 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 | Radiation is never safe - but it's all about risk vs. benefit.
I have collateral damage from the first radiation and so have many others here. Some of it doesn't even start to appear until you are several years out.
There were clinical trials a few years ago about re-irradiation and they were mainly positive in that the patients didn't have as severe side effects and the doctors surmised they would. I have not seen any data about the efficacy, maybe Brian has.
If I had a recurrence and they wanted to do radiation again I would probably do it, especially since I had IMRT to begin with.
Gary Allsebrook
***********************************
Dx 11/22/02, SCC, 6 x 3 cm Polypoid tumor, rt tonsil, Stage III/IVA, T3N0M0 G1/2
Tx 1/28/03 - 3/19/03, Cisplatin ct x2, IMRT, bilateral, with boost, x35(69.96Gy)
________________________________________________________
"You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14 NIV)
| 
