Andrew, Cheryl, Kerri, FishmanPA/"T", Paul & David -- A thousand thank yous for coming to my side. Your kind words, advice and stories are helping me get grounded for the hurricane on my horizon.

<<HUGS>>

The (serious) options I've been given:

1. TORS Right tonsillectomy and R selective neck dissection, followed by 6-7 weeks of IMRT at UW Madison, a CCC about 2 hours from home. Chemo unikely.

2. IMRT and chemo for 8-10 weeks at UW Madison CCC.

3. IMRT and chemo for 7 weeks at Froedtert/Medical College of WI, 5 minutes from home.

4. Possible clinical trial adding antibodies, both hospitals.

According to both sets of docs, the prognosis is about the same under any option. The key differences are the risks of surgery, short-term side effects and long-term side effects.

Andrew, exactly so -- Info from the surgery and further biopsy would determine whether chemo's needed. I hadn't heard that it's best to go with no more than two treatment types. Do you know why? I will find out the radiation dosages as you suggest. I was biopsied but don't know my HPV status yet and haven't been fully staged. How are you feeling, two months post-treatment?

Cheryl -- You're always among the first w/a warm welcome to newcomers, and so kind --

Kerri, I love your idea of bringing the most aggressive fight my body can handle. That really resonates with me. I don't want to be hospitalized repeatedly, I don't want to feel like I'm going to die, but you have proven that all of that, and more, can be endured.

T, bless you for your honesty. I mean truly I thank you. I'm more afraid of hearing half-truths than I am of hearing the worst. And for some reason your words, "You got this" are stuck in my head and my mantra when fear starts closing in. Our cancers sound so similar. Did yours engage just one side? How did your docs know it was very aggressive?

Paul, you share so much great info so generously. I can hardly sort out the terminology right now, let alone the facts, and you're like an OCF reference desk coming along at just the right moment! I take your story to heart, too, and will be mindful that my "mileage may vary" when it comes to treatment reactions.

David, as I'm telling loved ones about my diagnosis I find myself telling them, "there's a guy who's been through treatment and less than a year later he's back to riding his bike 100 miles a week!". Thank you for the inspiration.

Sorry so long, and sorry so slow -- I had to take a break for a few days and get myself centered.

<<<<More hugs, big embarrassing ones now>>>>

Lynn