#15457 05-18-2004 06:35 AM | Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 382 Likes: 3 Platinum Member (300+ posts) |  Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 382 Likes: 3 | Kimberly-
I had a tonsilectomy which was biopsied and found out I had cancer. Then the neck dissection. I then headed to radiation where the radiologist told me what stage I was in based on the lab results from the neck dissection. Radiation and chemo was started after healing. So...it was about a month before I knew the stage of my cancer. It was hard to make the decision on what type of surgery to go for as I did not have a lot of information. I did not know about this web site at the time. Sure wish I had!! This an excellent place to learn what questions should be asked BEFORE your friend starts treatment. They are lucky to have such a supportive friend! - Kris
SCC Stage IV left tonsil neck disection 3/02 radiation finished 6/02 chemo finished 9/02
Stage 2A left breast cancer 3/09, chemo and radiation, finished treatment 2/7/10 -Stage 2 right beast cancer 10/14 chemo and radiation
Every day is still a gift :-)
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#15458 05-18-2004 09:37 PM | Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 | Survival rate data is maintained on the American Cancer Society website. In the scheme of things it has a lower survival rate than breast, colon, kidney, melanoma, thyroid, uterine or prostate cancer and a higher survival rate than lung, esophogeal, liver, stomach or pancreatic. The overall 5 year survival rate for all cancers combined is 62% and it is 56% for oral. The survival rate is impacted by whether the disease is local, regional or distant. Tumor type also factors in. The location is also a factor.
The statistics don't consider age, race, health habits or genetic predisposition so try not to to go into the doom and gloom aspects. The statistics are fairly difficult to translate into an individual and the best place to get them from is a doctor with experience in treating oral cancers. For example my oncologist gave me a 38% five year survival (the NCI statistic) and my radiation oncologist gave me an 80% five year survival based on her experience with thousands of cancer patients.
Yes, it is serious or, at very least, should be taken seriously. Prompt, accurate diagnosis and aggressive treatment, is critical for long term survival. Early mis-steps can be very costly. Alternative treatments have thus far not proven themselves to be efficacious.
Personally, I would not even consider going to anything less than one of the 19 nationwide comprehensive cancer centers. Ohio State University is one them.
Gary Allsebrook
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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)
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"You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14 NIV)
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#15459 05-19-2004 01:18 PM | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,918 Likes: 66 OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,918 Likes: 66 | If you want the source where ACS gets their data, go to the resources page of our site and click on the SEER link. It stands for the government monitoring process..... surveilence, epidimiology and end results. Poor a system as it is it is all we have in the US to monitor death rates, incidence etc.
Also search here on the message board for SEER, it has been discussed before.
Brian, stage 4 oral cancer survivor. OCF Founder and Director. The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant.
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