Hi all,   My father had initially been diagnosed with T3N1M1 on his right tonsil back to June Last year. He had been giving 7 weeks radiation and 4 chemo (1 Cisplatin and 3 Carboplatin) in Sydney St Vincent Hospital and all these treatments had completed on 2nd August. He had a PET scan early November and the report came back showing he was all clear at that time. However, he has started feeling unwell, lost weight and also noticed something on his right tonsil growing again about two weeks ago. He had a scan and report shows the cancer recurred in the same place- lesions in the right base of the tongue that are likely to have malignant tumours.   The radiation oncology did my father's previous treatments told me their approach in this situation is: If small recurrence only, then surgery if possible but usually it is very big surgery; If larger recurrence or it has spread then chemotherapy, as my father had cisplatin not that long ago here they would use immunotherapy, nivolumab or other immunotherapy available on clinical trial.   Please everyone, if you have ever heard people had experienced a head&neck cancer recurrence that happened only very short period of time after the treatments, could you let me know? I'm keen to find out how bad the situation is.   I'm devastated and hopeless. I know how amazing people are in this forum. I read all your comments when my father had been having his previous treatments and I had acquired tons of information we need. I can't thank you enough for that. When I was told this terrible news, the first thing I could think of is to find help from here.   Looking forward for your replies and for the bottom of my heart thank you for any help you can offer.   Regards, Sheryn   ... View more

Hi,   Greatly thanks for your response....I really appreciate it. I’m in urgent need of knowing inspiring stories and survivors like you,so I can have a hope in my mind and tell me father to keep positive. I searched st Vincents online.  I think I’ll go to my GP to get referral to see a specialist there. If my father can start treatment in two,three weeks time,that would be a huge relief for the whole family. Do you have a doctor there you could recommend? Sorry I know it has been long time ago.   Sheryn ... View more

Hi,   Thanks so much for your reply. The information you provided is really helpful. The specialist said two,three weeks delay won’t make any difference,but I don’t believe so, especially for those late stage patients like my father. Could I ask you which stage you were at? My father was staged at least a t3n2b(stage 4a)in the initial consultation. I do feel two,three months is too long for my father’s stage. If sadly it progresses to a 4c,he might lose the last chance to cure. Thanks again for your help, wishing you best of luck for your now and in the future.   Sheryn ... View more

Hi all,   my father was diagnosed with a tonsil cancer staged at T3N2B(I googled it’s stage 4)two days ago. We were told we need to do CT scans and bring results to an every fortnight’s Tuesday meeting in the hospital for the prognosis. Unfortunately we miss out next Tuesday’s meeting because we can’t get all the results ready by that day,which means we will have to wait for the following one on 11 June. I’m really anxious about the over two weeks waiting time. Because the tumor looks quite bad and seems to be very aggressive(it took 6 weeks to grow to over 4cm big). And I was also told that after the meeting on 11 June,we might need to wait again before they start the treatment. We’re living in Wollongong,I’m now considering to go to Sydney to see another specialist to see if my father can get treatment earlier since he is at a quite late stage. My question is for my father’s case,normally how long it takes from diagnosis to treatment? Will things get worse if we have to wait for another month or two to start treatment? I feel very scared and helpless now...Any answers would be much appreciate!  Sheryn ... View more