How soon after diagnosis did radiation treatment start for you? My family member who is diagnosed with metastatic squamous tonsil cancer with mets to two cervical lymph nodes on March 2, 2018 keeps getting his radiation chemo treatment delayed, first because his RO waa in vacation and had him wait until today for follow up, now hw is being told a mask has to be made and there will another 15 days delay as 10 days to make the mask abd mask fitting etc also needed. The RO could have had this done while he was vacationing. I feel they are treating him like a number and am worried about more metastasis by the time they actually start treatment. Such delay in care is unacceptable but they are going on their own convenient pace. My family member is kind good man.

The time wait is not too bad! I’ve waited sometimes a month or two in the past. I think they’re trying to keep the start of treatment or surgery to a specified amount of time (like 30 days), but escapes my mind at this time. If it’s too long a delay, they can up the dosage of radiation sometimes, but I think that’s beyond two months.

As I was told, it’s better sometimes to delay treatment than to start it! Once it’s started, treatment should not be stopped or interrupted for best results! I’ve stopped a few times due to hospitalization, and treatment center closure due to snow drown, and had missed days tacked on at the end.

Could you have gotten a 2nd or 3rd opinion? I’m lucky to have a dozen or so places to go in the past, and just about did, but I’m basically at one place now since my treatment started in 2009. No surgery consult?

Good luck

Thank you so much for your advice! No, he works and lives in VA and apparently there are many hospitals but can yiu believe, just one outpatient place that does PET SCANS? The is seeing a team of oncologist, radiation oncologist, ENT and dentist. They did a tumor board meeting and told him that no surgery would be done as local regional metastasis already. Only radiation and chemotherapy. PET scan almost 3 weeks ago did NOT show below neck mets, but I am very worried that distant mets can develop within the 5 weeks between PET scan and beginning of treatment. It is an extremely difiicult time for him and all those around him (family and close friends) who love him.

Sorry to hear this as I’m not familiar with VA. You can always go to a top cancer center for head and neck, if you want, but sounds like your husband may work as long as he can, and be treated locally? Loco-regional matasteses sounds like the lymph nodes or other nearby structures? Try not to worry too much about distant Mets, at this time, as it’s not an easy process to develop, and at least his scans show none!

Are the other oncology doctors on board with chemo? Maybe Cisplatin or others? Dental guards, etc.

I agree, as it sounds like your husband is ready to start! The mask can be made, and treatment start soon after. I had one made on a Friday, and started on that Monday!

Good luck