Hi Meli,

If it makes you feel any better regarding the chemo, I found the chemo was the easiest part of the treatment. When the doctors originally told me I would need chemo, I remember bursting into tears and thinking it was the worst news ever. However, they gave me weekly smaller doses of cisplatin, and i found the side effects were pretty well managed - nothing compared to the radiation. I didn't lose my hair and only had a couple bouts with the nausea (they give you very good medicine to keep the nausea at bay). Hopefully that provides you with just a bit of comfort - I was also diagnosed young and have bounced back pretty well smile 1 and a half years out from treatment and back to living my life!

Emily - 24 years old at diagnosis
HPV-, no risk factors
T2N2b Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Left oral tongue, poorly differentiated
Hemiglossectamy, reconstruction, partial neck dissection
30 Radiation treatments, weekly chemo (cisplatin)
1/13/12 last day of treatment
Diagnosed October 2011