I appreciate and understand what you are saying don,but you haven't commented on the facts i was actually referring to which was diminished blood flow and frailty of the skin and poor healing that occurs in the older patient,plus the added complication of already radiated skin being very very difficult to cut and heal.I would agree a second opinion wont hurt at all but in my experience nursing postoperative patients with these problems the outcome is not as easy to predict as it can be in someone younger,and i think that may be why the surgeons are shying away from that option.Of course nowdays 70 is no age,but much as we all like to feel that no matter what the numbers may say everything feels the same on the inside it isn't,and the older we get some of our options become limited.I intended merely to offer an opinion as to why the doctors came to their decision.


Liz in the UK

Husband Robin aged 44 years Dx 8th Dec 2006 poorly differentiated SCC tongue with met to neck T1N2cM0 Surgery and Radiation.Finished TX April 2007
Recurrence June/07 died July 29th/07.

Never take your eye off the ball, it may just smack you in the mouth.