 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Lily, unfortunately OC is not cured with chemo alone. Chemo is used to help shrink tumors making surgery less invasive or along with radiation to help boost its effectiveness. Alone, chemo is used for pallitive care to extend length of the patients life when they are considered terminal.
I would definitely advise you to get a second opinion and MD Anderson is one of the best places for it. From what you described, its unlikely your mother will avoid surgery. The cancer sounds like its too invasive for radiation (even with chemo added) to eliminate it completely. However, I am not a medical professional, Ive only witnessed hundreds of patients over the past 7+ years go thru similar issues. This is why I urge you to get the second opinion.
Best wishes with everything!!!
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive  | 
