Hi bill - Alternative medicine is NOT a cure... but the fact that you are here is a testament to the fact that it did help (increased immune system response? Increased overall health). Otherwise you'd likely be dead by now. It's possible it slowed the progression. I would be very interested in knowing how your staging has changed from 4 years ago.

Ideally Bill, you need radiation and chemotherapy. The rads should be to your tumor area and the lymphnodes of the neck. Chemo should be used in conjunction with radiation as it sensitizes the tumor and any cancer cells so that the radiation is more effective. If this treatment has not been suggested - see another ENT.

The lymphnodes are a portal to your entire body. It runs parallel to the circulatory system and is systemic. If there is cancer in a node it can and will travel to other locals - bones, lungs, hips, vertebrae etc... NODES AND TUMOR HAVE TO BE TREATED. Even if a scan says you have no nodes involved - any ENT worth his salt will recommend hitting both areas as microscopic cancer can hide in the nodes and NOT be detected on a scan.

I repeat - just because the tumor gets cooked. Cancer in the nodes will NOT resolve itself. It has to be treated too. I have known people who've been cured of their tongue/cheek/BOT cancer - in situ - but because it managed to escape through the lymphatic system - they found it in the ribs, vertebrae, hips, and lungs. Once it starts to move beyond the primary tumor site - it becomes VERY HARD TO CATCH.

It's like having childen... once they pop out and move beyond the infant stage... they are HARD TO CONTROL because they are independent and can MOVE.

Do continue eating healthfully and keeping your immune system primed - this can ONLY HELP during treatment. But also clear any supplements with your radiation dr. prior to commencement of treatment as some of them (antioxidants for example) can actually work against radiation.

best of luck.