Paul, I cannot agree enough that you should look elsewhere if you can.

And Barb, you bring up a very good point. I din't go to a CCC either, but I had a very experienced surgeon and plastic surgeon, and a very experienced rad operation as well as medical ongologist. And that was 3.5 years ago. Just an aside, I saw the IMRT treatment plan worked up for me and it was 1.5 inches thick! Bottom line, a CCC is great if one is available, but saves are being made every day in good hospitals. With all our urging that people get to CCCs, I don't want those folks who are being treated elsewhere to feel they are not necessarily getting good treatment. Even in our small town (where I was not treated) we now have IMRT and a head and neck cancer specialist. Things, they are a changin'!

Edited to add that there were well more than 100 days between my surgery for Stage IV dx, and the end of my rad/chemo. And I am here to tell about it, so that should not be considered a hard and fast rule.