Hi there! Welcome and sorry you have to be here! BOT cancer (especially if it's HPV related - which you should be tested to find out ) is very treatable and responds well to chemo/rads. The treatments really suck - not gonna lie. But speech may only be a problem for a short while. Or not at all! Most of us have trouble with swallowing and eating from week three to four and on, r/t radiation irritation to the throat and oral mucosa. You will probably have to take some time off as rads makes you tired especially near the end, and uncomfortable to say the least.

If your dr. Hasn't told you yet the primary treatment for BOT cancer is radiation and chemo,(together) usually week one, three or four, and the last week for chemo, and 30-40 (with the norm being around 35) daily radiation treatments with weekends off) and depending on the location of the cancer, size of tumor, and if it's in your nodes they may operate first.

Some people have severe nausea caused by the chemo, but not all it really depends on your body and how you are wired. Try to bulk up now as people generally lose weight during radiation as food tastes like crap or has no taste at all- and the irritation can be very painful. Radiation is cumulative it gets worse as the days go on with the two weeks following treatment being the worst. I'm not trying to scare you these are some fundamentals you should be aware of. Like I said - it's not fun - but it is doable.

Even stage four BOTs generally fair well. Try not to worry. Depending on where you are being treated they may push for a feeding tube. The group here is pretty split on whether to have one or not. I personally had one but really didn't use it as I was very very fortunate to not have a lot of irritation up to the end. So I could chug my liquid nutrition (ensure, boost - whatever) (it's really the fastest least painful, and most effective way of getting nutrition when you are near the end of treatment) so I would suck up the pain and down 5 bottles a day. Adding protein powder helps with the healing process, and gives you more calories too. Whether they give you a tube or not try to swallow even just some tepid water as much as possible because it helps maintain the swallowing reflex, and hydrates you. Nutrition is key to healing so forcing yourself to eat and drink is priority.

Everyone responds differently to the treatments, and I'm sure a lot of the BOT people here will be along to fill in anything I missed.

Couple of DOs
Ask for a blood work up including your thyroid levels (thyroid's can poop out - because of the rads)
do advocate for yourself - unless you have a caregiver or family member who's able to be there, you need to be educated and know when to push with regards to your treatment.
Do write down any questions you may have prior to going in to see your dr. We all forget - when the word cancer comes into the picture.
And get yourself to a CCC - they are the best place to be treated - there is a list here on the forum. I think MD Anderson is a big one in Texas.
Time is of the essence - get your stuff sorted out at home, and push to begin treatment ASAP.
and good luck... Eat healthfully, and relax - stressing yourself out will only make things work.

Hope your biopsy goes well, and you've found a great support network, and information place here... Welcome again.

Take care...