Gita, I read your post last night and waited to reply so that my thoughts might settle in. I agree with many of your observations, In many respects our medical community might do better if they really come to terms with the "service" concept. If they had to fight for your business then maybe massage and PT might be a normal offering rather than something we have to ask for. We have already beaten to death the normal follow-up protocols and their limitations. Perhaps they need to be expanded to include radical new therapies as well as "no more, I-have-had-enough" therapies.

Rilke hits several things right on. I have come to realize early on in my cancer life, that we are not equipped to know many of the answers.

Mark, 21 Year survivor, SCC right tonsil, 3 nodes positive, one with extra-capsular spread. I never asked what stage (would have scared me anyway) Right side tonsillectomy, radical neck dissection right side, maximum radiation to both sides, no chemo, no PEG, age 40 when diagnosed.