Eric - Thanks for the response - I am not sure if I should reply to each or respond to the entire thread.. so may do both Anyway I was flying back to Portland Oregon after spending the long weekend with my Dad who lives in the Boston area. Dad is a cantankerous patient and a procrastinator, he was one of these guys who did not pay into medicaid B (frugale to the core) since he is a veteran so we are not sure if moms insurance would cover him for a second opinion as others suggest but heck I would pay if i knew I could get him to go - living across the coast is not easy to help but I'll move if I have to if I think I can help. Yes, I think we and the Doctors are concerned if he has the surgery it may be pure hell and he will swap current pain with new set of pain, may spend many months recovering, to get him maybe to where he is now, if he survives and the cancer most likely will come back if they get it all.. But another part of me thinks - it may be worth a shot.. the latest exam showed "The right tonsil, bilateral base of tongue, the endolarynx and pirifoms all appear to be free of disease - significant ulcerative mass in the left retromolar trigone extending into the left tonsil ; Biopsies of the mass were taken from edge to center - No esophagoscopy at this point " He is on all sorts of pain meds ; "Pain Medications; fentanyl Patch 50 ucg every 3 days; breakthough pain - use morphine or oxycodone every 4 hours as needed ; NEW - Gabapentin : 1 tsp twice a day for one week then increase to 2 tsp twice/day. This is for neuropathic pain, we increase dose slowly, may not notice effects until you have been taking for a few weeks" He also
wears an ear plug to help .. he has the worst bad breath that the Dr gave him an antibiotic for but he is also swabbing with Listerine.. Then they are tying to determine if they should remove the rest of his teeth if it is safe to do so post radiation and prior to any new radiation he may choose to get next..

Do you know if one could get a second opinion via a consult over the phone or internet based on his file or would he have to go in - maybe that is a dumb questions

Sorry for the long post


My Dad - 85 yrs old; 9/09 diagnosed T3NOMO; rad/low dose chemo; all clear; 6/10 - L retomolar trigone; more chemo; seems to have shrunk; 10/2010 back - significant ulcerative mass in the left retromolar trigone extending into the left tonsil