Carol....as you know I have been out of circulation for the past few days, and I am behind in responding to your situation.

It seems to me that a second primary, while very, very disappointing and disturbing, would not be quite as alarming as a recurrence. A recurrence would shake me to the core, since it might indicate that the clear field I thought I had was not clear after all, whereas a new primary would mean that perhaps the same factors that created the first also created the second primary, and that it should be just as responsive to treatment as the first.

I sure do hope that's the case for you. When will you know about the treatment plan? I know you are concerned about whether or not you can have radiation again. Maybe, since they seem so certain that it is a new primary, they can totally excise it surgically and will not even need to discuss radiation.

As you know, I did not have radiation because my surgeon felt keenly that he had totally removed the tumor. I think that perhaps palatal tumors are easier to feel confident about. I hope so! I am hanging onto that opinion with all my might!!

Please stay in touch. I am back in circulation now.

XO