Good morning- My name is Sarah and my 48 year old sister -Penny -was just diagnosed with tonsil cancer so far- I don't know the stage yet. It's all happening so fast! She had a sore throat for 3 months or so - thought it was Post nasal drip, but finally went to the Dr. 8/25/06. There was a lump on the very back of her tongue. She had biopsy, ct scan, mri and pet scan all last week and started chemo Friday night 9/08. She has to see dentist I guess prior to beginning radiology.

She has a feeding tube (actually had to swallow it on Wednesday) since she is 119 lbs and is 5'9"
Penny says she is so thin from stress that's all. The Dr. says she will have the tube thruout her treatment. My belief is that she is not informing all of us exactly what the Dr. is telling her- what questions should we have answers to by now? Penny says the Dr. has only said the tumor is "sizable"- what's that mean? Also, the Dr. said there wasn't time to go to Dana Farber-so this would leave me to believe it is rather advanced. I'm in New York with 2 little children and feel helpless since she is in Massachusetts. I want to stay informed and be helpful so please any and all advice and help as to what questions should be posed would be helpful-as well as all of your kind thoughts and prayers. My sister is truly a remarkable woman however has been stuggling as of late- she is so tired of her present lifestyle(prior to getting ill) and I'm worried she may not fight as hard as she needs to- Thanks for any comments-

Sarah