Welcome, Dave, and best of luck. I too had tonsil cancer which took over 2 mo.s to pinpoint the source. It's hard to find as the primaty tumor is so small. The only way we knew something was wrong was the 4.5cm lump on my neck. They did not remove my tonsils because, they said, the radiation would just burn them away. Anyway, after 7 wks of c/t and r/t I'm cancer free and I'm sure you will be too. It's a rocky road but, you want to be able to enjoy retirement, right?

David R. 65 yr old male non-smoker, light drinker, stage 3 or 4, depending on which doc you ask, scc rt. tonsil, 2 nodes, 7 weeks radiation and chemo. No surgery. Teatment ended 3/20/08. PET scan 8/08 showed no cancer.
And now, as of oct, 2010, caregiver to wife, Linda, with breast cancer.
May, 2013, Linda diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer. Enuf already.