Getting closer to a confirmed diagnosis...help with a few questions if possible

Hi Bethie 

Rest assured they usually do find the primary. You could look at Peter’s profile. His road has been a bit convoluted but he is an outlier @PFJTHS 

Just click on his name in my post. 
Tonsillectomy in the adult is pretty painful for a couple of weeks but the pain can be managed. 
You say no chemotherapy has been mentioned but if he has nodal spread he will likely get it. 
I had RT to both sides of my neck but less to one side. 
Its doable but a real challenge. 
Another couple of profiles you can look at are MarkEL  and Petlamb  They both describe their treatments pretty well. 
Dont despair. Most oropharyngeal cancer is caused by the HPV virus and it’s very sensitive to radiotherapy. Cure rates are in excess of 90%
You will get his HPV status on biopsy 

Good luck. Stay with us. There’s lots of help here 

Hi try not to stress head and neck cancers respond well to treatment  often primary is found if not in tonsil in base of tongue  if not toit can often burn its self away. If there’s anything in his lymph nodes  chemo is usually added. I had radiotherapy to both sides more on the right side as tumour was there. Best advise I can give you is if his trust offers a feeding tube as a peg take it.mine was fitted as a ng tube and it was my lifesaver. Theres no prizes for trying to eat when you can’t there’s a few who have managed without a feeding tube but they are the rare ones. 
Now youve found us ask any questions in here. At next consultation ask re HPV status as Dani says HPV driven tumours are very responsive to treatment. 
Hugs Hazel

Thanks Dani…he is so fit and active and feels absolutely fine apart from this lump! I will be back on I’m sure with more questions, thank you for taking the time to give advice/help…sharing your own journey and recovery is so lovely to read!

Thanks Hazel…like Dani, your story is an inspiration! We also cycle and love Spain and so hope to get back there one day! 

Hi yes i was exactly the same I had cycled 1100  km in Spain and on day after my return  I was in the cancer pathway. I too only had Larry the lump nothing else. 

Hazel x

Hi Bethie  you will do I flew back 8 weeks after and I had  a little ride ok only 22 km but each km was perfection.  Where  in Spain do you ride. 
try not to stress easy to say I’ve been there. 
Hazel x

I love reading this Hazel! That’s some impressive cycle!! We go to Montejaque, a gorgeous little village not far from Ronda. The roads are great for cycling there…much better than here!  It will be good to move forward…it just feels like after each meeting we’ve had we still don’t have a diagnosis, but I appreciate it takes time. I love reading that you also managed a cycle after 8 weeks! So inspiring! X

Bless you. I was 63 days from returning from Spain to first radiotherapy session. Once you get treatment plan there’s a well,oiled machine that sets into progress. I was determined to get there  it was hubbys 60th and he needed the break. Yes Spain have a lot  of respect for cyclists I rarely cycle here at home.  Ronda looks beautiful we’re usually in Murcia province. But 2 years ago did a side trip to Huelva and Punta Umbria .You'll get there again I went again the following February for 10 weeks. I used to work round my check ups occasionally stretching them to fit in with me. 
any questions just shout out. 
Hazel 

I was feeling pretty low after our meeting at the Hospital today, but you (and Dani) have both lifted my spirits and made me feel again like this is something we will get through…and we will be back cycling too! I’m mostly very positive, but sometimes have a little wobble. Thank you and I will be back in touch if that is ok x

Hi Bethie. Of course you can that’s why we stick around our cancers aren’t as well know  as many others are. I knew no one when I got my diagnosis now we’re all a family . So we all help each other. We’re a tight bunch always happy to help. Ps wobbles are perfectly fine we’ve all had them usually 0300 sat on the kitchen floor but get ourselves up and smile dust ourselves down  and start again.

hugs Hazel