Hi everyone. I'm Suzee. My father,77, was diagnosed with tonsil cancer just before Christmas. He had just gone to Las Vegas for the winter when he had a huge lump coming out the side of his neck. The Dr he saw in LV gave him a scrip for antibiotics and said he could be scheduled for a CT scan right after the holidays. My sister took him to the ER the next day, where a CT showed the tumor.

We have moved him and his wife to Houston and MDAnderson for the duration of his treatment. My brother and SIL live in Houston and my SIL is an ER doc so we were able to fast track him through the referral process.

The inter-disciplinary team decided on 7 weeks of Erbitux and 30 radiation treatments. Originally it was to be on the right tonsil but last week they decided to radiate on both sides, which made my father sad.

He had his first Erbitux infusion on Monday. He ran a fever for 12 hours and had a severe headache for 24. I think he has progressed to just dizziness.

My father and his wife are Korean and she speaks little english. I will be down in Houston every weekend throughout treatment, and the other 4 are taking turns being in Houston during the weeks.

We are all scared. I have been lurking on this board for several weeks and it really has helped me process what treatment will be like and how to be best prepared. You could never realize the great comfort you've brought to us kids already. Thank you!