Hi Meg,
I am one of those who had NO initial symptoms until the day, like Kirk, that I was shaving and noticed the lump (first saw, then felt) in right side of my neck. Usually the type to ignore these types of things, this time I KNEW that I had to have it looked at immediately. The first two quacks that I went to thought that I had mononucleosis and gave me the test for it, even though I told them that at 47 years of age and not having been in the position to have contracted mono, that I wanted to be checked out by an ENT. The third Dr. DID send me to an ENT, the next day. I was given a needle biopsy and was diagnosed the next week with SCC, undetermined primary, metastasis to right neck lymph nodes. CAT scan the next day showed slightly enlarged right tonsil. One week later, Jan. 23, 1987, I was in surgery for right side tonsilectomy (biopsy confirmed SCC in tonsil) and modified radical neck dissectomy on right side. Of the 81 lymph nodes removed, cancer was present in only 2. I then received the 7 week radiation treatment (35 treatments 5 days per week) to both sides of my neck.
Thanks for helping educate