I was diagnosed with stage two scc in my left tonsil on 2-8-06. I had surgery to remove the tumor and my tonsils in March, followed by 35 IMRT treatments. I did not have a PEG tube.

There was quite a bit of nausea from both the radiation and from the pain meds. I experienced a couple of yeast infections during treatment. I lost about 1/3 of my body weight due to the inability to eat. I had very little energy during the treatments.

That being said, the worst part was probably the yeast infections. They were very painful.

Hunger was almost as bad as the pain. I was not offered a PEG. If you have not been offered one, inquire. There is no way I would have tried to go without it, if I had know how bad it was.

I started back to work in October but took most of November and December off.

I am now working full time at my day job and teaching at a university at night. I am able to eat most things (but I don't really like to eat now) but there is not much taste to most foods.

I still have a lot of difficulty sleeping due to the dry mouth, but I do manage to get in a nap here in there.

Bottom line is I am beating the cancer, it is not beating me. We are survivors!

Keep your chin up and fight harder than you have ever fought before!