I had an appointment in the ENT Dept after my tonsillectomy wound had healed a bit, and had to go in to get the results of histology from the removed tonsil. Feeling a bit nervous I was a little shocked to see the Oncologist sitting in ENT. Not a good sign really is it, along with a gaggle of support staff (Trials people, Clinical Nurse Specialists, etc) . Dr D. fairly quickly and efficiently gave me the bad news- it was cancer in the tonsil - of the HPV16 type.
Discussion swiftly moved onto treatment options and the Pathos trial that is running in the UK right now - more on this later. So after a little thought a few days later I went for the offered treatment. A re-section of the throat area, to remove potentially cancerous tissue, removal of lymph nodes in the neck, then 6 or 5 weeks radiotherapy depending on the Pathos trial.
It is a shock getting the news, but the hospital staff did do their best to support me through it. I hope they do for anybody going through a diagnosis like mine in the future.
A few days later I was talking to the surgeon who was planning to do the surgery, who explained risks and potential problems of the surgery. Main specific ones to this op are damage to nerves as they remove lymph nodes - this is a real issue and if you are particularly sporty I'd discuss this in detail before the op. Basically nerves in your jaw and shoulder get damaged and there is quite extensive numbness and a certain lack of control of the front part of your shoulder after the operation. The control should come back - but slowly. There is also the matter of the large scar you will have - the surgeon undersold this bit a little. Mines goes from just below by earlobe to about and inch above the top of rib-cage. It's going to be visible for quite some time. I'm told it does fade (and I think mine will do in time) but it is impressive just after the operation. You will also likely have some drains in.
So it was now a waiting period to let the tonsillectomy heal before doing it all over again. How naive I was!
