Hi Susan,

Let me relate my experience.

I had a lump in my neck that was given a needle biopsy that identified cancer.

I then had a PET/CT that found 3 likely cancerous tumors. The one that was already biopsied and two others.

I went to see an ENT, who looked in my mouth and surmised that the primary tumor was my left tonsil.

He subsequently did a modified radical neck dissection on my left neck, removing the 3 tumors identified on the PET/CT and about 40 other lymph nodes. All were biopsied, and it turned out that only the three on the PET/CT were cancerous. And the primary was the left tonsil - the other two were lymph nodes.

However, the cancer had broken out of the two lymph nodes, which impacted my treatment (adding chemo to the radiation).

My RO was concerned about the proximity of the tonsil to the centerline of my mouth, so I got radiation on both sides of my neck - 6-1/2 weeks on the left (cancerous side) and 5-1/2 weeks on the right side.

Anyway, that's my story - except I am now over 3 years post-treatment, and doing great.

Best wishes,

Chris