I understood your pain medication Anchor . I know it’s strictly monitored. She told us yesterday that they worry about the paracetamols effects on the liver ! She also said pain medication is modified throughout treatment . I am sure Dinn was just as shocked as me when I read all the medication you had had . But I understood to be throughout  your treatment and not all together ... blimey you would be as sick as a dog ! X x Ginny 

Apologies if I’m jumping in on someone’s post but I can’t work out how to start a new one!

Myhusband has just been diagnosed with cancer of the tonsils with spread to his lymph nodes, still awaiting final histology and consultant/oncologist apt for confirmation and grading. 

However we’ve been warned to expect 7weeksof chemo/radio and possible neck dissection at the end of it. My question of why not removed the lymph nodes first was dismissed without answer. 

I’d really appreciate hearing others experiences before we meet with them again next week. 

Thanks all

Jo

Hi Jo .... welcome to this lovely chat room . I can’t tell you specifically the answer to your question as my husband has the cancer just in his larynx with no spread so he is just having the 33 radiotherapy sessions . But what I do know is he has befriended someone having treatment with him who has tonsil and lymph . His treatment is like your husbands Chemo 3 I think and 30 radiotherapy sessions . I can see the lump in his neck so I’m guessing his wasn’t removed either . I am sure someone in this group will be able to answer your question better . Keep in touch with us . I have found this group fantastic & I am like you the better half ! Ginny x x  Ps you can’t start a new thread in the individual chat rooms well I can’t find a way so I always jump in on another too ! X 

Hi Jo 

This is Hazel I am 8 month post radiotherapy for tonsil I cancer and several lymph nodes. I had 35 radiotherapy sessions and 2 out if 3 chemotherapy. Many reasons why lymph nodes aren’t taken straight away. Nit being medically trained I can onky give yiu my experience one of my lymph nodes  which wasn’t the main one was located in an area that would have been to difficult tinroutunely operate and my oncologist was confident the radiotherapy would work and it did by week 5 Larry as the called the big lymph had gone without the need for any surgery u was given the allmxlear in January niw in 5 year programme if hospital visits for check ups. 

I have a detailed blog www.radioactiveraz.wordpress.com which pulls no,punches in treatment and recovery. But there is  light at the end of the  tunnel I am on holiday in Spain at the moment and today bikes 48 km I am a 62 year old wimp of a female . The treatment is brutal the recovery can be long but the results can be good do you know if hubby is h p v 16 + it is an indicator of how the cancer got into tonsil more explained in my blog .

welcome to our small and inclusive club that no oneness really wants to join but herecwe are to help if we canmy blog also has links tomIan  Anchor 1707  s blog as well.

good luck ask any questions and will get back or someone will. Neck dissections aren’t always needed in fact they are quite rare after treatment  but don’t over worry am sure Emma whose hubby went through treatment and then had neck dissection will pop along

hazel x 

Hi Ginny it’s the weekend how’s  hubby doing  ,e joy the 2  days off. How is p is his neck now ? 

H x

Hazel . Was just thinking about you . 35 radiotherapy sessions blimey I don’t know how you did it . Chris seems fine tonight neck burnt as you know and voice is hoarse bit he is in good spirits . Yey for the weekend but for some reason he feels worse when he doesn’t have treatment . Sunday’s always feels worse than fridays so to speak . Oh well no 20 under his belt now . Have a lovely weekend and thanks for being so supportive to us all . Patients & carers you are very kind . X x 

Hi there Jo and welcome to the forum and sorry you find yourself here but we’re really friendly and help each other as much as possible. 

My hubby was diagnosed with stage 3 squamous cell cancer of the tonsils with lymph node tumours in Dec 2015. He had 5 cycles of Cistplatin chemotherapy and 30 fractions of VMAT radiotherapy plus a neck dissection and had been cancer free for nearly 3 years.

Our Oncologist and ENT surgeon didnt want to remove the lymph nodes prior to chemoradiation as they didnt want to delay treatment by waiting for his body to heal before starting and also there is a good possibility that the treatment will destroy the tumour in the lymph node without the need for surgery. They usually mention the neck dissection as they want to prepare you fir all eventualities. When you meet with them next week then I would definitely ask the question again .

The treatment is definitely tough and arduous not just for the one having it but for the family too so please ask any questions you might have and we will try to help. Feel free to send me a friend request if you want to chat and Id be happy too.

Im sure others will also drop by to offer their help and support. 

Please come back and let us know how you get on at the next appointment and wishing you both loads of luck as you embark on your journey.

best wishes

Emma xx

Hi thank you for kind words ,it’s my way if giving something back if any help comes from my replying I feel like the treatment was worth it if I can pass my experiences on all the better. I was ok on the weekends maybe as itbwas sunpmmee I used to sit outside unseen the gazebo doing nit a lot if I remember rightly ..lol. 

Hubby no longer allows me that luxury today biked 38 km in 23 degree heat plenty if factor 50 on my neck and lots if water with me. Will be here on forum as long as people are asking questions

night offvto bed as the beach is calling in the morning one week left before we sail home m then hime 3 weeks then family holiday in Wales ,then home 3 weeks and we’ve booked a cheeky trip back out here making up for last year  which was a blur as yiu will understand

h x 

Thank You everyone. I’ve been lurking here for a few weeks and have finally got through all the posts as well as Hazel and Ian’s blogs. 

Thank god for you guys because without knowing it you have been the only support I e had. From “it’s definitely just a cyst to actually....” five weeks ago that’s pretty much been it until his tonsillectomy a week ago. 

Cant wait for Monday to come and get some answers/ prognosis/treatment/ ???

Whereas Mark,hubby with said dodgy tonsils, is very much a head in the sand kind of a guy I need to know what we face and be prepared.