When do you say you finished treatment? I finished with my chemo and radiation treatment in it's entirety on 29FEB08. I then had a selective neck dissection on 21Apr08. Would I be considered having completed treatment on 29Feb or 21Apr? Just wondering because I see so many people state that they finished ytreatment on a certain date and was wondering whether or not that included pre or post surgery. I'm thinking I have to consider 21Apr as finishing treatment even though the few lymph nodes they removed were cancer free. Any thoughts?

Thanks

RG

Well the dissection was still part of a treatment that you had to go through, even though it was to be sure, not as it turns out to cure. If you are counting survival interval, most of us count from the time when we were diagnosed.(You can't know the date that you became malignant) Everyday after that day of diagnosis of something that could kill you, you were surviving even if it was during treatment.

RG,

Its really up to you, you know? I count my date of diagnosis as Day 1 when talking about my survival, so that part is easy.

- Margaret

Most of us were finished with our Tx when the last Radiation was given to us which usually coincided with our last chemo so that's when most of us say we finished but I think you should include your surgery in your Tx.

RG,
I was wondering why you medical team decided to do a SND after your RT & Chemo. Did you have positive nodes before?

Since your neck dissection was part of your tx and the last procedure...I would choose the April date.

Just by chance, would you be able to give us a little more on your process through dx and tx?

Ray, Thanks for the response. I was treated at the University of Chicago Hospital after having swelling to the left side of my neck in Oct 07. I saw my doctor who put me on antibiotics and after 10 days of no change (swollen and infected Left tonsil also) sent me to an ENT who did a biopsy which came back positive as SCC. I went with the U of C hospital because of their reputation in the cancer field. I participated in the Erbitux (Cetuximab)study and was assigned to the out patient arm of the study. I received 8 weeks of induction chemo in which I received Erbitux once a week and several other chemo drugs spaced out throughout the 8 weeks. Carboplatin, Taxol and Cisplatin. After that I went through 7 weeks of RT. Once a day M-F for 5 weeks and the last two weeks (10 sessions) were double sessions 6 hours apart. I also got periodic chemo during that time with weekly Erbitux. For some reason my surgeon decided on a selective neck dissection instead of a modified because she was happy that my swelling was totally gone and that the carotid artery was functioning after having been occluded from the swelling. The results, after testing, were negative so she didn't have to go back in and remove addtional lymph nodes. I ended up with a peg tube the last week because of an inability to eat and even swallow water. I was diagnosed with stage 4, but wasn't tested for HIV virus. When I inquired as to why not the radition oncologist said that the treatment was the same regardless. I'm 52, non smoker who enjoys Miller Lite. Well, I used to enjoy Miller Lite but I've been told to only drink one or two on special occasions only. Thirty some years in smokey bowling alleys and bars may have caused the SCC. Well, in any event, I feel pretty good and feel almost normal with the exception of some minor throat issues with saliva. Oh, btw, my saliva flow isn't bad and I'm not reliant on the water bottle. I hope that answers some of your questions.
Take care,
Rich G
Chicago,Il

You can still have your slides tested for HPV if you want to.

Rich,

You have been put through the ringer and came out A-O-K. I'm glad that you don't have saliva issues. I know a person who had rad txs twice a day for the last two weeks and he has poor taste and saliva production...But he's alive and doing well otherwise.

I bet you have great advice for others...Did you ever think to ask for your slides to be tested for HPV?

I aksed my doctor that very question, not so much about salvage surgery post RT/ct but whether date of Dx or Tx is the "right" anniversary date. He said there is no consensus and it is up to the patient. I chose when the cancer was killed as my "official" anniversary date but, after 6 years, a few months doesn't seem to matter as much.