 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Welcome to OCF. The best advice I can give you is to seriously think this over and get a second or even a third opinion before making your choice. Surgeons cut, thats their job so of course they will recommend surgery. Radiation oncologists do radiation so thats what they will recommend. Best thing to do is go to a cancer center where you will have a whole team discuss your individual case and give you a combined decision of how to best treat your condition. There are some here who have only had surgery and others who only have done radiation. Each treatment has its own set of upsides and down with neither being completely easy to do. Its very hard to figure out which path to take, talk it all over with your family or those closest to you.
Best wishes with everything you are facing!
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive  | 
