Lori,

We were in contact while I was having surgery at the same time that your husband was. You have had a rough road since then and I am so sorry.

I am having my second radiation treatments following the second surgery with the Erbitux once a week. It was decided that I had enough new tissue and the margins were close enough to warrant the radiation a second time. I have been given some scary "worse case" things that could happen, but so far I am ok, just red and raw. You are not far from the Cancer Institute at St John's Hospital in Springfield, IL. They are nationally ranked as a cancer treatment center and affiliated with SIU School of Medicine which has some very good doctors.

If it were me, I would get a second opinion and try to go to a facility with a reputation as a successful cancer treatment facility. I find it upsetting that they are taking so long to get started with treatments. I am fairly aggressive about my treatments though. There are more treatment options available and who knows what they will approve for treatments next. If Ron will go for a second opinion I would ask him to. I wish you luck and will keep you and your family in my prayers.