Many thanks for the warm welcome! Hubby and I spoke to the rad doctor today - he prescribed Compazine for nausea. I almost think that we have a touch of something, since I have been queasy myself. I told him that I think I'm having sympathy radiation symptoms!

I spoke to one of the nurses about sending a tissue sample of the cancerous node to John Hopkins for HPV testing. She looked at me like I was crazy, then told me that they had never had a request like that. She suggested that I have the surgeon who removed the node make that request, then promptly made herself scarce. Is this such an odd request? I know we live in a basically rural area, but surely if I can do a little research and find out about the HPV-cancer link, then medical personnel could do the same.

Ariel and I have a 19 year old daughter and an 18 year old son. I want to do anything possible to spare them this agony when they get older, and now firmly believe that the HPV vaccine should be available to both of them. I spoke to several people today about this and no one knew much about HPV in general, much less about the cancer connection. It makes me so angry to think that such lack of knowledge is causing such tragedy.

Ok, I know - enough soapbox. Just know that I appreciate you all and this site so much.

Karen