J - welcome to the family.

Your symptoms are exactly how mine started and yes I was diagonosed with tonsilar cancer caused by HPV-16. In fact the terms you use to describe the gunk in your throat are the same terms I used.

At this point, don't be worried about the additional exposure to radiation from the second CT to that area. I am 10 weeks post treatment today and have already had at least 5 CT's of that area. I know you are bothered about the exposure but that additional exposure will be nothing compared to the damage cancer will do if mis-diagnosed.

So, make sure you get with an ENT who knows and understands cancer. At a CCC (Comprehensive Cancer Center) would be best place because they know exactly what they are looking for and have seen it and treated it many times before. On the OCF website pages you will find a list of CCC's.

Don't mess around with this. Time is of the essence. If you have cancer and if it was caused by HPV-16 you actually stand a better chance of good outcomes than if it wasn't HPV.

Keep us informed of your progress. And once again, welcome to the family.

Tony


Tony, 69, non-smoker, aerobatics pilot, bridge player/teacher, avid dancer (ballroom, latin, swing, country)

09/13 SCC, HPV 16, tonsillectomy, T2N0.
11/13 start rads, no chemo
12/13 taste gone, dry mouth,
02/14 hair slowly returning
05/14 taste the same, dry sinuses, irrigation helps.
01/15 food taste about 60% returned, dry sinuses are worse in winter.
12/20 no more sinus problems, taste pretty good