Pat C's Profile

Type of Cancer: Tonsil Cancer

Medical Term for the Type of Cancer: Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Diagnosis Date: January 17, 2011

Stage of Cancer: Stage 4

Tumor Size: 1.1 - 2.0 cm

Grade of Tumor: Grade 2

Lymph Node Involvement: Yes

Surgery: Tonsillectomy

Radiation: Radiation Therapy

Chemotherapy: Cisplatin (Platinol, Platinol-AQ)

What I Hate Most About Cancer: The 'surprise attack' nature of the disease

What I Have Learned From Cancer: You can't dodge the inevitable

Things My Supporters Can Do To Help: They have done everything

Alternative Cancer Treatment: None

Cancer Drugs Positives & Negatives: Appreication for Health and Food and basic human senses and needs

Metastasized? Where?: Lymph node N-1 and N-2

Clinical Trials: None

Cancer Center: Butler Regional Cancer Center

Tips for others on how to deal with the physical side effects of chemo/cancer: Get the feeding tube early. You will not be eating after a few weeks of radiation.

Tips for others on how to deal with the mental struggles of chemo/cancer: Allow yourself to vent the frustration

End of Treatment Date: April 28, 2011

NED Date: July 10, 2011

Tonsil Cancer symptoms: Ongoing sore thoat - Was thought to be infection, then abscess then tonsil stone. Not until tonsilectomy was cancer discovered.

Surgery Description, Dates & Side Effects: January 17, 2011 - Tonsilectomy - Ouch for 2 weeks lost 10 pounds but got through it.

Chemotherapy Description, Dates & Side Effects: February 25, 2011 - Cysplatin (Cisplatyn) I don't know 4 of 8 weeks only as it ruined my throat way early and did it's job - according to the dr.

Radiation or Proton Therapy Description, Dates & Side Effects: February 25 started 1 of 39 neck radiation. 28 full neck radiations and 11 right side (cancer side) radiation. Mucousitus at 3 weeks. Lost taste and salivary at week 2. Thrush at week 2. Feeding tube at week 3. Took 1 week off (week 5) due to throwing up for 7 days. Could not swallow very early and throat trashed way too early. Couldn't use Caphasol, "Magic Swizzle" numbing meds couldn't get down.

Hormone Therapy Description, Dates & Side Effects: None

Bone Marrow Transplant Description, Dates & Side Effects: None

Immune Therapy Description, Dates & Side Effects: None

Fundraising Description: Worthington Fire Department and my band students held a spaghetti dinner for my extra food and medical expenses - What a wonderful gift. I thought all those band kids hated me for being strict and somewhat "Irish Tempermental"