I have been diagnosed with left tonsil cancer that involves lymph nodes. The Doctor said I will have to have surgery and something called a neck dissection and then radiation. Is there anyone here who has been through this type of cancer? Thanks, Anges1313

Many people here have been through what it sounds like you have. As you can see by my signature line, I had BOT (base of tongue) with mets to 2 lymph nodes almost 2 years ago. I was told by Moffitt, a CCC (comprehensive cancer center) that they did not recommend a neck dissection first but wanted to try the chemo and radiation. If I needed a ND afterwards it was still possible. Mind you I had already been to see 4 other docs and 3 of them recommended a ND. My point is if I were you I would consider another opinion before I went with surgery. The radiation is the only effective way to kill the cancer so many now believe there is no point to delay the radiation while you heal from surgery.

Where are you being seen?

Exactly what type of cancer do you have?

Did they tell you what Stage it is?

How big is the node(s)

Did they mention any chemo?

I am seeing an ENT Doctor in Rome, Ga. I have left tonsil cancer with the lymph nodes involved. How many, I don't know. These are questions I was hoping to find out what to ask the Dr. Stage? unsure but my tonsil looks terrible and I developed a sore throat and thought I had strep throat but I didn't have a fever so I found out it was cancer. He didn't mention any radiation. Just had a ct scan, pet scan x-rays, and the Dr. said I needed surgery to remove the tonsil and because the lymph nodes were involved I would need a neck dissection and then radiation. Thank you for replying as this has already given me info on questions to ask. My husband died Feb.14, 2008 and I have been sick ever since. But had no idea how sick I was.

I meant he didn't mention any chemotherapy, he did mention radiation. Sorry.

Angel,

I am so sorry that this year has been such a battle, first your husband dying on Valentine's Day and now this.

Please consider getting a second opinion at a Comprehensive Cancer Center. Someone will probably chime in with one that is in the Georgia vacinity...I would have to look it up (surely there is one in Atlanta.)
This diagnosis calls for "big guns" .....doctors and facilities experienced in head and neck cancers and treatment protocols. I know you feel overwhelmed and scared..I have been there and just the act of calling and setting an appt. with a Cancer Center seemed so hard but, once you make the call, they will guide you in the right direction.

You have come to the right place to get opinions and support...stick with us and we will help you thru the upcoming weeks. Lots of people here have been thru this storm and are able to give you invaluable information. Start reading the forums for answers to questions you probably already have. If you can't find information by reading...ask...someone will answer. We are here.

Deb

Angels --

The advantage of a comprehensive cancer center is that you will be seen by a team of specialists -- surgeons, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists (chemo), nutritionists, dentists, etc. -- who will consider your specific situation and work together to develop a treatment plan. Because it can affect several different functions critical to life (eating, breathing, talking, etc.), this type of cancer, more than many others, requires the involvement of specialists in a variety of areas. Your ENT may be a good doctor, but he may also deal with removing tonsils, fixing deviated septums and putting ear tubes in toddlers. To fight this disease most effectively, you want to be seen by doctors who deal with it every day.

It sounds as if you have been seen only by an ear/nose/throat surgeon. Not surprisingly, surgeons like to do surgery, and so that is what he is recommending. But if you spend time reading these boards, you will find that many who post here (and whose cancer was similar to yours) were treated at a comprehensive cancer center with radiation and chemotherapy and did not have any surgery until those treatments were completed -- and then only if necessary. Some, of course, did have surgery first, followed by radiation and chemo -- but that course of treatment came as a result of consensus among doctors representing all those specialties, talking among themselves in a "tumor board" at a comprehensive cancer center.

Several people who post here were treated at Emory University in Atlanta. You can do a search for Emory in the Search box in the upper-right corner and find out who they are, then send then e-mails or private messages to learn the specifics of their treatment.

Getting two or three opinions (or, in David's case, five!) is common, and your doctor should not be resistant to the idea. If he is, it's time to find another doctor. In the meantime, you've found the best place around for information and support. Keep reading and keep posting.

All the best,
Leslie

What would be the difference in going to a cancer center versus an ENT? I know it must be important otherwise you wouldn't have told me. One thing I am worried about also is that I have over an 85% blockage in the left carotoid artery and my vascular surgeon had told me previously not to have any surgery until I had surgery to correct that, as I couldn't stop taking my blood thinner. When I called the vascular surgeon up to tell him about the cancer, his nurse came back to the phone and replied that he said to go ahead with the cancer surgery. It kinda made me feel like he didn't care what happened. Thank you so very much for your kind words. It really meant a lot to hear from you and David also. I am reading up on all the material in this website. So many wonderful people sharing their livers to help people like me.

Wow! Thank you Leslie. I hadn't a clue. I just don't know what to do without information such as I am getting here. I live with my Mother right now taking care of her. She is 81 years young, and legally blind. I don't know how to tell her that I have cancer. Thank you so much for the info!

Given your history, your team at a CCC (comprehensive cancer center) would certainly include someone who can weigh in on how your artery blockage would affect your course of treatment.

Either your current doctor can make a referral for a second opinion or you can simply call and make the appointment yourself. Most CCCs will move quickly to fit you in once cancer has been diagnosed; they will tell you what you need to bring to your first appointment or arrange to have sent in advance (biopsy slides, test results, etc.). I believe most insurance plans will cover a second opinion. (Not sure about the third, fourth and fifth, though -- you can ask David!)

I mentioned Emory because it appears to be relatively close to Rome and because several people who post here have been treated there. Others here have gone much farther from home for their second opinions and/or treatment -- for example, to M.D. Anderson in Houston or Memorial Sloan-Kettering in New York, the top-ranked cancer centers in the country, according to U.S. News.

-- Leslie

I did find a Doctor on the Emory website that does stenting in the carotid so I e-mailed him and ask if it would be dangerous for someone to have cancer surgery without repairing the carotid artery first. Also, I found out that Emory has a couple of head and neck cancer clinical trials as well. They basically said they would do the radiation or chemo prior to neck dissection. My ENT hasn't done a biopsy yet. Shouldn't that be done before a surgery should be scheduled?