 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 | Hi Nicki,
I too had a tonsil cancer and had an experience very similar to Karens. I received IMRT and Cisplatin. The tumor completely vanished from the CT by the third week into Tx. I didn't have surgery. I lost over 60 lbs and didn't have a PEG. I also would not let them pull my teeth. I am doing fine today and and put back on about 35 lbs. I can eat just about anything I want. I was also 55 and very healthy going into Tx. Didn't drink, smoke or use drugs for many years.
The best way to stay in focus is to stay in the now. Do what is in front of you to be done. When the food tastes bad or it hurts too much to swallow - do it anyway. There are meds to help ease the pain. My serious problems didn't really start until just before the end of and post radiation. Stay hydrated - 2-3 liters a day.
I relied heavily on pain management and anti-anxiety meds. I also used anti-depressant meds post Tx.
What's Toms staging?
Gary Allsebrook
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Dx 11/22/02, SCC, 6 x 3 cm Polypoid tumor, rt tonsil, Stage III/IVA, T3N0M0 G1/2
Tx 1/28/03 - 3/19/03, Cisplatin ct x2, IMRT, bilateral, with boost, x35(69.96Gy)
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"You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14 NIV)
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