Can you imagine going to a routine dentist appointment and ending up in a doctor’s office where you were then diagnosed with cancer?

That is what happened to Delores Fikes of Italy, Texas. Delores went to see her dentist for a routine appointment and after Dr. Scarborough (dentist) was finished examining her she told her she needed to see her doctor because her glands felt firm.

About a month and a half later Delores started having trouble swallowing and went to see her family doctor, (Dr. Pickens). “When I mentioned that my dentist said I should see him because my glands were firm, Dr. Pickens took a look in my throat and then walked out of the room. This scared me to death.” Delores went on to say,“Dr. Pickens came back in and told me that there wasn’t anything he could do for me.” He said, ‘I am going to take you over to this other doctor (Dr. Reeder).’ He personally walked me to Dr. Reeder’s office. It scared me to death."

Dr Reeder examined her throat, took an xray and showed the xray to Delores. “He showed me how it was all black on my tonsils. He diagnosed me with Oma Tonsil Carcinoma.”

Cancer of the tonsils usually involves the palatine tonsils on the sides of the throat. Most tonsil cancers are squamous cell carcinomas but some are lymphomas. Tonsil Cancer may have one or more symptoms including:

• a sore in the back of the mouth that will not heal
• tonsil is larger on one side
• blood in the saliva
• mouth pain
• difficulty chewing, swallowing or speaking
• persistent sore throat
• intolerance to eating or drinking citrus foods
• severe ear pain
• lump or pain in the neck
• pain when swallowing
• bad breath

Over a six month time span Delores had thirty radiation treatments and five chemo treatments. “The radiation burned my neck, I got a first degree burn from under my chin all the way down my neck. It hurt really bad, so bad that I couldn’t take the next radiation treatment.”

Delores has now completed all of her treatments and two weeks ago she went back to see Dr. Reeder and after examining her he told her he didn’t see anything there. “That is a blessing, I praise God for that. I couldn’t have done it without God,” explained Delores.

“I could not have made it through without the support of my husband Tommy Fikes, my pastor and church members and my children. I had so much support. Grady Cashion (her pastor) calls me all the time. My love for my husband and my family made me determined to beat this thing. I give God all the glory. I couldn’t have made it without my faith in God,” Delores said.

When asked what this experience has taught her, Delores said, “To appreciate every day that you have because you are not promised tomorrow.”

Relay For Life of Central Ellis County will be held at Lumpkins Stadium in Waxahachie on May 15th & 16th, 2009. All cancer survivors will be honored guests at a meal at 6:00PM and during a celebration lap at 7:00 PM. If you are a cancer survivor, please go to the Relay for Life Website or call Karen Mathiowetz at (972) 483-7434 to sign up.