Jenn... If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. ENT's are surgically trained. While time is always of the essence, I would prefer if my treatment plan were put together by a tumor board composed of doctors from different disciplines at a major cancer center. My stage 4 tonsil cancer was treated primarily with radiation, and secondarily a neck dissection was done. This was at one of the best cancer hospitals in the world. Radiation is no walk in the park. But it is likely going to be part of any comprehensive treatment plan that you get. I would be sure that a radiation oncologist was part of your decision making team and a chemo guy as well, as these days it is not uncommon to have simultaneous chemo to sensitize the malignant cells to the radiation. As to your moods...get ready for the rollercoaster. Until things are definitive the anxiety quotient is high. If and when treatment begins there is at least a sense that "I'm doing something about this", then as treatments and recovery drag out (and they do) it's "when is all this going to end", to finally living your life as a survivor with the real sense of your mortality (which for most people is an abstract concept until the crap hits the fan) that comes with that. Treatment modalities and current standards of care are changing rapidly. We are learning more each day. You are at a place where getting the best advice from the best people is the one area in which you can feel a sense of control. After that you are in their hands for the most part. Now is the time to make the best decisions you can, in combination with the brightest minds and most experienced doctors you can find. After that, don't look back and second-guess your decisions. Lastly, do not let geography or your work schedule or commitments dictate who diagnoses you or develops your treatment plan, or the time frame it takes to get that done. As you can see this is a well-informed and caring group of people. Few agendas, lots of experience, and an honest sounding board for you to use. If you need us, these people will be with you though every question, doubt, and emotional upheaval. You can count on them.
