we can get it started the sooner the quicker the day will come it is over.

I would also like to welcome you Donna. My brother is in the Navy also, was stationed on the Roosevelt for years but is now in New Orleans as a recruiter and will retire this year.
I also found this site after treatment and it pulled me from a deep depression. I spent HOURS reading all the archives and learning things that my wonderful doctors simply couldn't tell me because they had not experienced it. The people on here will pull you through anything you come up against so use us.
Minnie

Donna, glad to hear your son made it in time. The military is generally very sensitive to this kind of situation and will move mountains to take care of their people.

Sounds like you will be having very similar treatment to what I had, only in a different order. I had a tonsilectomy, followed by chemo/rad (cisplatin 3 times every 21 days, rad 5x per week, 7 weeks), then neck dissection after a 6 week delay for the tissues to settle down. Looks like the only difference is you're having surgery first.

What you are going to be going through is a rough treatment regimen, but many of us have done the same thing and are in a better place than we were before this all started. I was blessed with a wife that saw me through the experience and it sounds like your son and husband will provide the same service for you.

I recommend you just lay back for the ride and let the experts do their thing. Trust in their skill and the plan and the outcome, though difficult, will be as good as possible. Keep a positive attitude as it is a big part of getting through the treatments.

If you have any specific questions as your treatment proceeds, feel free to email me privately. Meanwhile, will keep you and your family in my thoughts. Please extend my thanks, again, to your son for his service.

Donna,

Your case sounds just like my friend Rod. His primary was the left tonsil and lymph node involment. He had all his teeth removed which was pretty bad for a 38 year old guy. I look back at all he has been through and think how much stronger he is than I thought. He had 38 radiation treatments with 3 rounds of cisplatin also. By the first week or so the lymph nodes were completely down. The one was the size of an egg before treatment. The side effects & tx was pretty rough for him but I don't think it's the same for everyone.You can do this though!!!! Starting tx was the hard part and scarey like making the mask but I think once you get in a routine, you'll be like "let's beat this thing". After tx the doctor said he had a complete response to tx no surgery would be needed. Pet scan showed no cancer last November.He gets checked once a month and the doctor is still amazed at how well he looks compared to when he first got diagnosed with a very large tumor. He was stage 4b. I prayed everyday for him because he was struggling with depression as well.It seemed like it was worse than the tx itself. His faith wasn't as strong as mine. Anyway fast forward till today, he is doing well. Changed his diet some and takes better care of himself. No drinking, no smoking. We had a scare with a chest cold (or should I say I had a scare)I worry alot, but it seems it was just the flu. Dry mouth and getting used to his dentures are the biggest problems. Doc said some saliva came back though it's hard for him to eat certain things but he is alive, he can talk, he can sing and he can laugh!!! It will be okay for you too~He also bought his first Harley Davidson and is proud of that! He went back to work a few weeks after tx. If I can help, please feel free to ask anytime. You too will get through this!God Bless!

Hello Donna; I envy your wisdom in joining this group at the outset of your diagnosis and treatment. You will find wise counsel and great support, guaranteed! This is the place for every question as you are talking to folks who have pretty much experienced it all.
As you have heard, it is a tough journey ahead, but it is doable...and complaining is just fine- no one should have to "suffer in silence". That's why there is such a forum as this where we can help each other bear the load.
May you experience a special close time with your dear family as you begin this challenge, and may the fair winds of victory blow your way when all is done.
All the best,
Fran