Should I Get Treated?

I am 53 y.o male. About Feb. 07 I had a swollen lymph node on the side of my neck. Test showed scc in the tonsils had them removed. The swollen lymph node went down, and have only had mild pain in the throat, neck area. I was to get radiation and chemo plus have about 6 good teeth removed in june 07. I put it off, not wanting to remove my teeth.The doctor then no longer wanted to treat me.Dec. 07 I went to another cancer center who said my teeth could stay and that I only needed radiation.I was to start Jan. 08. I delayed, not wanting the pain and destruction, and did have a delay because of a needed root canal.I was to start again Feb. 25,08 but insisted on a new ct scan to see if any changes were needed. The new scan showed the one lymph node down in size from 1.? cm to 10 x 12 mm. The tech that made the scan report said the reduction in size was likely from therapy/treatment which I had not had. I am thinking if this is shrinking and no evidence is seen anywhere else that I can just monitor the situation and act if needed. I assume if I get a new scan every 6 months or so and something shows up then it will be caught early. Looks to me like I am doing Ok compared to some other people with the same condition.I understand the the general thought is, if you have scc you need radiation. The primay was tonsils that has been removed. The node is shrinking to almost nothing? I was to start again today, Monday but put it off after seeing the new report. What would you do?

Thanks, Alan

I may have not been clear that I had a scan in Dec. 07 and another Feb 08. In the two month time the lymph node has shrunk markedly

Jugulodigastric lymph node with central Necrosis currently measuring 10 x 12.5 mm.

 Alan I would not be too caviler about this, it is fortunate that the swelling has gone but this can turn out not too favourable if ignored. If you wish to wait try for a 3 month testing. Why don't you check in with www.cancercenter.com they offer live help and offer alternative and traditional help. Take care and watch it closely...MMS

On 2/26/2008 alanzdot wrote:

I am 53 y.o male. About Feb. 07 I had a swollen lymph node on the side of my neck. Test showed scc in the tonsils had them removed. The swollen lymph node went down, and have only had mild pain in the throat, neck area. I was to get radiation and chemo plus have about 6 good teeth removed in june 07. I put it off, not wanting to remove my teeth.The doctor then no longer wanted to treat me.Dec. 07 I went to another cancer center who said my teeth could stay and that I only needed radiation.I was to start Jan. 08. I delayed, not wanting the pain and destruction, and did have a delay because of a needed root canal.I was to start again Feb. 25,08 but insisted on a new ct scan to see if any changes were needed. The new scan showed the one lymph node down in size from 1.? cm to 10 x 12 mm. The tech that made the scan report said the reduction in size was likely from therapy/treatment which I had not had. I am thinking if this is shrinking and no evidence is seen anywhere else that I can just monitor the situation and act if needed. I assume if I get a new scan every 6 months or so and something shows up then it will be caught early. Looks to me like I am doing Ok compared to some other people with the same condition.I understand the the general thought is, if you have scc you need radiation. The primay was tonsils that has been removed. The node is shrinking to almost nothing? I was to start again today, Monday but put it off after seeing the new report. What would you do?

Thanks, Alan

 

Well, the question is do you want to risk the spread of cancer in your body or do you want to take care of it? SCC can travel fast and furious. The effects from treatment are temporary, the effects of non-treatment are permanent. It does not get better on its own. I've been through treatment and I can say that I am much more afraid of not getting treatment than whatever side effects treatment causes. I've had all of the side effects and I now that they are survivable. Spreading cancer is not. Even though your lymph node may have shrunk that doesn't mean that the cancer is not there or traveling somewhere else in your body. The longer you wait, the worse the outcome can be. It's trying to get to your lungs or your bones or your spine or somewhere where it will slowly and painfully kill you. You are lucky enough to have gotten the primary but treatment is the only way to stop the progression. Like I said, cancer doesn't cure itself.

Good Luck.

Joe 

I would have treatment--stat! This is an insidious disease, you cannot let your guard down! My tonsil cancer was stage 2, no nodes, no mets, and they still hit me with chemo and radiation after my tonsillectomy. What was the size  of your  tumor in your tonsil? Please, please look into getting treatment right away. You cannot play around with this. Happy to answer any questions  you may have.

Hello Alan Well you've received some advice from the traditional treatment side of things and I thought you might like some information on the alternative side. There are many people with a variety of cancers who have had success using only gentle, natural methods to achieve healing from this disease. We know it is not necessary to poison and burn our bodies, so we don't have the same sense of fear and urgency. We know our immune system can overcome this if we do what is necessary to strengthen it. Here are two links that should be helpful to you. Let me know if you would like more information on the protocol I follow._____http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=52 http://www.naturalnews.com/021967.html

On 2/26/2008 alanzdot wrote:

I am 53 y.o male. About Feb. 07 I had a swollen lymph node on the side of my neck. Test showed scc in the tonsils had them removed. The swollen lymph node went down, and have only had mild pain in the throat, neck area. I was to get radiation and chemo plus have about 6 good teeth removed in june 07. I put it off, not wanting to remove my teeth.The doctor then no longer wanted to treat me.Dec. 07 I went to another cancer center who said my teeth could stay and that I only needed radiation.I was to start Jan. 08. I delayed, not wanting the pain and destruction, and did have a delay because of a needed root canal.I was to start again Feb. 25,08 but insisted on a new ct scan to see if any changes were needed. The new scan showed the one lymph node down in size from 1.? cm to 10 x 12 mm. The tech that made the scan report said the reduction in size was likely from therapy/treatment which I had not had. I am thinking if this is shrinking and no evidence is seen anywhere else that I can just monitor the situation and act if needed. I assume if I get a new scan every 6 months or so and something shows up then it will be caught early. Looks to me like I am doing Ok compared to some other people with the same condition.I understand the the general thought is, if you have scc you need radiation. The primay was tonsils that has been removed. The node is shrinking to almost nothing? I was to start again today, Monday but put it off after seeing the new report. What would you do?

Thanks, Alan

I AGREE WITH JOE, GIRLCAT36 and MMS. Go and get the treatments! My boyfriend had the same thing you had. He is 58, finished his sessions in Dec. but did not have the tonsil removed. He is now cancer free, not cured but cancer free. Yes he got sick, yes he had a feeding tube put in a month after treatment started. Yes the tube is now gone. Yes he had his three front teeth removed (bridge work). Yes he still has not replaced the teeth, but so what, he is here. By the way he is a very good looking guy, but he has learned to get along with out the teeth until he can come up with the money to replace them. I still love him anyway, and the teeth missing doesn't detract from his good looks, he also has an outstanding personality. Yes he still has problems tasting anything and hardly any saliva, but that will come back in time, maybe not 100%. Yes he did loose 50 lbs, but again that will come back too with time. Is he happy he did this whole regeim, YES. It was no picinic, he does feel he did the right thing. He saw his dad die from cancer because he ignored things. You also need a positive attidude to go threw with the treatments. So good luck and may God and all of the people in your life help you along your new path.

Suzanne