Hi there. I'm 42, married to a beautiful lady 15 yrs, we have 3 awsome daughters,8,9 & 13 been self employed 11 yrs. Not makin a fortune, just gettin by. Nice home. Pretty positive guy, great life! I was dx 2/11/04 w/scc in throat. Don't know stage yet. Had sinus infection, ear pressure/pain, soar throat, all on right side, since sometime between Thangsgiving & Christmas I think, not really sure. Thinking back, the right side of my face has been hassling me alot of 2003. Had right eye infection July '03 sulfa drops cleared it up. Don't know if related. Seemed like it came back a couple of times but drops cleared it up. Didn't really pay too much attention since I've had sinus problems for 20 some years. Didn't gain the standard 5 or so pounds during holidays & thought it was I'd cut out the fries at lunch! My wife recalls that I wasn't the normal heater in bed, I'm talkin bout tempurature folks, everthing else was fine! Had worked my butt off in December & thought I was just burnt out! 1/26/04 I called my family gp's office & asked nurse that took call if doc could just call in script for antibiotic & he did. On 9th day of augmentin I didn't feel well at all & lymphnode on right under jaw below ear was swollen. I called gp & he saw me that day, looked in ear & nose & said no infection just redness. told me I should take antihistamines see if cleared up on its own. I mentioned I'd had a soar throat & he figured he take a look just for drill. He looked a little surprised & said I had a swollen tonsil & I told him I'd had a tonsillectomy when 6. He called a radiologist for cat scan the next day & made appt. w/ent day after that. Saw ent on friday, he said I needed a tonsillectomy on monday & said it might be lymphoma. When he got in there on monday he realized it was'nt tonsil & took biopsy from lump in throat below tongue. Tuesday ent called & said it was scc, I was relieved to know it was'nt lymphoma What did I know? Went to see differnt ent surgeon at Virginia Mason in Seattle & they proceeded to drop a bomb on me, my wife & 13 yr old daughter about cutting my throat out & rebuilding it w/my forearm, feeding tube, trac, the works! I asked just wht the f--- we were talkin about here. I thougt we were to discuss the procedure to remove the lump in my throat. Boy was I mistaken! Anyway, enough of my pissin & moanin! I'm so thankful I found this website & you people. Its been uplifting & scary to read others postings & responses. Hopefully my experiences can maybe help another the way so many of yours have helped me! I need you guys & hope you'll have me. I,m ready to face this deal head on & win!!! I've overcome so many things in my life. This will, I'm sure, be the biggest. I guess I won't speak for quite a while after surgery & until after radiation so this will be a good outlet. Still very scared but ready. The financial difficulties ahead are just as scary to me as the rest of this. They say change is good, I hope so!