My sister was given 'induction chemotherapy' which is chemotherapy given to reduce the size of tumors before a surgery and to treat the body systemically. Its a somewhat new use of chemo. She had 6 weeks of it, then the big surgery. The responded remarkably well to the chemo. The pathology report was 'negative for tumor' in every category.

Sister, age 24, dx SCC 3/5/09, Stage IV T3N2M0, HPV-, 6x induction chemo (Cetuximab (Erbitux), Carboplastin, Taxol), 1/4 tongue removed and left modified radical neck dissection 5/14/09, started IMRT 7/7/09, 30tx, finished 8/14/09