Anyone Have Info On Tonsil Cancer?

Hi, I just found out that my dad has tonsil cancer and some has spread into the neck lymph nodes. The doctor started chemo yesterday they said it is a new program using pacilitaxal and carboplatin for two heavy sessions then 7 weeks of radiation with the pacilitaxal. He is a level 4 stage two. I would like to find out some more info on this subject and any help would be wonderful . --Mike S., Blaine, MN
Thank you and god bless!!!!

Michael, So sorry about your father. I am recovering from tonsil cancer, to be more specific, squameous cell carcinoma with extra nodal involvement. On March 1, I had a neck dissection and a month later began radiation which lasted 6 weeks. During that time, I had 4 sessions of chemo, using carboplatin. My treatments stopped on May 15. Everything happened at Mass General and Mass Eye and Ear in Boston. My case was determined to be a stage 4, because of the size of the lymph node involvement. However, my doctor and I are optimistic that I will survive for at least 10 years! I am 60 years old and generally healthy. My attitude is that I can "kick butt" when it comes to surviving this ordeal.
I am not sure what info you are looking for, however, I can tell you that the only thing that has slowed me down more than I expected came AFTER the treatment was over. The two weeks following were very unpleasant, with nausea, vomiting, very sore throat, generally feeling rotten. I am still using my Gtube for nutrition, and while I can swallow, I can't really eat anything yet without burning and swelling the following day. I am told that healing time varies but by THanksgiving I should be eating turkey! I hope that is true.
I find that the most frustrating and disspiriting thing to me is this period of healing. While the wonderful people at MGH prepared me for everything there, no one ever told me about the long days and weeks and months at home following , when I would want to be "normal" again...with regard to eating, talking, exercising and working. Little by little, my energy is coming back....my throat has days without hurting, but fighting depression during this part has been a huge task.
I hope your father has a great support system, because that is a key factor....
Good luck to him and to you and your family. JL

Jane, so happy to haer that you are doing well. Thank you for your input it helps so much to hear about others that have made it through this type of cancer. Here's to that turkey tasting great.

Michael

Please let me know if you find out anything my relative has the same she had tonsil cancer and then she had surgery and then they found lymphoma in the neck.

If I can provide any information from experience I will be glad to - In June of this year after seeing many Dr. with a sore throat and a CT scan that was read incorrectly I got with an ENT to find I has a squamous cell carcinoma of my left tonsil with extended into the lymph nodes in my neck. I had my tonsil removed. Mine was classified as a T2, N1. July 1st I started radiation and I am now 5 weeks after the end of my treatments. I received a daily injection called Ethyol which is supposed to protect the salivary glands, time will tell there. The hardest part of all have been these weeks since the treatment ended. My oncology center and staff have been wonderful and helped in every way they could. I didn't have a stomach tube but I did go twice to the emergency room for fluids. I have lost 30 #'s. The hardest part is trying to eat and swallow, my goal a day is to finnish a 20 oz bottle of water and I should be drinking much more, from the start the one thing I have been able to eat is Jello Tapioca pudding, the refrigerated kind. I have put my pain medications in it. I find the health drinks hard to drink, and want real food so bad. I can mix Campbell's potato soup with water and add baby meats. There is a supplement called MetRX that I can drink also, it's a high protien powder. I have kept a log through this treatment. The next step I have to face is a neck dissection if anyone has any information on that - May God be with you, my faith has brought me this far, praise the Lord.

I see your message is dated in 2002. I am wondering how you are doing. I will tell you my husband's story if you write me back. It is lengthy and we are in the early stages of treatment. Please answer soon, if possible.
Thanks D.K.

My 9 year old nephew has had strep throat 5 times now in 4 months. The pediatrition sent him to an ENT to have his tonsils removed. However when the ENT took a look at his throat she said she was concerned. She said although tonsil cancer was rare my nephew had a lump on his tonsil the size of a nickel and she felt he needed to have it removed now. She scheduled him for surgery in the middle of April. My sister feels this is too long to wait (it is now the middle of March)and is already going crazyafter only a couple of days. Should she keep this appointment at our area Childrens Hospital with an excellent ENT or should she get a second opinion at a cancer institute which we are very blessed to also have very close to home?

Hi Jean,
I would say go head and stay with your appt. I found out I had cancer in Jan of 2002, surgery was for March, doing tests and so on, I was concerned about the time frame also but was told in that time frame the cancer wouldn't really spread to a point that would make a differents, My prayers are also with your family.

RonB

My sister has spoken to the ENT since my nephews last appointment and has been able to move his surgery date to the end of this month. Although we are all so nervous about the results we are thankful for the date change. I understand that the Lord only gives you what you can handle but I sure think He is overestimating me on this one!!!

I have just had neck disection and have been diagnoised with squmious cell carcinoma of the left tonsil.
Are there and Vietnam era or Korea '64-'75 Vets out there with the same.
Luck to ALL
Paul