yes... they do not recommend it if they feel you won't benefit from it.

my opinion for what it's worth.
You have a long history with this cancer - it is clearly aggressive and pervasive. Cancer can hide in the nodes. When its there it can sit and slowly seed to other areas. cancer is only picked up on a scan once it reaches a certain size. therefore it could be there still - on a microscopic level. Do you really want to hope it's gone? or do your best to ensure you've given yourself the best chance of survival?

having rads and chemo cuts the potential for recurrence in half (so if it's 50/50 then its now 75/25 - that's a big difference)- you've already had numerous surgeries to remove this - playing it safe hasn't paid off - there is no reason to believe that it will this time either.

Do the rads. do the chemo if they suggest it.

this cancer can be aggressive. Do all you can to kill it now.

hugs.


Cheryl : Irritation - 2004 BX: 6/2008 : Inflam. BX: 12/10, DX: 12/10 : SCC - LS tongue well dif. T2N1M0. 2/11 hemigloss + recon. : PND - 40 nodes - 39 clear. 3/11 - 5/11 IMRT 33 + cis x2, PEG 3/28/11 - 5/19/11 3 head, 2 chest scans - clear(fingers crossed) HPV-, No smoke, drink, or drugs, Vegan