Thanks Cheryl and that's exactly what we do best here - is answer questions. We also try to give you information that facilitates the questions that you will ask the doctors as well. We strongly believe that being your own advocate is the best way to go. Be sure to take very thorough notes at the appointments.

One more thing that I wanted to add about how RT works is that is alters the DNA of the cancer cells so it can't replicate itself and it just dies off. Normal cells are damaged as well but they have the ability to regenerate. This is another reason why RT is administered in fractions.

Chemotherapy should also be on the table as well. It is typically used as an adjunct to RT and can give as much as 15% additional 5 year survival rate. Cisplatin is the most commonly used and there are 2 types of treatment plans that we hve seen. Once every three weeks beginning with the first day of RT and weekly smaller doses. Chemotherapy, by itself, is not very effective in H&N cancer treatment but it has a good synergistic effect with RT.

The front end of this process moves very fast and many decisions have to be made in a hurry.