My name is Brian Krause. I am 48 yrs old and currently 7 months out of radiation and chemotherapy for a SCC tumor at the base of my tongue.

Three months after being diagnosed with Sleep Apnea and starting using the CPAP breathing machine at night, I noticed a small swollen lymph node high up under my right jaw. I went to my GP and she said that if it doesn't go away in 30 days ( maybe a small infection) a needle biopsy would be in order. It didn't go away and the needle biopsy was inconclusive. A surgery to remove the node showed SCC. Then a trip to a very good ENT showed a small tumor at the base of my tongue right next to where the lymph node was.

I started radiation (7000 rads over 35 treatments) and Chemotherapy ( Cisplatin, three treatments 6 hrs each) the next week. I think the Sleep Apnea was the biggest contributing factor in weakening my immune system to start with and was a big factor in my getting Squamous Cell Carcinoma. I don't smoke , drink heavily, chew tobacco etc... I was though, exposed to heavy second hand smoke once a week at a bowling alley for many years. I was treated at the Cleveland Clinic Oct