This is the my Final Pathologic Diagnosis after my Tonsilectomy.
Left posterior lateral tongue biopsy: SQUAMOUS MUCOSAL PORTION WITH FOCAL EPITHELIAL HYPERPLASIA AND UNDERLYING SKELETAL MUSCLE WITH MILD INFLAMMATION. Labeled ' left posterior lateral tongue biopsy' and consists of a 0.6 x 0.5 x 0.3 cm oval portion of tan soft tissue. The specimen is submitted in toto in cassette 1A. NEGATIVE FOR MALIGNANCY. BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT TONSILS, NEGATIVE FOR MALIGNANCY (NO SIGNIFICANT HISTOPATHOLOGIC CHANGES). I guess this means there is no primary. Also, what would the likely GY of radiation should I expect.

You will probably get between 70 and 72 gys, appx 2 each session.

As everyone will tell you all of us can react differently to this Tx but MOST of us especially with the 3 Big Bag Cisplatin method do relatively Ok until the 2nd chemo and then it goes down hill until the 3rd week POST TREATMENT when we call it "walking out of the tunnel". BTW most of us suffer the greatest in the few weeks post Tx. I only mention this in case it happens to you because I want you to know that it's perfectly NORMAL if it does.

AS Christine has said do get tons and tons of calories and hydration each and every day. Tis can make such a positive difference in your Tx experience.

Do get all the blood work mentioned. Do get the trays made and start using them asap.

And most importantly do ask us any question you may think of.

I didn't see a biopsy of the right posterior tongue, unless omitted? The BOT can go to both sides of neck if cancer was close to the midline. As David mentioned, you will probably get around that range 70-72Gy, some other areas lesser.

Other base-line tests before treatment is an eye exam, hearing test, TSH, hemoglobin and creatinine, the last two are on the CBC, complete blood count, which is taken before chemo infusions.

Good luck.

My mouth is healing up fine now, a few stitches are left. I go to see the RAD ONC on mon. 9/30. He will look at my mouth and determine if we can start RAD that day. If so, I do that and then go and start chemo (cisplatin). First of 3. About the trays, start using them before treatment? or first day onward. I have had all these delays and too much time to think. Should I have the lymph node removed? Size is 3cm. Will I have to have RAD and chemo also anyway? Would it be less damaging treatment after surgery?

Start using them now... It can't hurt... if it's HPV related cancer you may not have to have the node removed, since rads and chemo work well against this type of cancer. Best of luck...

Thanks, Not HPV, or can that be gone as primary. Can't wait any longer.

His node tested negative for HPV (see his 2nd post) and he has an Occult Primary so his treatment should be as aggressive as possible.

I used my trays starting 1 month pre Tx, during Tx for the most part and for 5 years post Tx.

You need quick and thorough treatment. Because it is non HPV the node should be removed unless it is very small, and you should then have rads asap - they may forgo the neck dissection in preference to having you start radiation. My one concern with that is if the radiation doesn't kill it you are in for another surgery, and if it persists then you may not be able to have more rads this close to finishing your other treatment. Having surgery, while NOT fun, was some comfort to me as I knew that most or all of the cancer was gone post op, then rads and chemo (hopefully) swept up the rest assuming there still was some present.
With an occult primary - you said you were biopsied on your left lateral tongue, but got inflamed tissue. I would wonder if perhaps they didn't go deep enough. My first biopsy was similar to yours and sure enough the tumor was actually either deeper than the area removed, or the guy didn't remove the correct tissue. If you've had a scan and there's nothing then that's great go with rads and push push push for soon.

best of luck.

I am supposed to start RAD & CHEMO Monday 9/30. The node is 3cm, the doctors don't want to remove it. Is that right? Seems to me surgery would eliminate the majority of the cancer. I only have a few days to decide. I need to know what is the best plan.

Please remember we are not doctors of any kind much less throat cancer docs so it's best to listen to your team at Moffitt in matters such as this.