Hello, I have been reading your website off and on for 5 months, since the midst of my husband's chemo/ radiation treatment for HPV+ tonsillar cancer. It was a tough road, but he was progressing beautifully. The last treatment was December, 2012. I was mentally beginning the party planning to celebrate and thank all of our relatives and friends who helped us through it--when the 3-month PET/non-contrast CT came back with worrisome spots on lungs. A followup biopsy has confirmed metastasis to the hilar lymph node of lungs. One small spot, less than a centimeter, (even too small for trial participation) but "terrible" news. (to quote our rad onc). We have two very conflicting approaches from two different centers here in the Baltimore/DC area:
[1. Wait 8-10 weeks and do a CT with contrast to see how it's behaving. If growing, begin chemo
2.] Don't screw around with it and start chemo now.
I have looked and looked and perhaps it's my unfamiliarity with the website, but I do not see similar situation. I know this is not a common occurrence, but if there is any insight out there, I would love to hear it. Thank you so much.

Sincerely,

Mary




Mary
Caregiver to husband, 60
Dx Sept '12 SCC BOT T2N2aMo, Stage IV, HPV+
Oct '12 Sub.Gland transfer
Nov-Dec '12 IMRT x 33 + cisplatin x7
March '13 PET/CT: 2 spots on lungs; (BOT & neck lymphs NED)
April '13 Biopsy: 1 = malignant right hilar lymph (met from HNSCC)p16
9/13: 33 rounds IMRT to lungs; carboplatinx7
CT w/contrast 12/30/13: 2 spots left hilar lymph. biopsy confirms SCC
30 rounds IMRT to left lung; treatment ended 5/29/14
Sept 2014--CT clear; December 2014 CT clear