hi everyone,

steve here, care giver to my father. been a tough walk so far, I have been reading the forums from time time but never posted.

This recurrence business is so painful, basically a secondary has developed near the bottom of the neck where you would have tracheostomy...its advancing quickly and all the doctors are unwilling to operate on it.

We went to the best hospital (publci) in our city to wait for surgery ... doc said shouldn't do chemo, because theres still a chance for operation but we had to wait in line for surgery, during the wait just 2 weeks.. the tumor advanced quickly and now he says he doesnt think he can do the surgery...tumor might be to close to important veins near neck.

Good think i started the second opinion option from john hopkins during that time. just waiting on a reply from them. I pray and hope that they are willing to operate on my father.

Running out of options
My dad went through RAD after his first surgery, so most doctors are already saying that radiation isnt an option and the second surgery would most likely lead to the removal of jaw bone due to side effects from the RAD. leaving us with just surgery....or chemo ...

Spoke with John Hopkins and they are moving the info to the case coordinator, have not reached any physicians yet....

Meanwhile im not going to wait... waiting is the worst thing.. we waited for surgery and then they wouldnt do it

Im taking my dad to a private hospital to get chemo from a doctor that recommended it before we chose to wait for surgery... should have went with his opinon instead, hes recommending docetaxel and carboplatin + Erbitux

dont know wht to do