Tonsil cancer- just diagnosed

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kerbarrett08
kerbarrett08 Member Posts: 2
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
My father was recently diagnosed with cancer not sure what stage yet. They found it in both of his tonsils they were two small blooms that are scheduled to be removed on Monday. Can anyone help give us some ideas of what to expect, when we start radiation/chemo (we are not sure which will be the treatment). We are trying to prepare for what he will have to deal with during treatments and not really sure what foods or liquids to would be best for him to take in during and after treatments.

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  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #2
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    Welcome & Sorry
    Welcome to the forum, sorry you have found your way here by the situation....

    I was Dx with STGIII SCC HPV+ Tonsil Cancer and a single lymphnode (all on the same side)... With your father being on both sides, more than likely it'll be staged at STGIII or STGIV... I'm not a medical professional, that's just my thoughts based on looking at the staging process.

    First, don't or try not to think doom and gloom...it's a very treatable cancer these days, with very good results.

    For me here is the scenario;

    Jan09, Dx as mentioned above (actually the HPV confirmation came later). My ENT removed the tonsils and staged me at that time.

    He assembled a team for chemo and rads...put the port in a few days later. I did not have a PEG, but if your father is thin or has underlying problems, it's never a bad idea, but can be added later if needed.

    I started off with nine weeks of chemo (three week cycles) of Cisplatin, Taxotere and 5FU. Then an additional seven weeks of concurrent weekly chemo (Carboplatin) and 35 daily rads sessions with the mask.

    I finished up mid June 2009, all clear to date....just had a CT today, but won't get those results for a few days.

    For me the rads were by far the worse as for side effects and lasting effects. Around mid rads (week 3-4), you are pretty much fried and the throat is pretty painful. For me I switched over to just Ensure Plus, water and pain meds several times a day...until around 3-4 weeks post rads. The rads damage will exist a few weeks after the actual rads sessions have stopped.

    Taste will go and come uring chemo, but concerning the rads, both taste and saliva will go for quite awhile... for some it'll come back progressively over time (for me at nearly 95% saliva and 100% taste took over two years), others quicker, some not so much...everyone is different.

    One thing to remember during all of this is hydration....you can't stay hydrated enough basically...it's a most and will put you down if you don't stay hydrated.

    Here is a link to the SuperThread with tons of good infomation;

    SUPERTHREAD

    Others will chime in with their experience and to welcome you as well....

    Best,
    John
  • Kent Cass
    Kent Cass Member Posts: 1,898 Member
    #3
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    Skiffin16 said:

    Welcome & Sorry
    Welcome to the forum, sorry you have found your way here by the situation....

    I was Dx with STGIII SCC HPV+ Tonsil Cancer and a single lymphnode (all on the same side)... With your father being on both sides, more than likely it'll be staged at STGIII or STGIV... I'm not a medical professional, that's just my thoughts based on looking at the staging process.

    First, don't or try not to think doom and gloom...it's a very treatable cancer these days, with very good results.

    For me here is the scenario;

    Jan09, Dx as mentioned above (actually the HPV confirmation came later). My ENT removed the tonsils and staged me at that time.

    He assembled a team for chemo and rads...put the port in a few days later. I did not have a PEG, but if your father is thin or has underlying problems, it's never a bad idea, but can be added later if needed.

    I started off with nine weeks of chemo (three week cycles) of Cisplatin, Taxotere and 5FU. Then an additional seven weeks of concurrent weekly chemo (Carboplatin) and 35 daily rads sessions with the mask.

    I finished up mid June 2009, all clear to date....just had a CT today, but won't get those results for a few days.

    For me the rads were by far the worse as for side effects and lasting effects. Around mid rads (week 3-4), you are pretty much fried and the throat is pretty painful. For me I switched over to just Ensure Plus, water and pain meds several times a day...until around 3-4 weeks post rads. The rads damage will exist a few weeks after the actual rads sessions have stopped.

    Taste will go and come uring chemo, but concerning the rads, both taste and saliva will go for quite awhile... for some it'll come back progressively over time (for me at nearly 95% saliva and 100% taste took over two years), others quicker, some not so much...everyone is different.

    One thing to remember during all of this is hydration....you can't stay hydrated enough basically...it's a most and will put you down if you don't stay hydrated.

    Here is a link to the SuperThread with tons of good infomation;

    SUPERTHREAD

    Others will chime in with their experience and to welcome you as well....

    Best,
    John

    kerbarrett
    What John said.

    Your Dad will survive this, so don't fret about that none. A ways into tx things will not be so patient-friendly as the start of tx, but it'll only be a stretch of rough road he's on as he makes his way to a successful H&N C recovery. Know that to be fact.

    Believe

    kcass
  • longtermsurvivor
    longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,842 Member
    #4
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    Morning
    It sounds like he hasn't had his biopsy proven diagnosis yet. Provided the tonsils, one or the other, are malignant, he will get rads, or chemo and rads, not chemo alone. But there will be plenty of time for these discussions to take place, one at a time, to get your legs under you as you face this. There will be lots of literature available for you in the surgeon's office, and in the chemo department and in the radiation oncology department that will help you with the many basics of this cancer. Reading all this will help you a bunch, as will coming back here frequently.

    Stay cool. Take it one step at a time. This elephant is much better eaten that way, as its way to big to swallow whole.

    My best to you and your family.

    pat
  • Pam M
    Pam M Member Posts: 2,196
    #5
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    Welcome, kerbarrett
    Sorry you need to be here - glad you found the site.
  • kerbarrett08
    kerbarrett08 Member Posts: 2
    #6
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    Pam M said:

    Welcome, kerbarrett
    Sorry you need to be here - glad you found the site.

    Thank you
    Thank you everyone for your post they have helped out a lot, we do have a little update as of yesterday. He goes in on Monday for his tonsiles to be removed, depending on the results of the biopsy and if comes back HPV positive or not will determine the direction on the Chemo or Radaition combo. They are planning right now for it to be 35 rounds of daily radiation once he recovers from Monday.
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #7
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    kerbarrett08 said:

    Thank you
    Thank you everyone for your post they have helped out a lot, we do have a little update as of yesterday. He goes in on Monday for his tonsiles to be removed, depending on the results of the biopsy and if comes back HPV positive or not will determine the direction on the Chemo or Radaition combo. They are planning right now for it to be 35 rounds of daily radiation once he recovers from Monday.

    Monday...
    Had mine out on a Monday also....

    As for HPV....unless your MD's and facility has something going on that most don't..more than likely it won't change the protocul or treatment plan...or at least it hasn't for most on here.

    It's usually a combination of surgery, chemo, radiation, concurrent chemo & radiation, or any combination of those.

    Best,
    John

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