Seeking advise�

My mother in law has had SCC of neck/lymph nodes (primary tongue). She is 71.

She took Erbitux and radiation first, then she was operated on (neck dissection, right side) which was followed with 10 more sessions of radiation and one dose of Cisplatin split in 4.

Some time later she developed strong pains in her shoulder (same side). Docs did not know aht it was. They did CAT/MRI/PET and finally samples for biopsy.

Looks like the cancer came back in the same spot on the neck - based on the biopsy results.

PET did not show other presence� from what I understand.

Now�

The surgeon says that they do not re-operate in the same spot in these cases. She was already been given all the radiation she can take. So she may me given more chemotherapy.

Docs are very pessimistic.

Why can�t she be re-operated if the area is still small?


What else can we do?

We are getting a second opinion at Dana Farber, hopefully next week.

Please share your thoughts.

Maxbaxter