Thanks for the reply Cheryl.

I am concerned re neck dissection as I have read a lot of papers/journal articles on this topic.

They seem to be saying that long term survivorship(as a percentage) is improved post radio/chemo treatment by neck dissection.

My overall impression reading OCF posts is that many patients who have a neck /nodal recurrence of their oral cancer did not undergo a neck dissection at the time of their original treatment. Also many who do have a ND have positive nodes found.

I am unsure whether a wide area of Kris's neck was included in the radiation field, or just the node we knew about.

I want Kris to have the best possible outcome and I want to have as much knowledge as i can when we meet the RO on Monday.
I never want to be in this position again

Thanks for lstening and any advice.
Tammy (Downunder)


Caregiver/advocate to Husband Kris age 59@ diagnosis
DX Dec '10 SCC BOT T4aN2bM0 HPV+ve.Cisplatin x3 35 IMRT.
PET 6/11 clear.
R) level 2-4 neck dissection 8/1/11 to remove residual node - necrotic with NED
Feb '12 Ca back.. 3/8/12 total glossectomy/laryngectomy/bilat neck dissection/partial pharyngectomy etc. clear margins. All nodes negative for disease. PEG in.
March 2017 - 5 years disease free. Woohoo!