Hi Phil

Sorry to have not been in touch. How did surgery go? Hopefully a success and you're progressing well. For sure i would love to meet you when you visit Sydney. All going well we'll both be as strong as ox's and enjoying a nice cold beer!!

Looking at your message to my mate Hazel seems you got the triple whammy! Surgery, chemo and radio! When does chemo and radio start? I'm finishing chemo cycle two of four today and am having day 4 of 30 for radio. So far so good. Can see and feel my tumors reducing in size and am still in the gym managing to put on some muscle weight which will help. Still a way to go but each day as it comes. I did lose my bloody hair though which apparently is rare but I'm used to it now. Going for the Tyson Fury / Grant Mitchell from Eastenders look (lols). 

Great to read that you have the same team or location as Hazel. I know she has nothing but great things to say about those guys so you're in good hands. Stay strong my friend and know each day you progress through is another you will hopefully never have to return to. I hope your Mother and family and friends also have strength and are helping you through the tougher days.

Chat soon.

Hi Mandy 

Sorry to hear about your fears and how your lost your Mother and Grandad. 

I was treated for a short period of time (a few weeks) for Tonsillitis. After suspecting something more sinister I managed to get a second opinion which confirmed my right tonsil had a tumour on it which had also spread to one neck node on same side. Three weeks later having chemo on Boxing Day and just started round 2 of 4 and radiotherapy earlier in week. 

My advice to you through experience is to be the strongest advocate for your own health and pursue the tests that give you clarity in the results. Push for a second opinion too if you feel that something may still be up. I would've left two tumors growing for 2 more months waiting for a tonsillectomy had it not been for trusting my gut and seeking more advice. 

Maybe you've done this already. If so, I hope your illness was a more common one that has gone away. If not, there are plenty of people on this forum that can help put your mind at ease with the process that you may have to go through. Hazel and Ian particularly and now maybe myself as a earn my chemo and radio stripes!!! 

All the best. Health and Strength.

Mike x

Hi Mike

Thanks for the message.

I'm glad you got the help you needed asap!

Yeah it's an easy thing to dismiss if the symptoms are that of a common cold. You've given me a bit of a push if i'm honst to get to the bottom of it, but also the doctor who follows up on my blood work has asked me to get another crp test as the previous ones were at a constant raised level, which i will have to do up to 2 weeks after my antibitoics. If it is as raised still he willl refer me, which at this moment i kind of welcome.

Its been a few days since i finished my 6 day course of antibiotics, and it is still swollen and the bump/lump or what ever it is is still there, so i will try follow up with a doctors appointment.
Thanks for getting back to me, i sincerely hope you're doing well, and wish you a speedy recovery.

Best wishes

Mandy x

Hi Mike, the surgery went very well I have a 6inch scar on the right side of my neck but not much pain from this just nerve trauma and numbness but they also removed a section from the back of my throat and the pain from this is on another level, I'm dealing with it with strong pain relief but it only takes the top off. I have a meeting on the 3rd February and hope to have some idea when the chemo start's. I'm glad you doing well with your treatment and your strength is still up, I hope to keep intouch more often but I feel drained at the moment but I've been told that by the middle of next week it should start to subside. Best wishes to all BB. Getting my head down I'm feeling drowsy. 

Hi Phil 

will be brief hang on in there hope by next week pain has subsided .Let us know when chrmonstsrts .

keep strong Hazel xx

Hi Hazel, will do. Post arrived this morning and I have an early appointment for Monday, I hope to have more information then. Enjoy your weekend BB 

Hi Phil

Hope all is well mate. Have sent you a friend request so we can chat on private message. 

I hope the post surgery pain has settled and you're getting stuck into other treatment. I'm approaching the front line now with radio and chemo starting to tire me a little but still marching on.

chat soon  

Hi Mike .. down under.

Having endured similar and finished treatment about this time last year I hope that I can inspire a little optimism.

I had bilateral tonsillectomy and a modified neck dissection to remove my offending neck lymph node and a chain of other nodes for good measure. This was following by radiotherapy and some chemo. That was a bit of a journey.. and included a PEG to get the calories in when the going got rough. 
Within a few months post treatment I was pretty good. Taste and saliva issues resolved ok by the end of last last year. So now have moved on..   All done and pretty much back as before. 

I would not wish all that on anybody!  I hope all will be resolved in a similar manner for you too.

I found a few threads on here very helpful and Vatch's blog really good. 'Gamma Ray Gary received treatment at the same hospital as me so very relevant.

gammaraygary.wordpress.com

www.cancerresearchuk.org/.../squamous-cell-carcinoma-of-the-tonsil

Hope all goes well.

Paul

Hi MDS82,

after many blood tests, my eosinophils are the same, and im still feeling tired alot fo the time, but my tonsils are still swollen with some kind of lump.
My gp has now referred me for a second opinion with a heamatologist, so we'll see. thanks very much. i hope everyone's doing better!