Hi Heather,

Getting a second opinion is a good idea. UCLA is a great place. It sounds like the doctors are concerned that some cancer cells may have escaped the local site and want to maximize a curative outcome. Radiation will be able to cover the entire area and kill any cancer cells in that zone.

It is difficult to weigh the benefit of radiation against the long term effects. All my doctors and myself were of the goal to hit it hard the first time rather than going with less aggressive treatment and potentially leaving some stray cancer cells to turn into recurrence.

Getting a second opinion allows you to get a different take on your situation. This whole thing has a science basis but there is a lot of room for various treatment plans.

Good luck,
Don

Don
Male, 57 - Great health except C
Dec '12
DX: BOT SCC T2N2bMx, Stage 4a, HPV+, multiple nodes
1 tooth out
Jan '13
2nd tooth out
Tumor Board -induction TPF (3 cycles), seq CRT
4-6/2013
CRT 70gr 2x35, weekly carbo150
ended 5/29,6/4
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