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Hi Star. Sorry you’ve found yourself on here. Head and neck cancers are eminently curable.tell us a bit more about yourself what operation are you having and where ? My cancer was in my tonsil I dudnt have any op just chemotherapy and radiotherapy. I was 61 when diagnosed. 
hazel x

Hi Star. Welcome from me too. Don’t be scared. Your team are expert at this and do it every day. You’ll be well cared for. I presume you’re having the tumour surgically excised by laser then a neck dissection to remove lymph nodes that might have cancer in them. 
let us know what’s being done in a little more detail as it helps us help you. 
If you have time pop a few details into your profile as well. If you click on my avatar you’ll see the sort of thing I mean. 

Thank you for you message I am 44. I have been diagnosed with p16 I had my left tonsil removed and have an enlarged node. I have to have laser out the tonsil fossa and a left neck dissertation to remove the node I may need radiotherapy. I having it done at antriee hospital liverpool 

I am 44 and I am having the op at antriee hospital liverpool I been diagnosed with p16 yer the laster is to remove the cancer and the neck dissertation is to remove the nodes. I may need radiotherapy just have to see what the results come back as it's a lot to take it as I still can't get my head round it all 

Star2010 said:

I may need radiotherapy just have to see what the results come back as it's a lot to take it as I still can't get my head round it all 

Fingers crossed you don’t but if you do it’s difficult but doable. I was 68 when I finished six weeks of treatment 

Hold onto the fact that this cancer is curable. 
Hugs. 

Thank you and yer that Al I keep thinking about is that it is curable 

Hi Star I too was HPV 16 positive keep in mind that HPV  cancers respond well to treatment. Please ask us in here we will all try to help. Keep off dr google you will frighten your silly. 
if yiu do need radiotherapy don’t be afraid I did it and 4 years later am happily living my life. 
m hugs Hazel xx

Thank you its just so much to take in and I find it hard sometime but I still go around with a smile on my faces. I think for me the hardest part is worrying about the scare and having to tell people as I have only told close family and friends so there are a lot of people that don't no. That's because I did not whan them to fell sorry for me and whated to try and life my life the best I could. So having to tell them and then asking why I never said anything is going to be hard but for me I was like I am in control of the this x

Hi I only told people who  needed to know until I had completed treatment. I too found it was one of the ways I could control. Also  doing my blog helped me retain control. Then when time was ready I sent my blog to friends  maybe start a daily diary it might help you. For me positive mental attitude got me through I am a glass half full person anyways. You’ll get there we all do. 
Hazel x

Star2010 said:

Thank you and yer that Al I keep thinking about is that it is curable 

As Hazel says, HPV cancer is exceptionally sensitive to radiotherapy if you need it. It's all I had as surgery wasn't an option. Of course your cancer is curable if they can remove it all so fingers crossed they can.

 Who to tell is certainly an issue and the only people I told were immediate family. As for friends, that's a difficult one. If you are a social butterfly you might find that a good few of them will drift away. Folk don't like cancer in case they get it. Uncharitable? yes but that's life. I'm not so have only a tiny handful of friends and they stuck by me but I told them I didn't want them sending me  endless messages of sympathy and telling me how strong I was. I'm not strong, I'm a glass half empty girl AND I'm a survivor, though there was a brief period before things got going that I thought it would be easier for everybody if I was "out of the way"

I'm a medic but not a doctor and I full well understood the implications but once my oncologist told me he would cure me I put my trust in the team even though my body let me down a few times. Remember...this may all be new to you but the team behind you do this every day and they are good at it.

There is a uniquely horrible and painful limbo after diagnosis but things will fall into place once treatment starts and you will feel better

Hold on and best wishes