Hi Everyone,
My name is Mary Jo, or MJ for short. My husband has tonsil cancer. He is T2N2bM0. I was told by our surgeon that this is a very specific type of staging. My husband, John, will start treatments on April 28th. He will have 6 to 7 weeks of radiation. The radiation type is very area specific. John will have the radiation five days a week and a low dose of cysplatin once a week. This whole process of a biopsy, diagnosis, CATscans, PET scans, teeth extractions, bite plate, mask making has taken about four weeks.
I am worried and scared. We are moving things as quickly as possible and our doctor has assured us that we are not compromising the cure rate by the amount of time this has all taken. Any advice? MJ
Hello MJ,
Welcome to this forum. Like your husband, I was diagnosed with tonsil cancer but mine is a more serious one with T2N3M0 (classified as stage 4B). I am still alive and was back to work six months after completing concurrent radiation and chemo treatment.The series of tests and preparation work for the radiation definitely take about four weeks. The waiting time can be frustrating but keeping a positive mind is important. Reading survivor stories helps a lot for mental boost. You may e-mail me if you like to hear more about my personal experienc in this life battle.
Karen stage 4 tonsil cancer diagnosed in 9/01.
Hi Mary Jo,
and welcome to the site. I had a T3N0M0 myself and underwent almost the same treatment protocol (just rad & chemo). The difference was I had only 2 doses of Cisplatin spaced 3 weeks apart. It took about a month for all of my diagnostics and IMRT software programming also. I asked the doctor about the time delay once and she told me that if the cancer appeared more dangerous they would have moved even faster. Normally it takes a couple of months to get in the cue for an MRI and several months for a PET scan (for non cancer pts). You are already on the fast track believe it or not.
I'm new to this site and trying to figure out how to use it. This is an introduction rather than a reply.
I was diagnosed with upper palate and tongue cancer 5 years ago . I was treated with six weeks of radiation and had a neck dissection on October 13, 1998. I thought I was doing great and would celebrate a "cure" next October. A recent dental exam revealed a sore looking spot on the side of the tongue. My mouth is generally sore all the time due to the after affects of radiation thus I don't readily detect symptoms. I see the specialist this week. The last time I saw him was in November and I was ok then. Am once again scared and not knowing whether I should pursue more treatment, surgery and or chemo this time, or simply throw in the towel and let the disease run its course. I am 62 and have had a great life.
Gwalls,
Let's not be silly here. You still have a third of your life to live. Two years ago I woke up to celebrate my 4th anniversary only to feel a pain in my throat when I swallowed one of my pills. Yes it was devastating, but I got my butt to the oral surgeon asap. While they couldn't save my larnyx, they could save my life. It was only stage I and I'm doing just fine.
Having already had radiation it becomes even more imperative that you catch it early because you can only have radiation once to an area. This limits your options on treatment.
So chin up, and get to the doctor immediately and remember as someone this board keeps reminding us.
Cancer is a word not a sentence.