My Treatment Plan - 11-08-2007 06:50 PM
Hi,
I met with my "team" yesterday, most importantly the radiation oncologist.
Here's what he said:
--Radiation in tonsil area, one side only (tonsil area and neck). Expect to occure 2-3 weeks into treatment and to last 2-3 weeks after treatment.
--Expect severe sore throat.
--Expect 1/2 of jaw salivary gland function to be compromised--other side will be ok. (Note: other salivary gland on this side was removed during right neck dissection). Said I will lead a normal life with salivary gland function.
--Expect partial loss of taste, but will return.
--Expect facial burn (similar to sunburn), loss of facial hair in area (although may come back gray).
--Does not expect fatigue problems.
--He expects good results, but cannot guarantee complete "cure".
--No chemo required, as there was no extracapsular spread. He mentioned that this was great news.
This doctor appears excellent and I fully trust him.
One thing I have learned early on:
All cases are different--everyone please note that Staging is nothing more than a way doctors and researchers catagorize the disease...as such, DO NOT USE IT IN ANY WAY TO DETERMINE YOUR PROGNOSIS!!! LISTEN TO YOUR TEAM, QUESTION THEM ALONG THE WAY, GAIN AS MUCH KNOWLEDGE AS POSSIBLE, WORK WITH THEM AS A TEAM MEMBER, BUT QUESTION, QUESTION, QUESTION. ONLY PROCEED AHEAD WITH WHEN YOU ARE COMFORTABLE...BUT, AS BRIAN HILL STATED, THIS DISEASE IS VERY UNFORGIVING OF MAKING THE WRONG MOVES--EITHER WAITING TOO LONG TO GET CHECKED OUT OR BY NOT GOING TO THE RIGHT DOCTORS--AS SUCH, DO NOT WASTE TIME!!!
Treatment will begin in a few weeks after a dental exam and the CT scan for set up.
I am fortunate, but I still have a tough way to go...thanks again to all; your concerns and hope are priceless.
Oscar
Stage II Tonsil cancer, T1N2AM0..right neck dissection Oct '07. RT pending. (Note: If you go by the book, I really am a Stage IVa...however, the tumor board Staged me as II based on my case. Again, Stage is a relative, subjective, and sometimes inaccurate method of evaluating a prognosis).
I met with my "team" yesterday, most importantly the radiation oncologist.
Here's what he said:
--Radiation in tonsil area, one side only (tonsil area and neck). Expect to occure 2-3 weeks into treatment and to last 2-3 weeks after treatment.
--Expect severe sore throat.
--Expect 1/2 of jaw salivary gland function to be compromised--other side will be ok. (Note: other salivary gland on this side was removed during right neck dissection). Said I will lead a normal life with salivary gland function.
--Expect partial loss of taste, but will return.
--Expect facial burn (similar to sunburn), loss of facial hair in area (although may come back gray).
--Does not expect fatigue problems.
--He expects good results, but cannot guarantee complete "cure".
--No chemo required, as there was no extracapsular spread. He mentioned that this was great news.
This doctor appears excellent and I fully trust him.
One thing I have learned early on:
All cases are different--everyone please note that Staging is nothing more than a way doctors and researchers catagorize the disease...as such, DO NOT USE IT IN ANY WAY TO DETERMINE YOUR PROGNOSIS!!! LISTEN TO YOUR TEAM, QUESTION THEM ALONG THE WAY, GAIN AS MUCH KNOWLEDGE AS POSSIBLE, WORK WITH THEM AS A TEAM MEMBER, BUT QUESTION, QUESTION, QUESTION. ONLY PROCEED AHEAD WITH WHEN YOU ARE COMFORTABLE...BUT, AS BRIAN HILL STATED, THIS DISEASE IS VERY UNFORGIVING OF MAKING THE WRONG MOVES--EITHER WAITING TOO LONG TO GET CHECKED OUT OR BY NOT GOING TO THE RIGHT DOCTORS--AS SUCH, DO NOT WASTE TIME!!!
Treatment will begin in a few weeks after a dental exam and the CT scan for set up.
I am fortunate, but I still have a tough way to go...thanks again to all; your concerns and hope are priceless.
Oscar
Stage II Tonsil cancer, T1N2AM0..right neck dissection Oct '07. RT pending. (Note: If you go by the book, I really am a Stage IVa...however, the tumor board Staged me as II based on my case. Again, Stage is a relative, subjective, and sometimes inaccurate method of evaluating a prognosis).