My story.... - 08-11-2012 06:16 AM
Diagnosed with a stage 4 right tonsil cancer. I did not want chemo so I had to get surgery/radiation. I was operated on May 2nd 2004 at Barnes Hospital St Louis (Washington University).
My surgeon used transoral laser microsurgery a new technique at the time. He removed a 3 1/2 centimeter tumor from the right tonsil, part of the back of my tongue and part of my palate. The cancer had spread to a node and broken through into the soft tissue of my neck...so that he had to remove a 2nd tumor that had grown about 5 centimeters. He achieved negative margins. Ironically the radiation oncologist I chose also was treated for tonsil cancer himself and used the same surgeon and developed his own radiation plan. He used 62 Gys over 35 days on me, a lower than normal dosage I was told. 2 years ago my surgeon said I had been cured.
My surgeon used transoral laser microsurgery a new technique at the time. He removed a 3 1/2 centimeter tumor from the right tonsil, part of the back of my tongue and part of my palate. The cancer had spread to a node and broken through into the soft tissue of my neck...so that he had to remove a 2nd tumor that had grown about 5 centimeters. He achieved negative margins. Ironically the radiation oncologist I chose also was treated for tonsil cancer himself and used the same surgeon and developed his own radiation plan. He used 62 Gys over 35 days on me, a lower than normal dosage I was told. 2 years ago my surgeon said I had been cured.