Finally, a good report. The cancer has not spread to my left lymph nodes nor my lungs. I was certain it had at least gone over to the left lymph nodes. The report says " hypermetabolic focus at base of tongue to left of midline of uncertain significance". I spoke to the nurse and not the radiation oncologist. She said that he still recommends radiation and chemo. I will find out what he still wants to radiate, but my question is, why radiate the left side? Is it necessary at this point?

Have any of you had both sides of your tongue/neck radiated? Have you lost all sense of taste/salivary function? Of course I want to treat this thing aggressively to stay alive until I'm 90 or 100 but I do want to be able to enjoy eating again.

I meet with the medical oncologist on Thursday. I will go over past posts about questions to ask.

I am still waiting to get a 2nd opinion from Dr. Shah at MSK. Wish me luck in getting in this week!

10/2/12 Surgery Dx Stage II SCC RLT
11/12/12 Further tongue resec and SND. 3 of 22 lymph + SCC Stage IVa
11/22/12 Hospitalized for infection incision at neck
12/5/13 PET scan tumor at BOT
12/26/12-2/27/13 RT and Cisplatin
4/1/13-5/17/13 3 rounds of Cisplatin, Taxotere and 5-FU
7/19/13 Pet Scan possible recurrence
8/23/13 2nd op at MSKCC, CT Scan
8/31/13 MRI. Both show sizeable mass
9/11/13 CT-guided needle BX + SCC
10/1/13 Erbitux, Cisplatin and Taxotere
2/14/14 Passed away