Dad's testing thus far has been: 1. biopsy 2. endoscopy 3. chest xray 4. CT. His RO & ENT are of the opinion to hold off on ND. Dad does have a heart condition (Angina), not sure if this had a bearing on course of action for Tx. Perhaps he will have more rads added at the end if required. I believe he's in good care, however I am puzzled by the 25 x IMRT - I have not seen this course of action with anyone else on the site. I guess we should accept that he's at a very early stage which of course is AWESOME considering most aren't detected until later on. Dad will stay at the lodge on his own until the end of next week. He's been doing pretty good, he's not a shy man - he has been talking to everyone (the lodge cares for 105 patients). They do have 24 hr. nursing and doctors on call - the staff has been wonderful thus far. They arrange the shuttle back and forth to the hospital for his Tx appointments (it's about a 10-15 min. drive one way). The facility is small, very comfortable setting. The food is served cafeteria style and is pretty good. They certainly accomodate to most special diet needs (including soft foods, cream soup, Boost, Ensure etc). The nurses will be watching Dad a little closer because of the challenges that Tx for head & neck cancer create. They will monitor his weight and they do communicate back & forth with his "team" at the hospital. But, it is certainly not a "hospital" per se, patients are required to care for themselves for the most part. When he comes home this weekend we will make sure he is up for another week on his own - he should be ok. If and when he needs Mom down there with him, we are only a phone call away. Mom is going to continue to work until that time. One day at a time.....