Howdy Bart:

I enjoyed reading your "experience" with the blasted "C" word - it was very uplifting. Like me, you probably didn't even know what an ENT was until you were finally sent to one. My symptom was similar (swollen place under chin on one side), and I was told I had a sinus infection and that was a swollen lymph node NOT! When my throat started hurting some several months later, my doctor just gave me antibiotics. I could see my tonsil on the right side was slightly red, but doctor just gave me more antibiotics. Time passed, but swollen place on neck didn't go away; tonsils stayed red; and I checked around to see what type doctor treated people with tonsil problems. That's when I went to an ENT. He did a needle biopsy that came back NEGATIVE. More time went by, so I was determined to get tonsils out, not thinking anything like "C," but because my throat was always sore. Two ENTs wouldn't do it because they said tonsils removed on an adult was a big problem and very painful. I insisted, to yet another ENT, who reluctantly removed mine in Nov. 2007. Yep,squamous-cell cancer under right tonsil that had spread to nodes on left side. During the time delay, I went from a Stage I to a Stage IV Seven weeks of radiation with 1/day week chemo, feeding tube, and all the works! It's been five years and PET scan in January NED, but the side effects of the radiation seem to be coming back, or at least that's what the ENTs say. They blame everything on radiation, especially when they can't "see" a reason for a certain problem. There, I've ranted enough. I want to welcome you to our Club, although sorry you have to be here. You hit the nail on the head about Christine. She participates in numerous OCF walks/events, and hopefully you will see her on Facebook speaking to those in attendance. She is GREAT, and the OCF is very proud of her. Keep posting - love reading success stories like yours.

julieann