Hello from sunny Australia. (A bit too sunny, a lot more rain would help!)
I'm 44yo and went to a doctor in mid December as I had the beginnings of a sore throat for 3 weeks, that hadn't developed into a sore throat. In the morning, prior to seeing my Dr I felt a very small lump on my throat. My Dr gave me a referral to an ENT specialist for that afternoon, and he thought it was nothing much, but said he would take it off in day surgery in 2 days time.
This all occured just prior to Christmas, and on January 2 he rang to say that it was a small tumour, but no worry as he got it all. I explained that it was still very sore there so I was sent for a CT scan, X-Rays of my TMJs, and finally an ultrasound of my lymph glands where they aspirated some cells to check.
Back to the specialist on Jan 21 to be told all is clear, but had another look and decided that the tonsil had to go as it was still enlarged.
3 days after the late Jan surgery, I was told that the tonsil was cancerous, and I was sent to our cancer hospital to organise follow up radiation therapy. Due to start tomorrow but it has been put back until they work out why my mouth can't open properly, and there are problems with tongue nerves.
All in all though, things aren't too bad. Except for waiting for the treatment to start. Funnily enough, when I first started noticing my throat I suspected it could possibly be cancer, even though I have never been a smoker.
I'm married with 2 young boys of 3 and 5, so I have to make sure I'm fit enough to chase them around for a fair few years yet.