Lyle, There aren't that many people here that post regularly that are from upstate NY. I am confused about your current state of affairs. Am I understanding correctly that you have been treated with radiation by a radiation oncologist but do not currently have an ENT/surgeon? or are you just interested in finding another ENT/surgeon?

It sounds from your original post like you had radiation, which was terminated early--or had a very long break in it, I'm not clear which--and nothing else for your first occurence of cancer and that's it? No surgery? And now you have a recurrence? Or did they never really get rid of all the cancer? People can give you better advice here if you clarify what's going on a little.

I will say this, it sounds to me like you need to go to a CCC. You have either had a recurrence or your cancer was never treated successfully the first time. That is very very serious. You need to be somewhere where there is a team of doctors who specilaize in head and neck cancer only and work together in your treatment. You also need to be somewhere where the latest medical research is going on so you have an opportunity to get in on some clinical trials if they look promising. You don't need to bbe shopping around for surgeons. You need to be shopping around for the whole package and the only place you get that whole package is at a CCC.

A friend of mine's husband had throat cancer and was treated at Sloan Kettering in NYC, which is one of the top palces in the country. If Roswell Park didn't impress you go there. Go soon.

Nelie