I understand that I am asking a very technical question- but I am curious.

What are the odds of a new cancer developing due to the radiation treatments for oral cancer? Has anyone in this forum developed a NEW cancer that was caused by the radiation treatments that were necessary to cure their oral cancer?

I have neither a scientific nor medical background, so this is all guess work.

I think it is not that easy to tease out the connection between a new cancer and previous treatment. Since microscopic cancer cells can evade detection, one can never be sure that a new cancer was not there prior to radiation.

When Kris was offered radiation treatment we were told that this could cause a new cancer 20 years down the road.
Of course , our goal was to cure the cancer he currently had. If we refused radiation treatment now, he wouldn't be alive to get a new cancer in 20 years.
Tammy