Hello,
My name is Barbara. My husband, Tom, has been diagnoised with Squamous Cell Carcinoma, primary the tonsil, Stage IV. He has already had surgery, it was thought that the mass in his neck was a cyst, but we have since found out it was a lymph node. Tomorrow we meet with the tumor board at Stanford University. We don't have our doc's yet, but by tomorrow we should know more of the plan and the team that we will work with.
I am so very thankful to find this site. It is the first time I have felt a connection to this strange new world called cancer, Head and Neck cancer in particular. I have already felt relief reading the new folks postings and the ol' timers responses. I can tell this will be a place we visit often. Good luck and bless you all.
Barbara

hi barbara
just read your post. i wish you and your husband the best of luck. i havent had a diagnosis yet, however after spending three years in nursing school and am very well educated on the subject of these types of cancers. its scarey. please keep us up to date on your experience and i will put up a post tomorrow night after my ent appt. and biopsy.
again from the bottom of my heart i hope all goes well for you.
scott in jersey

Best of luck to you, we just came from the place of the "unknown" during the last few weeks. The biopsy is just a start and not always surefire. Hang in there, the answers do come, just not as quickly as you might like. We will be in contact tomorrow also.
Barbara

Hi Barbara,
and welcome to the forum. I am practically in your backyard so if you or Tom wish to speak with someone personally email me and I will give you my phone number.

Tom has already asked me if anyone is from around here, he would really like to chat with you. How do I email you? By profile? I have to go now for the tumor board appt. We can catch up afterward. Tom will be excited and thankful to have someone near by! Thank you Gary!
Barbara

Barbara, If you click on the little thing that looks like a rolodex card next to Gary's name at the top of his post, you'll find his email address.

Welcome, by the way. Sorry you had to find this place, but it is a great place for information and support too (and Gary is the tops for info. and support!).

Nelie

Hello, Barbara.
Everyone here will do all they can to get you and your husband through all this. They were so supportive of my husband (Tom) and me during his ordeal, which began in the spring of 2004. We are looking forward to December of this year...it will mark Year Two post treatment! All is going well - - he's even put on most of the weight he lost and he's taken up golf to help the 'range of motion' issues. Rough road ahead, but the journey can bring many positives into your lives!.
God bless you both.
Nicki

Nelie, Nicki,

Thank you for your replies. We are so glad to have found this site. I am not so savvy getting around it yet though. Tom went to the tumor board today, more surgery to remove lymph nodes and clear margins. Then radiology for 6 wks after he heals from surgery some what. I feel a little more familiar with this process everyday. Thank you for the support!!
Barbara