Thanks Brian. Actually I was hopeful that I could boost my immune system by changing diet, exercise, home locale, etc. During the 6 montshs of these "life style" changes, the lymph node has more than doubled and somewhat hardened. And, recently a much smaller one, the size of a small lima bean, has appeared next to the first. It is becoming clear that the cancer is aggressive and requires a changed strategy. My team of 3 docs wanted me to begin radiation and chemo right then, some 10 months ago now. As I expressed my reluctance to the chemo doc he then suggested a mild drug (?) which I also avoided. Now, I'll go back to the radiation doc having heard a lot of bad news about chemo treatments.

DX in 12/2010. Stage 4 SCC HPV+ BOT swollen lymph. I've spent the past 3 years away from medical treatments. Instead I've focused on good nutrition, active exercise, singing, laughing, oral exercises and such. I've had neither pain nor discomfort. But I haven't been able to kill the cancer. So, I'm now considering robotic surgery and/or radiation.