Hi Wendy,

I had stage III/IV tonsil cancer. I had a radical neck dissection with 41 lymph nodes removed, 1 being positive. Then followed 38 radiation sessions, no chemo. The radiotherapy finished in March 2004, and I'm still going fine. There are so many differing opinions about treatment, and I'd get as many as possible.

I was in shock and only saw the one doctor, but he is head of the Head and Neck clinic at a major hospital here in Sydney. Before I went through treatment I was examined by over 10 doctors (surgeons and radiologists) at the hospital who then conferred for half an hour before giving me
the decision. I tended to trust the decision. Because I had never had surgery before I was apprehensive, but when I asked what if no surgery I was told that only having radiotherapy, it may not work, and then I would have to have the surgery. I decided on the surgery followed by radio. So far so good.

Everyone is different, every doctor thinks differently, so ask lots of questions.

Good luck!

Tizz