Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 | I had a stage III 3cm x 5 cm tumor on the tonsil and my Head and Neck surgeon recommended against surgery also. I had 33, IMRT radiation treatments and 2 Cisplatin Chemo treatments. The tumor has completely melted, in a few weeks after beginning treatment actually, and so far my CT's and MRI's have been clear. The tumor was classified as a T3N0M0 with no signs of metastecis. So far, so good. The doctors told me the survival rate would actually be slightly better without surgery because of potential complications (from a 12 hr operation) and the fact that they would have to radiate everything anyway. It was an easy choice for me to make. I did a lot of homework first however. But everybody is different -you must be your own advocate and get the wisdom to make the choice that will give you the best possible outcome.
Gary Allsebrook *********************************** 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) ________________________________________________________ "You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14 NIV)
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