I'm so sorry to learn of your diagnosis. Tonsillar cancer was my second round with oral cancer.

They threw the sink at me. Mine was HPV-negative, which is rare when you don't have any known risk factors.

In my opinion, take the most aggressive treatment that your body can handle. I had bilateral tonsillectomies, followed by 35 radiation treatments, with weekly chemo. Yes, it sucked. I had an excellent support system. Yes, there were a couple of times I thought I would die, but I didn't. Yes, I was hospitalized quite a few times. Yes, I had a feeding tube. Yes, I still have side effects, but they are "doable" and I am alive and just returned to work after nearly a year. I have a lot to live for and I'm assuming you do as well. So, fight! Rely on us and your network that you and your family put together. Get that second opinion and do the next right thing.

I am coming up on my second post-treatment MRI w/contrast. Am I scared? Hell, yes! I hope that the kitchen sink worked and I hope it works for you, too.

Best of luck. Keep us posted. We are here for you.

Love in OCF,
Kerri