Eric,
You're not alone! Like Karen, I had radiation and chemo only and the radiation oncologist told me that many areas were targeted besides the specific tumor. I am almost a year out now - so far so good! I was very fortunate to have been treated at at UCSF where they take a very agressive approach based on much experience. They know where these things typically recur - at least they do at a comprehensice cancer center. That is Brian and many others, including myself, advocate going to one. There are very little margins for error. Doctor screw ups with this disease can cost you your life.

Brett, like Rosie said, stage III with no radiation - I would be running for a second opinion as fast as I could. And I would find a provider outside of the system you are currently in. To add a little to what Brian said, CT (and I believe MRI as well) can only detect mets down to 2-3 mm, PET to .7 cm. So that's why prophylactic radiation is a good idea in advanced cancer.


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)