In October 2022, I was diagnosed with HPV throat cancer I had a tumor growth the size of small marble between my tonsil, my voice box, and at the base of my tongue and a couple of cancerous lymph nodes in my neck .I was extremely frightened, I had a biopsy done in Nevada and then proceeded to go to the Minnesota Mayo Clinic beginning of November 2022 to get 35 sessions zaps of proton radiation to both sides of my neck and throat and seven doses of cisplatin chemotherapy. It has been a long-haul, but the best decision I’ve ever made, the oncology and radiation doctors nurses at the Mayo clinic were wonderful they have become friends of mine I have been cancer free since I do go for testing every 4or 5 months. I have been cancer free since . And I get tested here in Nevada every six weeks. I try to be very vigilant about it. As far as my symptoms are concerned, it took me over a year to get about 80% of my taste buds back. It took me about eight months to swallow without getting food stuck, I do drink, a lot of water and early on I drank a lot of chocolate boost when I could not eat. I have always kept the faith. Things get better and they have !!! so keep the faith !!for me. Prayer has helped a lot and I volunteer at the homeless shelter in Las Vegas . It helps me. Even 13 months after I still get dry mouth but I use a humidifier and I try to be very proactive and keep a positive attitude I am very appreciative to the Minnesota Rochester Mayo clinic doctors and nurses etc. that helped me get
through this challenging time.