Like Anita and Danny, we were told the chemo is used to enhance the RAD and also to clean up any errant cells. We also were told that the reason chemo isn't used alone is because chemo targets fast growing cells. Since a lot of the head and neck cancers are slow growing, chemo usually isn't effective by itself.

With Heather's recurrence, it looked like the cancer had changed and was now growing very rapidly, so there was a better chance that the chemo would work. If the tumor would have been operable, though, I think the docs would have recommended surgery. Even though the cancer was now growing fast, they still didn't hold out much hope that the chemo would work. Of course, so far it looks like it is.

So it seems that for a primary tumor, chemo is not the way to go except used in conjunction with radiation. For a recurrence, however, sometimes it is a viable choice. Good luck.

Rainbows & hugs, wink
Rosie

Was primary caregiver to my daughter Heather who had stage IV base of tongue SCC w/ primary recurrence. Original diagnosis August 21st, 2002. Primary recurrence March 18th, 2003. Died October 6th, 2003.