Spoke to our radiation oncologist at Hopkins the other day and asked what they were finding re local control etc. for the tomo-IMRT vs. regular IMRT (they no longer use the older "conventional" radiation for head/neck cancer patients, and all but a few HNC patients are getting tomo). He said that the initial comparisons of tomo vs. regular IMRT is that the tomo is as good or better for disease control and far fewer side effects. BUT -- he said that they still need long-term data -- 36 to 56 months out. They have only had the tomo a year.

Virtually everyone at Hopkins is getting some concurrent chemo so can't address that issue.

Gail

CG to husband Barry, dx. 7/21/05, age 66, SCC rgt. tonsil, BOT, 2 nodes (stg. IV), HPV+, tonsillectomy, 7x carboplatin, 35x tomoTherapy IMRT w/ Ethyol @ Johns Hopkins, thru treatment 9/28/05, HPV vaccine trial 12/06-present. Looking good!