Hi Chris -- just want to add that I would also get a second opinion at this post-surgical junction. Even if you are already working with a top medical institution, consider talking to a 2nd if your insurance allows. After my surgery, I consulted two top doc teams and got surprisingly different recommendations for chemo and radiation. By listening to each team's view of my risk factors I was able to decide what I wanted to do.
I was sure I didn't want chemo, but after hearing one team's assessment of my risks I decided it was worth the side effects.
Good luck!
If you think you don't want radiation, make sure you understand exactly why and then ask your docs' opinion on your concerns.
53
T3N2aM0 HPV+
5/26/13 discovered painless superball-sized lymph node in neck
6/26/13 DX SCC R palatine tonsil
7/16/13 TORS tonsillectomy & selective ND, mets to 2 nodes
9/3/13 Cisplatin and rads begin, tolerated 1.5 of 3 planned chemo doses
10/16/13 Treatment ends
Dec 13 Ulcer appears at surgery site
Jan 17 Biopsy -- no cancer!
Feb 17 CT/PET Scan lights up tonsil bed & nasal cavity, docs say probably inflammation, don't panic, rescan when ulcer subsides
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