I would agree with Gary to get another opinion on IMRT -- both the major CCCs at which we consulted use IMRT more-or-less exclusively for their HNC patients, many presenting with extensive and metastacized disease. This allows them to spare, when possible, salivary fiunction and to reduce irradiation of non-target organs, thus greatly reducing long-term side-effects. It is the radiation planning which determines the size and extent of the field; in fact my husband, who had Stage IV SCC with mets to two nodes was given the even more precisely focused TomoTherapy IMRT. But he had an RO whose sole clinical and research focus is oral cancer and who had many years experience with this disease.

In any case, you certainly have the right to ask questions of the RO about the radiaion plan, how much of your mom's salivary function will be spared, impact on jaw and teeth, etc. and to be prepared to deal with the side-effects as they emerge.

Gail