Pam,

It will help all of us answering your posts if you include your particulars in your Signature Line especially dates. That way we know where you are in your Tx without having to search your previous posts.

David,
Thanks for the posting tip - I've been reading everyone else's signature, and never looked at my own. Updated.

Still in a quandary over the ROs. Don't know how to pick.

I met with a local (7 mins from home) RO earlier this week. He recommended Induction chemo followed by chemo-rads with Amiphostine (sp?) to try to protect some salivary function, then surgery only if needed last (probably just to clear out nodes). Today, I went to a larger cancer center (not CCC, University of Cincinnati Barrett Cancer Ctr) to meet with another RO (and an intern, and two med students). Recommended plan given was rads w/out chemo ("we've got a good shot at taking care of the primary with radiation alone"), then surgery to clean up the nodes - no amiphostine. He was not against the chemo-rads, but thought it would cause much more damage to my body. He would only consider induction chemo if the cancer had spread beyond locally, and said this type of cancer does not typically do that. He said there was more than one road leading to where I wanted to be. Both doctors are highly recommended, seemed competent, and were likeable (as were their staff members).
The larger center is 25 mins away, not an issue now, but I'm wondering if I could make all the treatment dates in the middle of winter (we usually get a couple of semi-bad patches, and one bad storm a year that limits interstate access).

I'm beside myself - the ROs each think the other is a fine doctor. The MO I'm seeing Monday (16th) has offices at the Hematology-Oncology ctr with RO #1, but has also worked with RO #2. Both ROs agree the MO is great. So, I'm still where I was a week ago, agonizing over 2 ROs, and still not feeling up to the task of making this huge treatment decision. For whatever reason, I'm not suffering over the MO.

My PET was yesterday - MO will give me the results Monday. I've been making myself crazy, certain that I have obvious symptions of cancer in other locations in my body, and hyper-sensitive to anything that anyone could possible suspect was the slightest bit abnormal. I have NEVER been a hypochondriac, so this is bizarre - trying to breathe and wait for Monday - I dread it, but can't wait 'til it's done with.

So, there that is - feel like I'm exactly where I was a week ago - running myself in circles in my head.

Be well,

- Pam

Pam,

If you miss a date (bad weather) you can always make it up. One day here or there is not going to make that much of a difference.

I did Radiation only. I read here about those who did Rad and Chemo to make sure they did as much as possible and brought that to my ENT�s and RO's attention. "Shouldn�t we be as aggressive as the folks on the OCF?� I asked.

RO said he would have gone that route if my original tumor was invasive (it was minimally invasive) and or if it had metastasized to the nodes (CT was clear).

I think most here who had both BOT and nodal involvement had chemo too.

Anyone else want to comment?

Kelly

I would avoid the ND if at all possible and I don't agree that our chemo really messes up your body.

Here I am again, probably being really stupid, but I have yet to learn the abbreviations you "pros" use. E.g., what is MO? What is ND? I printed the List of Abbreviations listed at the top of the main forum page, but these aren't on there, and I don't think I got a complete list. Is there another list somewhere? Thanks.
julieann

Julieann

MO = Medical oncologist (chemo doc)

ND = Neck dissection

I dont know of any other list around, maybe someone else does. You will get the hang of the abbreviations. If you dont know, just ask and we will help.

Thanks, Christine:

I'm slowing learning, s-l-o-w-l-y.

julieann

Julieann,

The second part of this blog site is "Frequently Asked Questions". A thread in that forum is "Abreviations for common terms" where you will find the meanings of abreviations used in our blog. That is how it helped me when I started here.

Jojo

Pam
Chemo, depending on what you have is no all that bad. It also depends how (i.e. how many you get). At this point I have no long term effects from my chemo (as far as I know), the lasting effects (to date) are from radiation and surger
The way I see it: surgery purely local, radiation, local + regional (depending on the irradiated volume) and finally chemo which is systemic to kill of stuff that escaped (and which you do NOT see yet by a PET).
As far as Ethyol is concerned. This really depends on where you irradiate, especially with IMRT. You may not need it. There are 3 pairs of major glands (sublingual, submandibular and parotid). You need to talk with your RO (not MO) about this, the RO knows what structure/volume gets nuked and by how much. To give you an idea, my sublingual and submandibular glands are toast but the both parotids survived. I did not have it.
Re location of RO..... once you have set your radiation plan there is not real need to have this done is a big center. The question is where is the IMRT (not the RO) because you need to go there 33+ times.

Best

M

Pam

Have to agree with DavidCPA and Markus on this. Chemo is no big deal when compared with Surgery and Radiation since both of those are the gifts that keep on giving, while Chemo (with the exception of possible high tone hearing loss with Cisplatin)runs its course rather quickly and then lets you go about your business.