| | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) |  Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | I went to 5 docs before I settled on Moffitt. My presentation was a swollen lump in my neck which turned out to be 2 swollen nodes. The first said "regardless, do not take (my) nodes out" (a PCP), the 2nd said "regardless take (my) nodes out" ( a neck surgeon). Those 2 were before I was Dx'ed with Stage IV SCC. The 3rd said "radical ND, radiation and chemo and I give you a 60% 5 year survival chance" (an ENT), the 4th said "a partial ND, chemo and then radiation and I give you a 70% survival chance" (a MO) and Moffitt said "no ND, concurrent chemo/rad and we give you a 90% survival chance". Easy choice for me! All of this was also before I convinced Moffitt to test my slides for HPV.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 | David makes a very good point about HPV testing and also his decision making process. HPV induced tumors respond extremely well to radiation and chemotherapy. Mine was probably HPV induced and totally vanished off of the CT scan 3 weeks into Tx. My tumor was in the tonsil and not BOT however.
Gary Allsebrook
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Dx 11/22/02, SCC, 6 x 3 cm Polypoid tumor, rt tonsil, Stage III/IVA, T3N0M0 G1/2
Tx 1/28/03 - 3/19/03, Cisplatin ct x2, IMRT, bilateral, with boost, x35(69.96Gy)
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"You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14 NIV)
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 | Note, the original poster, Ran, has not been back to the forum since posting. His cancer is (was) lateral border of the tongue. One would assume that therefore, it is not HPV+. Many of us have had successful results with surgery and no chemo or radiation. As poated above, I still feel grateful that I had the ND for peace of mind.
Jerry
Retired Dentist, 59 years old at diagnosis. SCC of the left lateral border of the tongue (Stage I). Partial glossectomy and 30 nodes removed, 4/6/05. Nodes all clear. No chemo no radiation 18 year survivor.
"Whatever doesn't kill me, makes me stronger"
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