I have been diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma on the right floor of mouth/tongue. I had surgery to remove as well as a follow-up of radiation and followin that, chemo therapy. During radiation I had a sever flare-up and had to stop the IMRT treatment. It was resumed and I concluded the treatment.

My question is if re-radiation of this same area, especially the head and neck, is possible and if so, how many times has this been done before. My understanding was that when you had radiation you cannot reradiate the same part over again? it is true?
Sofar my doctors has suggested IMRT, stereotactical radiation, proton treatment and I have difficulty deciding which would be the best, could you let me know your opinion?

Thank you for your help.
pino

IMRT is a lot more targeted that the conventional (XRT) -- Think of a rifle compared to a shotgun -- Depending on exactly where you were previously irradiated, it may be possible to do more. Only your Radiological Oncologist will be able to tell you for sure.

Where are you in Florida? If you are near Tampa, the H. Lee Moffit Cancer Center is a good one!

FLORIDA
William S. Dalton, M.D., Ph.D.
CEO & Center Director
H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute
at the University of South Florida 12902 Magnolia Drive,
Tampa, Florida 33612-9497

Tel: 813/615-4261
Fax: 813/615-4258
(Comprehensive Cancer Center)

Pino,

And I can't say enough about Shands in Gainesville. They definitely saved my life when the locals had given me up as a lost cause.

Lani

Thank you for your Help

Most times doctors dont want to use radiation a second time. It depends on many things first how much you had before and where. Even if the spot is a couple inches away from the original place that got radiation, there is whats called scatter radiation to think about.

Some doctors are now doing radiation for a second time. I guess its up to the individual and their doctors on if it is an option.

Pino,

It is my understanding that you can not be radiated in the same area. Please let me know if this has changed in the last few years.. Thanks all

There were some clinical trials done several years ago to determine whether re-irradiation was feasible see:

http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0167814006003975

http://jco.ascopubs.org/cgi/content/abstract/24/17/2653

http://www.amjclinicaloncology.com/pt/re/ajco/abstract.00000421-200808000-00015.htm;jsessionid=JmFWBZ4n1cyz0TsR13M2Ycf8kdJzvtKJxDQy0L0mNkBh17fkvy2P!1173332523!181195629!8091!-1

http://www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/2270.cfm?IRBNO=08-050

Here is a list of current clinical trials:

http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?cond=%22Head+and+Neck+Cancer%22

DM32AMA, conventional thinking still prefers not to be
re-radiate however there exists apparently more and more success stories with reradiation even as a modality with curative intent.

I had 32 radiation treatments to the left side in 2004, followed by 30 more to the right side in early 2008. I have some radiation side effects re hardening of tissue, etc but so far no cancer recurrance. Just FYI

I often wondered when I was actively thinking about the possibility of my cancer coming back which I would choose; 1. to be re radiated and possibly die from it's complications or 2. to not be radiated again and most likely die from the cancer. I told myself I would take my chances with the radiation.