How long should I wait for tonsil cancer treatment to start?

When I had my diagnosis I was told I need all dental work done before cancer treatment as any bad or questionable teeth would need to go before radiation. I know now why no surgery was done my choice as my Dr said I would need to remove your tung and some of your neck and didn’t feel this is what I wanted to live with for the rest of my life and radiation and chemotherapy would still need to be done. Now my tung is half dead my molars are gone can’t eat except semi liquids at best so feeding tube is life. It did piss me off that from diagnosing to the start of treatment was 4 months mostly because the dentist would not get me in for so long. You may need to go door to door and find a dentist that will listen and act fast as it took 2 weeks for the dental work to cure before any radiation or chemo. Good luck. It sucks but it does get better on the others side of treatment.

Sounds like me, dentist started root canal, it got infected. Spent 6 months dealing with that. 1st dr ignored the cancer on my gums. 9-2-25 just had surgery to remove 4 teeth and the bone under them. Waiting on biopsy of bone now. Go see an oral surgeon immediately or ear nose and throat surgeon.

Thank you both. I finally finished all my dental work. Today I had a catscan to see if the tumor in my lymph node changed. I can tell you it did. It is larger and I have increased pain. No test was necessary for that. I saw the oncogene today and it sounds like they will start next week. Finally!!💗😊💗

These stories are crazy. I am in Atlanta burbs and after discovering my tonsil had cancer I went to Emory cancer center and they scheduled a consultation meeting with in two days and provided two alternatives. I chose surgery and I am having surgery Wednesday. That’s 7 days. You folks might want to change doctors.

Treatment delays can be incredibly frustrating, especially when it feels like important steps weren't communicated clearly from the start. Many cancer patients find that dental clearance is often required before certain treatments, and it's understandable to feel upset when this wasn't explained earlier in the process. Now that the dental work is complete, hopefully treatment can move forward more smoothly - have others in this community experienced similar coordination challenges between their medical teams?

The 5 of June 2025 my dr called and said I had cancer I dont think I have slept since then I dont understand I have. An cancer in my head and neck mainly I guess my tonsils I have lung and liver cancer also I had a tooth go bad and alot that where ? So they removed all my teeth im thinking to get a head of it I just dont understand so much of it or really any of it I am doing this alone my girl of 15 years left because she didn't want to watch so the 4th I have pre op and the 7th I have a 7 hour surgery to remove my tonsils and place a feeding tube im told I have the best Dr's here in Las vegas unlv I just want to have quality of life I just want to be able to ride my harley Davidson motorcycle im 62 my mom just turned 85 she still lives alone drives she's my inspiration

My suggestion is for all to lookup Dr John Campbell and follow that rabbit hole. After my treatment that ended early Dec 24 just under 1 year and the cancer is back now on Keytruda first infusion done about 3 weeks ago and the next is scheduled for Tuesday that said my oncologist told me this is not a curative treatment and I told him I am going to through everything at this and see if I can change the final outcome so on my grave stone it says This tuff son of a b dyed of old age not the cancer.