Hi everybody,

My name is Fred im a 54 year old male whos was diagnosed last July with stage 3 tonsil cancer. I went thru 2 treatments of chemo using the drug Cisplatin, and 40 treatments of radiation. Of course, I'm the type ofperson that is a drug or something has a possible side effect, I have about a 95% of ending up with it no matter how slight the chances of getting it are. I had a terrible time with the treatment and the pain killers. I was totally out of it almost from day 1 and spent most of the 2 months in the hospital as they doctors werent sure if my problems were from the treatment and meds or if the cancer had found its way to my brain. On top of all this since I was out of work, my insurance lapsed as I couldnt afford the COBRA payments.

Ive been out of treatment since the end of October and am just starrting to feel myself. The doctor had been talking about my having the neck surgery as a precaustion, as with no insurance I was unable to get the cat scan the doctor ordered for me. Well, Im finally back at work and again have insurance and finally got my cat scan...onlyto be told that the lymphnodes still dont look right and I am now scheduled to have a Modified Radical Neck Dissection.

To be totally honest with you, I am scared s--tless and really do not want to have the surgery. I totally understand that I really must have it in order to make sure that I am cancer free. But everything, I read about it and hear about it scares me.

Is there anyone out there that has had this surgery and can talk with me or tell me a little about it to help ease some of my fears? I can be reached at [email protected] and thank each and veryone of you. Hope to hear from someone soon.

Thanks
Fred