Hi. Glad I found these message boards. I am 46 and my hubby is 55. My husband has never even tried a cigarette or tobacco products. He does have (1) "adult beverage" every evening after work. The Friday before Christmas my husband woke up and noticed a large lump in the side of his neck. He went to the doctor who ordered blood work, CT Scan and follow-up with the ENT doctor. Blood work was normal but the CT Scan showed the mass in his neck as being 2.5 cm by 3cm and some thickening at the base of his tongue. The ENT specialist drew fluid out of the mass in his neck and the results came back malignant. This past Tuesday my husband had a modified/radical neck disection and lots of scoping done. The mass in his neck was a malignant lymph node. He removed that and the lymph nodes from that side. The primary tumor is at the base of his tongue and everything else looks clear. He said the tumor is a small lesion and was caught fairly early.

I feel like my head is spinning and I am in a fog. My husband takes great care of himself - vitamins every day, salad every nighT with dinner etc. He is home and recovering from the surgery. It is very difficult talking and swallowing. We have a follow-up appointment next Tuesday and hopefully he will have all the pathology reports back then. He told us that he won't need chemo but will definitely need radiation and to have a feeding tube put in before radiation starts. Is a feeding tube always necessary and how long does it stay in? I know I will undoubtedly have many, many questions. I appreciate all your help. I just lost my mom September 2007 after a long 3 1/2 year battle with Pancreatic Cancer and I am scared to death. I don't really know anything about this type of cancer. Thanks in advance.