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Recently diagnosed with cancer on left tonsil with swollen lymph nodes

Posted by rickntodd @rickntodd, Dec 22, 2023

The only treatment options i have been offered is chemo and radiation. Radiation 5 times a week for 7 weeks and chemo once a week for 6 weeks. I just had a feeding tube PEG procedure because it hurts to swallow and i am very thin. 6 feet tall 129lbs. I am in constant pain. I have excruciating and debilitating headaches 24/7. What are other treatment options out there? I am in so much pain and i have not even started treatment yet.

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zeip8288 | @zeip8288 | Dec 26, 2023
In reply to @rkaspet "Like I have reported to other people that have gone through this I was diagnosed with..." + (show)
@rkaspet

Like I have reported to other people that have gone through this I was diagnosed with HPV throat cancer with a tumor, the size of a small marble in the base of my tongue between my voice box and my tonsils and two raise cancerous lymph nodes. last October 2022. I went to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester Minnesota 11/07/22-12/23/22 I went through 35 sessions of proton radiation And seven doses of cystplatin chemotherapy, I was scared and overwhelmed, but I have to say it was the best decision I have ever made, but it was a long haul. I had some side effects like losing my taste buds for almost 10 months and having a hard time swallowing for about eight months. I lived on chocolate boost and soft food for quite a while but I have to be tested multiple times this year every six weeks here in Nevada and every four months in Rochester Minnesota. I am cancer free I’ve gotten 80% of my taste buds back and I can swallow now once in a while I have a raspy voice I drink a lot of water.. It’s a nice feeling that I have healed and recovered please keep the faith for me, prayer has helped and of course the doctors And nurses at the Mayo clinic in Rochester in the oncology and radiation department are wonderful I highly recommended them !!!

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I wish you all the best! And, yes, Mayo staff is absolute tops. So grateful!

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laughlin1947 | @laughlin1947 | Dec 26, 2023

My brother had the same exact thing 5 years ago. He was given a typical platinum based chemo medication. They removed his tonsils and found out that was his "primary tumor" . However, the presence of the cancer in his tonsils did not appear on the PetScan he initially received. The cancer had spread to his lymph nodes, several but not all. But he is clear and free of cancer now. It's a very common treatment scheme with high degree of success.

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cbarton | @cbarton | Dec 28, 2023

Have you had a nerve block?
My wife had your exact problem and the nerve block offered some help. The chemo and radiation treatments were also the exact same. She had this 25 years ago and they didn’t have proton therapy then, this time she did and the after effects were much more tolerated.
Unfortunately you may have the gtube for a good while. Lidacain , probably spelled wrong, is a little bit of relief as well.

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grammyd | @grammyd | Dec 29, 2023

My husband recently had the same diagnosis. We checked with 3 separate cancer centers/doctors and the treatment you mention is the standard treatment. It's good they already placed the peg tube. It's not an easy treatment/process; I'm told it's one of the hardest but we made it through and my husband is now recovering and doing well.

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