My husband presented with ear aches, when he went to the dr,he first was given antibiotics, and then after a few weeks, went back, then sent for cat scan, cat scan showed tumor, so on to the ent, who did mri, and then biopsy, diagnosis is squamous cell carcinoma of R tonsil, and soft palate, aprox 5 cm, lymph nodes enlarged and thougth to be involved, they think stage 4.
We have gone to three consults now, and gotten several opinions, the last being from Sloan Memorial,from the chief surgeon at the head and neck clinic, his ipinion was.. no surgery, but radiation and chemo, I was suprised, because all that we read suggests that surgery and radiation are the more common treatment, and yet this was a surgeon..We are scared, we want to make the right decision, we respect Sloan Memorial and the drs, there, but would like to hear if anyone else has been treated this way, and how it worked.
also, is it better to go to Sloan, which is about 100 miles from our home,or better to go to a local treatment facility? We want the best chance, like every one here, i am sure.
None of the drs, made metion of what to expect as far as prognosis, we do not even know how many stages there are, only that he is in the4th, any help would be appreciated.
thank you.
joansie