I think we have older folk here and some are aware I'm sure. I got diagnosed with HPV16+ cancer in my tonsil last year and had to adjust my calculation. Males in my family seem to die ~78 and from heart disease, but the last two years has cognitive decline and the last year bedridden. So good to 76. I was supposed to be Stage 1, and if lymph nodes weren't invaded I could get by with surgery alone. But the cancer was twice as large as they thought, and though lymph nodes were clear, there was perinueral invasion. So with 4.5 good years left do I do the radiation or not? Judgment call. - Lapsody

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Really sorry to hear. This is such a personal decision and until faced with it I am not sure how I would really respond. But if it was me, I would go for the treatment. Who knows, that 4.5 years may turn into 14.5 years. I might feel differently if those extra years were to be spent bedridden or in pain.

FWIW, my girlfriend was diagnosed with breast cancer and she went through the whole route - surgery (lumpectomy), chemo, and finally radiation. The radiation phase was really not that bad in her case. More or less a sunburn sort of discomfort for a few days after each treatment. She ultimately beat the cancer, this was ten or so years ago. Techniques have probably improved since then. Good luck and best wishes.