Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
#61301 07-20-2007 03:41 PM
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 114
Senior Member (100+ posts)
OP Offline
Senior Member (100+ posts)

Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 114
When I had my initial radiation treatment last year (IMRT x 35) I asked the doc if he would radiate me again if the cancer came back. He said no.

It was my understanding that this was becuase the IMRT would do too much damage to the tissues. However, my wife understood it differently - that the reason they don't is because it would subject you to too much radiation.

So now, I'm facing the possibility of mets to a lower jugular lymph node at the base of my neck. I see some discussion on the boards that seems to indicate that under some circumstances people do get radiated again? Is this only in a case of 'distant' mets? And what is considered distant - would my lymph node 6" away from the original treatment area be considered distant?

Also, I should have a chance to ask the doc this next week, but I'm hoping to understand in the mean time: I had SCC of the tongue (with no mets), and the primary tumor is now gone, one year post-treatment. But now it looks like I have what they're calling mets to a neck lymph node. So in my case would it still be considered SCC? Or is it considered a different type of cancer or go by a different name when it moves down into a lymph node somewhere?

Sorry, so many questions....
thanks
Steve


Age 41 - Stage 2 SCC tongue Dx 2/06. Cisplatin x3, IMRT x35. Mets to neck node discovered 7/07. RND 40 nodes removed, margins not clear. Cisplatin, Taxotere, 5-FU Fall 07, then IMXT/Erbitux for 7 wks. Inoperable mets to both lungs and pleura Dx Oct'08. 4 cycles Carboplatin, Erbitux, 5-FU so far.
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 3,552
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Offline
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)

Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 3,552
I think that they can radiate you more than once as long as it's not in the same location. There is probably a margin to consider as well. Espceially since you had IMRT.

A few years ago they did some clinical trials for irradiation in the same area and didn't find any significant additional damage, although there is always some damage from radiation.


Gary Allsebrook
***********************************
Dx 11/22/02, SCC, 6 x 3 cm Polypoid tumor, rt tonsil, Stage III/IVA, T3N0M0 G1/2
Tx 1/28/03 - 3/19/03, Cisplatin ct x2, IMRT, bilateral, with boost, x35(69.96Gy)
________________________________________________________
"You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14 NIV)
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 8,311
Senior Patient Advocate
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Offline
Senior Patient Advocate
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)

Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 8,311
My understanding is that each organ and vessels and tissues have their own say max level of rad that they can receive and one of the values of IMRT is that the RO's can target different organs; different tissues, etc with different levels of rad so My RO says it is possible to get rad again depending on where it's needed and how much rad was administered that area before.


David

Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 718
"Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Offline
"Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)

Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 718
Steve,

I'm sorry you are dealing with this so close to when you finished your last treatments. I pray that there is a better explanation for the white mass on your PET scan than what is currently on your mind.

I did a lot of reading (probably too much) prior to meeting with our RO the first time. One concern I had was the one you had...since H&N cancer can recur as H&N cancer I wondered how it is treated the 2nd time around because I thought I had read that Radiation can't be done twice.

Since this was the cart before the horse, we didn't go into any great detail. However, our RO did say that my assumption that radiation can't be done twice wasn't always correct, and there are many factors (like David mentioned above)that go into that decision. So, I think in some situations it is an option.

Let us know how your appointment goes. We will be thinking about you!


Margaret
----------
C/G: Husband, 48 (at time of dx)
Dx 5/18/07 SCC, BOT, lymph node involvement. T1N2BM0. (Stage 4a, G2/3)
Tx 6/18 - 8/3/07, IMRT x 33 Cisplatin x3 (stopped after 1st dose due to hearing issues). Weekly Erbitux started 6/27/07 completed 8/6/07.
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 46
Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Offline
Contributing Member (25+ posts)

Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 46
Steve,

We were told by our former ENT who was NOT affiliated with a cancer center that radiation could not be repeated.

When my husband had the recurrence, we opted to pursue treatment at a cancer center. They indeed radiated again, but we were told that this will be the last time he can be radiated on that side of his neck.

There have been some problems with cellulitis and infections of the soft tissues since he was treated, but so far, that has been a small price to pay for what really looked like an initial treatment protocol. The radiation was administered differently the second time...rather than daily, it was done 2 times a day six hours apart...and the field was more targeted and less deep.

I suspect each case is different, but from our interaction with "regular," non-cancer center affiliated ENTs, the ENTS and other docs at the centers are better informed of various treatment options, including reirradiation.

Good luck. Let us know how things turn out for you.

Loretta


C/G to husband SCC of right tonsil, Dx 5/02. Tx concurrent rad with Taxol and Cisplatin. Consolidation therapy Cisplatin and 5-FU. Recurrence 9/06, neck dissection 10/06. Tx with twice daily radiation; two in-patient infusions of Cisplatin.

Moderated by  Eva Grayzel 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Top Posters
ChristineB 10,507
davidcpa 8,311
Cheryld 5,260
EzJim 5,260
Brian Hill 4,912
Newest Members
Jina, VintageMel, rahul320, Sean916, Megm37
13,103 Registered Users
Forum Statistics
Forums23
Topics18,166
Posts196,920
Members13,103
Most Online458
Jan 16th, 2020
OCF Awards

Great Nonprofit OCF 2023 Charity Navigator OCF Guidestar Charity OCF

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5