Not sure doing this right...we will see.

I was diagnosed with cancer on July 1, 2004, through a biopsy from a swollen lymph node on the left side of my neck. My local ENT suspected my tonsils as the source and scheduled me for a tonsilectomy with biopsies of any suspicious areas.

The biopsy showed the source as my tongue. I then sent to the neck and head department at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

I have since been advised I am Stage IV, lymph node approximately 5cm and left side of very back of tonque about 3cm.

The head and neck surgeon at UAB advised two courses of action. Lateral tonque section and neck surgery for tumor followed by radiation or radiation/chemo followed just neck surgery (hopefully). He recommended the radiation/chemo followed by neck surgery.

Yesterday I met with a recommended radiation oncologist about 60 miles from home. I wanted to meet with one closer than UAB to see determine if I could get good local radiation/chemo treatment. Doctor was outstanding and I believe that I can.

Today I met with the UAB radiologist oncologist and medical oncologist. I was offered participation in a clinical study or conventional treatment.

The clinical study involves 3 full doses of chemo over a three week period followed by radiation/chemo with twice daily radiation the last two weeks of radiation therapy. This is just a clinical to continue to try and find better treatments for certain cancers.

The second choice conventional radiation/chemo.


Concerns:

If I elect radiation/chemo at UAB I will have to stay there as we do not live there.

How do you ever decide if you want to participate in a clinical trial?

Do the benefits of going through radiation/chemo locally outweigh any benefits that may be derived from being at a larger cancer center?

Anyway...thats my story up til now.

My wife and I are at the picking radiolgist/oncologist stage.

Bill