Michelle,
you need to understand that "CCC" refers to 17 specific treatment centers around the country that are linked together and provide the cutting edge of cancer treatment. They also have all of the state of the art equipment and clinical trials.

Most persons (including myself) have had bilateral radiation (both sides of the neck). They don't typically use as much radiation in the "good" side. If they use XRT just about everything is irradiated anyway and most likely she will lose all salivary function (permanently) and have other quality of life issues.

They were also able to spare my thyroid, which is easily damaged with radiation. The amount of radiation they would give (I'm guessing 72 cGy) will be the same either way.

Your RO's statement "if he had to stop treatment because of the side effects than that would be no benefit to her" is confusing to me -it has always been my understanding that IMRT is better tolerated by most patients. IMRT is a tissue sparing technology where as XRT does a lot more damage. All radiation has side effects.