Hi Jeff,

I think that it depends on things like the location/size of your tumor, where it has metastasized to, extent of lymph node involvement, whether it is extracapsular (out of situ) or contained, how aggressive it is, your overall health and medical history.

I was recently at a conference and the MO told us that all chemo is toxic and you have to weigh the potential side effects of each against their track record. Add to that what each patient is willing to risk - again it's a trade off.

We were also told that Erbitux is very promising but more commonly used for recurrence at this point in time. Jack was put on 4 cycles of cisplatin because his cancer was very advanced and that one has a longer track record. It gave him a slightly better edge and we wanted every little bit of help to beat this sucker. You can't worry about what makes sense for anyone but you. All of these are good treatment options, including the one you're on. If you have any issues with hearing loss let them know immediately, there's different ways to do the dosing.

Jack said to tell you that he really believes the amifostine helped him have fewer side effects from the radiation. It's important to follow the recommendations for drinking water and taking the anti-nausea drugs exactly because it's an unforgiving routine. If you do it their way you'll get thru. Also don't wait for the nausea to come, use medication on a preventative basis. It's the little things that seem to matter.

Load up with fluids and good luck,
Regards JoAnne