The literature indicates the order has no effect on efficacy. My speculation is that shrinking the tumor could make surgery easier. HPV+ tumors are especially sensitive to radiation so I anticipate it will decrease in size dramatically.

Brian and Christine may have more to share on this; I had surgery first as we were trying to find my primary; I only found out via lymph node like so many of us.

Wishing you both the best.
Stef


Keep fighting friends!

Me -- currently 53 years old
SCC diagnosed 3/7/2017 at age 48
Staging SCC HPV+ T0,N1 primary unknown
PET 3/16, no activity, biopsies 3/23 benign
TORS surgery identified 2mm tumor in BOT (vallecula)
Cancer restaged T1, N2, M0
Begin 30 sessions of radiation (60 Gy) 6/13
Completed radiation 7/24/2017
1st MRI clear 10/23/2017!!
2nd MRI clear 10/17/2018!