After completing 37 treatments of radiation and countless hours of chemo, my brother is now facing another setback. (He has Stage IV base of tongue cancer.) He finished the treatments about 6 weeks ago, but has had a lump under his chin, which a biopsy detected to be cancerous. We don't know if it's a recurrence, or if it was missed. He is not at a CCC, and very stubbornly does not want to seek another opinion.

Yesterday he met with his team of doctors and they want to surgically remove the lump, shoot a high dosage of radiation while on the operating table, then graft some skin from his leg to his neck area. The problem is they can't do this for almost 3 weeks (something about the radiologist's schedule, and the fact they need a special operating room to handle the radiation).

Has anyone had such a procedure and can tell me how effective it was for them?

If I were able to convince him to get a consultation at a CCC (he's in New York), what's the process--how long will it take to get his records released? I feel even if another doctor confirms that this treatment is the way to go, at least my brother will be doing something while waiting. I know this is such an agressive cancer, and we are all so angry that he must wait--i'm sure each day is critical.

Any advice will be most appreciated.

M.