What is the survival rate for 65 yr Male w/ squamous cell carcinoma

I went through radiation and chemo about 18 months ago. I too live alone. Am 72 and have my dog living with me. I drove myself to every appointment, to the grocery store and to other appointments. My goal was to eat 6 small meals a day and not lose too much weight. When someone offers to bring you food, accept it even if you can’t eat it. My freezer was full of soup. Load up on gelatin, ice cream and applesauce or anything that you can swallow easily. Attitude goes a long way with this. I had two operations. First was to remove tonsils and do six biopsies in my throat. Second was TORS and lymph node dissection. 18 removed with two cancerous. Ask for the magic mouthwash and stay ahead of the pain. It won’t be your best year but you will get through it.

@bupster first; remember that everyone is different and treatments affect everyone differently. As for me, I had too much cancer for surgery so I was hit as hard as they could because they said they had one chance to kill it and if they failed the outcome was not good.
I had 35 radiation and 3 rounds of Cisplatin.
Prior to treatments I had to do the following:
Have oral surgeon examine my teeth; he extracted my wisdom teeth, two molars with crowns and two molars with fillings. Then I had to sit idle for 21 days of healing then oral surgeon gave the okay for next steps, which was the following:
1. File for SSDI
2. Meet with general surgeon
3. Surgery to install feeding tube and injection port
4. Get fitted for radiation mask
5. Barium swallow study
6. Tour of treatment areas and instructions as to using the feeding tube.
7. Assigned to nutrition person and instructed as to what I needed to purchase
8. Begin treatment
Radiation was 5 days per week and chemotherapy was once every other week (I think)for 3 rounds and fluids every day during treatment and for several months post treatment.
I was not able to eat by mouth for nearly a year in which I was totally dependent upon the feeding tube.
During all of this time I was on several medications for pain(which included fentanyl), nausea, anxiety etc.
I was able to get off the pain medication much earlier than the care team expected…they made me so tired that I was sleeping all the time.
I had a few PETCT Scans throughout this time as well as weekly scoping.
My dentist fitted me with a fluoride tray so I could treat my teeth daily.
I’m 8 1/2 years out now but I suffer from many after affects: chronic migraine, chronic fatigue, tinnitus from Cisplatin, joint pain, brain fog, dry mouth, tight jaw, swallowing problems, I also think I suffer from PTSD but I have never spoken to anyone about it. Having to go on SSDI was a very difficult thing for me to deal with because I have worked since I was very young.
Anyway, I’m grateful to be ALIVE!
Hope this answered your question.

MOJO

I hope you feel well enough to do all those things, @bupster. Especially spend some time outside with your dog! I made it a priority to walk with our new dog every day, because nothing makes you feel better than nature. I had half of my face paralyzed from the surgery a month before this treatment started. The tumor involved the facial nerve so a section was removed and then reattached. My appearance kept me at home more than anything else. I was very tired toward the second half of treatment and had to start napping during the day. If you have the energy than you can continue all your activities. I suspect you will be tired, though, at your age. I went through this at 58 and had a lot more energy then. I would look into having a driver if your treatment center is not close by. Having food or prepared meals delivered at the beginning would help you until eating becomes too difficult. Take advantage of anyone who has offered to give you a hand in the past. Now you will appreciate the help. I don't know what I would have done without my recently retired husband/driver/caregiver.
Stock up on some good books for reading. Continue all your daily routines as long as you have the energy. On the days that you don't, listen to your body and rest. Just work hard to take in adequate nutrition and hydration. You feel a lot worse when you are dehydrated. Ask your medical team about community groups who offer support during cancer treatment. Contact them now and don't wait until you are feeling unwell. Good luck on this unwanted journey you are heading into.

Thank you for your help and advise, it is truly appreciated

What would happen if I decided not to treat the cancer ??

I wouldn’t recommend not going through treatment to anyone.
In fact, when I was in the chemo center on two different occasions two people I had arrested were seated right next to me.
I could have just sat silently because neither one recognized me because of my weight loss.
The first one pretended he didn’t remember me after I told him who I was but I encouraged him anyway to stay strong and he returned the same.
The second one about fell over when I told him who I was. He couldn’t believe I was there and going through treatment. He told me how sorry he was for me having cancer and I returned the same respect to him.
My son worked court security and many bad guys that knew me very well told my son they were praying for me to be ok.
So no matter who we are or what we’ve done cancer has no preference and people we never expected to care reach out.
I’m sure you have people in your life too that would say, stay strong and fight the good fight my friend!

MOJO

I was told I wouldn't likely meet anyone experiencing the same cancer as myself in my lifetime. I've since met half a dozen or more who were either going through it or one of their family members were, and one was my sister and another was my wife's uncle. Most underwent treatment right away. Some didn't make it the 5 years. One ignored the problem until it became too difficult to continue. They had to remove his tongue and lower jaw. Eventually, he succumbed, though I'm unaware if it was to cancer or illness. The earlier the intervention, the better your chances, so I would suggest you proceed without delay. I'm now 19 years out and have done a lot of living since my experience. There is life afterward, so live it.

My husband is 11 years out from a stage IV throat cancer diagnosis, he received the standard protocol of care at that time, for the squamous cell cancer, that started in his right tonsil and invaded the lymph node. He just turned 70. They did not do surgery, because the oncologist said that he could not be certain he could get 100% and it would've been quite disfiguring. He had a feeding tube for a while and lost a considerable amount of weight, but was a bit overweight at the start, so that was actually a blessing at that time. He has done amazing and is cancer free for some time now. POSITIVE speaking ONLY, no negative talk, I was insistent about that. Will be praying for your husband. It's very tough on the loved one/caregiver as well.

Not treating the cancer is a personal decision only you can make. I only know of one person who, three years older than you, had hospice care and morphine or similar in the last few weeks.
A hospice nurse might be able to fill you in on how this would all go down.
We here on Connect try to encourage one another to fight and go on through recovery. As for me, if and when I am again faced with a reoccurrence, at my age, would I fight or not? I cannot say for certain either way.
As for you, I hope you give it a fight, best you can.

Thank you