Hi, Braziliangirl.

I started in May with my left tonsil becoming very inflamed and enlarged so much that it extended out to my uvula (midline of throat). I went to my PCP who prescribed prednisone and antibiotics, as I also had a left ear infection. That pain was pretty bad and it affected my speech. The medications made the tonsil reduce by about 70%, but then 5 days after I finished the antibiotics, it flared up again. All along, I never had a positive strep test, so they thought the tonsillitis was viral and caused the ear infection secondarily. This is when I went to see my surgical oncologist/ENT. He ordered a CT scan with contrast and it showed that my tonsil was enlarged and appeared to just be inflamed. There was no evidence of a peritonsilar abscess, but he felt the tonsil and it was firm. He thought that the infection was inside the tonsil. He prescribed 2 more weeks of antibiotics, which were ineffective at eliminating the problem. So, he decided that that tonsils should be removed. He did NOT expect cancer. It would have had to be a totally different kind of cancer than I had before. He just thought that it was a case of an adult needing a tonsillectomy, which happens. So, when he got into the operating room, he was quite surprised that he found something suspicious looking in my left tonsil. He immediately sent it to pathology, then came the bad news.

So, he thinks that I actually had an infection superimposed over the cancer. So, really, having this case of tonsillitis caused me to find this tumour sooner rather than later. I have to see some bright side of this...lol!

Kerri - my treatment... Well I was blessed im not sure why but in comparison to others it wasn't fun - but I got through it ok... Some do really well with treatment, some struggle a lot - most fall in the middle. Personally - I think i was very fortunate - i had a peg.. Couldn't use it (made me throw up) so I sucked it up and drank my meals towards the end of treatment. Because of this I had my peg removed 2 weeks post treatment (on my birthday!) and was feeling okay about 6 weeks out, in fact I asked work if they needed a hand closing up. Three weeks out I was feeling better... But the two weeks after radiation. We're the worst by far. I no longer work as a nurse... I work for the school board. So I was actually off until September (but was fine to go back to work probably 2 mos out). PT is a heavier job though I would look at 4 mos. minimum depending on how you do with treatment. Good luck... You'll kick it in the butt. Diet makes a big difference in healing. Avoid filling up on junky calories. High calorie healthful foods will serve you well. Hugs!

Thanks for sharing, Cheryl! What kind of nursing did you do? I can't see myself being a PT until retirement age. It's tough on the body, especially my hands and wrists. I do a lot of manual work and have tiny hands!

Ironically, I am scheduled to take a course in mid-September on Advanced Oncology Rehab. A good portion of it focuses on H & N cancer. I thought about asking for a refund, but I will only be a couple of weeks into treatment, so I figured I could handle it. Plus, they'll have a real, live patient to use as a subject...lucky for them! Lol!

Kerri, just talked about you with a really close friend that�s a doctor (pneumologist) that had breast cancer last year.

As you she said "the brighter side" - something like this: "Well, it�s better to have a secondary primmary than a recurrence. She will get well".

I was happier. Hope you also do.

Kerri, your little one is just 5 or 6 months younger than mine. I was diagnosed when she was 3 months old and can only imagine how difficult it must have been to find out you had cancer while you were pregnant. Your strength and amazing attitude are inspiring and I have no doubt you will come through this like a champ!

Hi Kerri,

Glad you are getting more answers and that your final treatments will start soon. We are all thinking of you and praying for a full recovery.


XOOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX KATE

Kerri, I have you in my thoughts and you're staying there! The wait to find out what's going on is terrible. See if you can get hold of David Servan-Schreiber's book, Anti-cancer, which has many good eating suggestions The very best of luck to you. Linda XX

Kerri,
As you can see from my signature, I had a "new" and rare cancer completely unrelated to oral cancer in my gut, which was removed approximately a year later than my original surgery on my tongue. My doctors at MD Anderson all say how they do not have lots of patients with my history, in one of them said that I am at the very end of the Bell curve. Our situations are certainly not alike, but fighting another cancer after enduring the first one is a common thread.

It certainly comforted me, to put an optimistic spin on it, that it was a new cancer, even though my second one had certainly been in my body for many years. It is hard on the body to have this new fight when you aren't truly healed from the first. You are MUCH younger than I and should recover faster. I just feel young on those days when I feel good! I get a little mixed up when I am trying to decide whether or not I feel bad (when I do) from radiation after effects, hypothyroidism, or having a roux en y, thus missing a duodenum and not absorbing nutrients. So your stuff is in the same area, and it can be an advantage!

You have excellent medical care, have a fighting spirit, and it sounds to me like you are going to beat this cancer. Plus you are one of those gods/goddesses of medicine, in my opinion: a physical therapist! You know the importance of exercise and movement.

Best,
Anne

Hi Kerri

Re work - I think I came through the treatment pretty well on the whole, and haven't been too tired. I went back to work (pretty much a desk job) part time 5 months post treatment. I did feel well enough to go back sooner, but I took everyones advice, including my medical team, to not rush it and as I was struggling to get my calorie intake high enough I wanted to be able to have time to concentrate on feeding myself. I am lucky that I was not under pressure from my work to go back sooner, other than being on half pay. I also don't have children to cope with.

So my advice to you is to take as much time for yourself as you are able before rushing back to work, espically as it is physical work (I used to be a nurse so I know how hard PTs work). I could probably have coped with a short course a couple of weeks into treatment but I actually felt a great relief on the day that I finished work, that I did not have to worry about it and I could concentrate on myself. Also you may find that the topic may be close too for comfort.

Sending you lots of positive thoughts.
Sally

Hi there... I used to do L&D and palliative. Don't miss it much, but seeing nursing in the state it's in these days wish I could come back if for no other reason, than the complete lack of interest most people seem to have in their job. At least I cared. Re the course... If its a one day course you should be alright but if it's longer than a week you might want to take a rain cheque. Usually around the 3 week mark things get start to get hard... Food turns on you, drinks particularly pop (ugh!!! Still cant drink the stuff - not that I want to) tastes horrible!!!!!!! And the sores start - I found manuka honey staved off the worst till the end... Thank god, but everyone has varying opinions on whether it works or not. I found it really helped, but that's just my opinion - mind you it is $20 for a tub and I still have half of it 15 mos out. So it was worth a try in my books. Hugs... You'll get through this!