Hello everyone, I have been lurking on here for the last 6 weeks and just wanted to say what an amazing place this is. The genuine warmth and compassion is very real. As we all know that even with a strong family and friend support group; cancer can be a frightening and lonely place. To be able to share this journey with others wearing the same shoes is a blessing. I have noticed that when people first come on they are absolutely freaked out even if they have not been diagnosed. To be able to speak with the experienced people on this forum (for free)and get information that can save lives is awesome. My story: I was shaving in March of 2010 when I noticed a golf ball directly under my left ear. After it didnt go away for a about a week I went to the doc and he ordered a CT scan. I thought I had Hodgkins Lymphoma but it turned out to be Left tonsil cancer mets to one node. surgery, uneventful. 9 weeks of Cisplatin along with 35 rads was tough, but doable. went back to work in December of 2010 with the new promise of taking better care of myself. I started walking and working out, my thought was if this ever came back I wanted to be the best shape to fight. I had 7 clear PETS between 2010 and this past september. my birthday was sept. 10th. I had a great day in the gym and a nice dinner. I felt great. I awoke the next day barely able to swallow. went to work anyway thinking it would get better. it didnt. It got worse. On the third day I couldnt even drink the tiniest sip of water and drove myself to the ER.They gave my antibiotics and oral steroids and did a CT scan. The Ct scan said unfavorable results do to enlarged lymph nodes and wall thickening in my neck and throat.The antibiotics and/or oral stimulants worked and I was back normal within 3 days. saw the ENT afetr a couple of days where he scoped me. He said everything looks good, nothing bad. next day saw the MO where he ordered a PET. I was due anyway. It was not good, I had 10 nodes in my neck/chest area that are enlarged and SUV's in the 3-5 range. Mo thinks that it could be reaction to whatever caused my throat to close. at the time we were still waiting on cultures to come back. He said to repeat Pet in 3 months. Today, i had an appoint. with the MO. I found out that The culture tested positive for strep associated with pneumonia and that I am HPV-16 positve.(mini yay)I have zero signs or symptoms of any kind as I anxiously await the next PET in 6 weeks.