Hi everyone,

Today I took my mother who is 70yr with SCC on right tongue to see the RO regarding her radiation treatments. It's been about 5 wks post surgery on her tongue. Had one tooth pulled about a wk ago. She is getting set up for her flouride treatments also.
It's been a very stressful day. My mother goes back this Friday to get fitted for the mask and do the CT (simulation).
which I thought they were going to do today.
One of my first questions for the RO was, what type of treatment is she going to have. He said, he is not sure at this point. He said he is leaning toward IMRT but he needs to talk with her ENT dr. again to discuss some more things with him. He was questioning whether she had perineural invasion. The patho report did not state that. So I don't know if this will be his deciding factor or not. Can anyone explain perineural invasion? I know it has something to do with your nerves. I think.
I was a little upset over his answer.
He said about 7-8 wks of treatment.
I guess I was expecting a plan in progress. She has had this appointment set up, why didn't he discuss it with him prior.
He explained both treatments. He said she is between a stage 1-2. We discussed her history. SCC in 1986 and 1988 with surgery. In 2003 dysplasia. And now it's back again.
I kind of understand the IMRT, but with the cancer coming back I thought conventional would be better.
Can anyone explain the difference and maybe how they determine which to use??
I asked about the Petscan and he said doing it prior to radiation would be no benefit. Her CT scan of neck came back normal but how do they know for sure that there is no microscopic cells in her lymph nodes.
Anyhow he was amazed at how well she was doing with the type of surgery she had done. (half of tongue removed with skin graft). She has lost about 12lbs just from that. But she is eating just about anything right now. She just has to take smaller bites.
One thing I forgot to mention was about the PEG tube. I got upset at first because he was unsure of the type of radiation that I just forgot. I did ask him many questions. I hope when she goes this friday for the mask fitting that he has decided on what type of radiation he is doing.
I'm not sure if we will even see him.
If anyone can help I would appreciate it.
Just wondering what anyones thoughts on my mothers treatment regarding IMRT or conventional radiation. I am no Dr. I just want them to treat this cancer aggressively so it does not return since it has come back.
I forgot to mention that my mother's father (my grandfather)which passed away before I was born had died of we think tonsil/throat cancer.
He was in his 60's and had radiation. This was 40plus yrs ago. He smoked a pipe and chewed tobacco. My mother has never smoked in her life.
So with a family history, they need to treat this aggressively,
Thanks for listening and would appreciate any help.
Take care

Michelle