Amy, I hope you expand on this observation in a new post. Your perspective and insight is helpful to me. My parents are now 80 something (fortunately healthy) but I know what is ahead. Coping with what life dishes out is an important part of this cancer thing. The idea that my parents might out live me is a topic for another day. Similar but different than loosing ones child........

Mark, 21 Year survivor, SCC right tonsil, 3 nodes positive, one with extra-capsular spread. I never asked what stage (would have scared me anyway) Right side tonsillectomy, radical neck dissection right side, maximum radiation to both sides, no chemo, no PEG, age 40 when diagnosed.