Hi Raymond. Perhaps my experience can boost you a bit. The tumour on my left tonsil responded very well to the radiation and Cisplatin. It decreased significantly about two to three weeks after radiation started but the lymph nodes on my neck (two big ones) responded more slowly. Even after completing the whole treatment, I could find the lumps there and I also felt discouraged at that time thinking that the therapy had little effect. It was my oncologist (I guess based on his experience) who comforted me that the shrinking would take time. It was two months post treatment that I had MRI , ultrasound, and CT scan to confirm the status of the neck tumours. The tests could not detect cancer cells in my tonsil and neck area. So surgery was unnecessary. Raymond, be patient and cheer up.

Karen, stage 4 tonsil cancer diagnosed in 9/2001. Concurrent radiation and cisplatin.