 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 | Hi Don,
I had an unknown primary back in 1997 with mets to one node in the neck. I was barely a stage III. I had a neck dissection followed by 36 XRT radiation treatments, no chemo. At that time they did not feel that chemo added more than a 5% chance to survival and the side effects were too great to warrant using it. They were also certain that the XRT would get everything. My radiation field ran from the tops of my ears to almost my armpits since there was no primary site to aim at. I struggled through without a peg and without losing more than 5lbs by drinking Ensure Plus. I think I had far less complications than most because I didn't have chemo.
Read the board and ask your doc lots of questions until you feel comfortable with your treatment plan. Keep us posted.
Take care,
Eileen
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Aug 1997 unknown primary, Stage III
mets to 1 lymph node in neck; rt ND, 36 XRT rad
Aug 2001 tiny tumor on larynx, Stage I total laryngectomy; left ND
June 5, 2010 dx early stage breast cancer
June 9, 2011 SCC 1.5 cm hypo pharynx, 70% P-16 positive, no mets, Stage I
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