Survivor of Tonsil Cancer
Brownsburg, IN
An Indianapolis native, Felton attended IPS Schools 69 (Joyce Kilmer) and Broad Ripple High School. He graduated from Indiana University (Bloomington) with a BS in Business and Administration & Management. Felton has been married for 35 years to his beloved wife and best friend, Benita Harding. They are the proud parents of two adult children Brandon Harding and Tamara Singleton. He retired in 2017 from AT&T after 39+ years of service.
Felton’s cancer journey began in March 2021. He noticed some swelling in the back of his throat while brushing his teeth. Based on his previous bouts with strep throat, he scheduled an appointment with his primary care physician, who treated him for a bacterial infection and prescribed antibiotics. He had no other symptoms, no pain nor any restriction of activities. In other words, Felton ignored the swelling and went on living.
It wasn't until November of 2021 that his wife noticed his sleep apnea had gotten worse, and she urged him to see a medical specialist. Felton went to an IU West ENT physician, who examined him in December, and based on his observation and professional experience, indicated that that swelling was typically cancer. “I was stunned and dumbfounded. Life from that point forward was a blur for my wife and I,” explained Felton.
In January 2022, Felton underwent two or more biopsies from his tonsil and chest areas. The cultures indicated he had left tonsil cancer.
His chemotherapy and radiation treatments began in late January 2022. For some reason, the medications in the IV fluids Felton was given prevented him from ever taking any of the prescribed nausea pills or liquids.
Once radiation began, Felton followed many of the skin treatments (fresh aloe leaves and specific skin creams) as best as he could. By week three or four of his radiation treatments, his throat became very irritated, so he spit and rinsed his mouth multiple times a day.
Weeks into radiation treatment, Felton became mentally exhausted and started developing claustrophobia from wearing the green protective mask and laying on his back. His diet and ability to swallow suffered after three weeks of radiation, so he began using the PEG tube that was inserted in February. It became his lifeline for his sustenace till late May 2022. He experienced hair loss and the skin discoloration around his neck was very pronounced.
A prescribed food supplement caused more nausea than the chemotherapy. After testing a few food options, Felton settled on Ensure High Protein milk shakes for four months. He lost 25 pounds by the time his treatments ended in mid-March.
“Ringing the bell was something I had seen on television but now could fully appreciate and empathize with those before me,” explained Felton.
Early in his post treatment, Felton began to see some swelling (lymphedema). He regularly saw speech and lymphedema therapists and followed their specific instructions: performing repeated exercises, stretches, vocalizations, etc. He was steadfast in exercising multiple times a day for his throat, neck, jaw, etc. These exercise routines were no problem for Felton as he worked out at the local gym regularly, especially after retiring in 2017.
In summary, Felton is in remission, “I'm blessed to have had great doctors, nurses, hospital staff, etc. The predominant long-term side effects for me are: 1) ringing or tinnitus in both ears, 2) dry mouth, 3) loss of taste (mostly sweetness), 4) lymphedema.”
“I would recommend The Joe & Shelly Schwarz Cancer Center. My wife was my savior, and she might say that I listened to her for once and it saved my life.”
