Gail, has anyone ever explained how it can be determined if there is a complete clinical response after chemoradiation if no neck disection is done? We all know PETS and Cat scans can be incorrect, so how is this response determined with absolute certainty??
Also, and please don't take this the wrong way, but must you include in every post you make that HPV positive tumors have a better prognosis??? There are many people on here that are NOT HPV positive and you continuously bringing this up can cause distress to our newcomers. There are TONS of survivors on here that didn't have HPV positive tumors and yet they're still here, while HPV positive tumor patients have passed. Personally, I could care less if my tumor was HPV positive or not.
As I said, please don't take this the wrong way.

SCC Left Mandible. Jaw replaced with bone from leg. Neck disection, 37 radiation treatments. Recurrence 8-28-07, stage 2, tongue. One third of tongue removed 10-4-07. 5-23-08 chemo started for tumor behind swallowing passage, Our good friend and much loved OCF member Minnie has been lost to the disease (RIP 10-29-08). We will all miss her greatly.