| Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 | There is no straightforward answer for this. Sometimes radiation and/or chemo are given in advance of surgery to shrink the tumor and present smaller margins for the surgery.
Radiation, after surgery, can damage the flap if one is in place. It also "bakes" all of the area that has just started healing.
It's really all about having a discussion with the team about the risks and benefits of the different treatment protocols and which one you have the highest degree of confidence in.
I my case, I opted for RT and Chemo based on the consensus of my team with "salvage surgery" as an option if need be.
Gary Allsebrook
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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)
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"You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14 NIV)
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