Hi Chilita --

It is important to query your doctors about both the risks and the benefits of ND for Michael -- with three nodes (bilateral) the first question would be, why not both sides for surgery?

At this stage, Hopkins would not be doing a PET scan because the residual infammation from the radiation can cause false positives -- our RO said, "it would scare both us and the patient" so they now wait two months.
You may wish to ask about the feasibility of waiting another month and rechecking; that is, what are the risks and how would this make surgery more difficult?

Your doctors know Michael's case best but do not be afraid to ask ask ask. ND is by no means routine any more since such good results are coming out of chemoradiation for many patients, but for certain cases (and Michael could well be one of them) the benefits are real. And as many have said, it is not that terrible to undergo. (I think the name throws most people.)

However, I do not always agree with the "throw everything at it" school -- otherwise we would still be doing radical mastectomies down to the chest musculature on women when we now know that for the majority, simple lumpectomies achieve as good results -- Rather, each individual's case must be evaluated to produce the best result for *that individual* -- meaning cancer control, as well as reduction of serious long-term debilitating side effects.

This is a difficult balancing act for doctors and the patient needs to be part of the decision process as well.

Good luck to you and Michael,
Gail