My pathology report pointed to the nasopharynx as the likely origin of my cancer, and I was treated accordingly, even though the primary was never discovered. It could have been microscopic, or my body could already have defeated it through the lymph system.

Treatment consisted of the modified radical neck dissection, followed by about 35 (I'd have to count them again, the number changed toward the end) IMRT sessions-7 positions each session with two 'zaps' each position.

I was also to have concurrent chemotherapy, but that was delayed for a month into radiation. I got a false positive on the original PETscan-a portion of my lung lit up. The RO said I couldn't start chemo until that had been resolved. He was sure I also had lung cancer. He was wrong. By the time I got in for a needle biopsy of the lung, the hotspot was gone-nothing to biopsy. It was some sort of inflammatory process apparently. Anyway, I had one chemo session May 1, a month into radiation. It made me so sick, I couldn't continue.

One thing about radiation to the nasopharynx. It (apparently in all cases according to my ENT) causes a thickening of the eustachian tubes which results in a 'plugged ear' or 'underwater' sensation that is very annoying. There is nothing that can be done to correct this, other than little tubes through the eardrums, which don't really help much.
Riley