Hello to all,
About three weeks ago my dad had his lower jaw, neck nodes, 2/3 of tounge, and tumor at base of tounge his removed. The doctos said he was cancer free. Best news ever! THEN... he went in for his check up and to see radiation people and set up his next treatment, and the guy refuses to schedule anything because he says my dads plate in his mouth is showing - not healing enough and that you can only do radiation if its healed and he shoots off his mouth that my dad only has 25% chance. Um...25% of living or dying, or what the hell? This guy was so insensitive that my dad hasen't spoken since he walked out of there two days ago.I know this is just the begining of the frustration.

My aunt went straight to the doctor with my dad so they could check the plate( which might come out and his chin will sink in) and the doctor told her that you can only do radiation (series of I think 35) once. They said they would talk to the radiology because his radiation needs to be at the base of the tounge, not on the jaw. My dad didn't have the cancer in his jaw- but they removed it anyways.
They went on to tell him he should do chemo as well because the nodes were swollen and it might have spread to some others.AUGH!!!

On day cancer free the next day 25% chance.
This sucks.

Karen, is your Dad at a Cancer Center that does Head and Neck cancer everyday? If not, I'd try to find one for another opinion. Amy

He is at the VA in Atlanta, GA. He has had two surgeries there in the last month. He is getting comfortable with his doctor. He hasn't had really anything negative except for the one guys lousy comment. His doctor later told my dad that she didn't know why he had said what he said. My aunt had asked her about the 25% chance thing. I guess maybe the guy was having a bad day- RIGHT! and my dad wasn't? I know there are going to be days when we are all feeling like nobody knows what they are doing- I think the VA does this kind of thing all day long though. Do you know of any head and neck cancer facilities?Thanks. (anywhere?)

Karen,

Sorry to hear about all that you and your dad have gone through and then having to deal with that insensitive jerk.

Please check this page from the OCF website; http://www.oralcancerfoundation.org/resources/cancer_centers.htm


For quick answers you can use the search engine from the main page or the one at the top of this page to find answers to almost anything that you have questions about.

And remember, statistics are just that, statistics and they mean very little. (Type in statistics on the forum search engine and see previous discussions about statistics).

Good luck to you and your dad and keep us posted.

Jerry

Karen .. If possible have him go To Emory Hospital , Winship Cancer Center, for a second opinion. As you will see we live in Georgia and my husband also had base of tongue.
I will be happy to talk to you if you would like that.
Marica

Karen,
Some of the VA hospitals are very good, like the one in Palo Alto, California, but they tend to be inconsistent.

My so called statistical odds were between 28 and 38% five year survival, depending on whether you consider the stage III or IV. My doctor actually handed me the AJCC page with the numbers on it. I made a decision that I would be in the survivor group. So far so good...

Thank you all for the information. We appriciate it immensely.