Bob, Welcome back. Can't give you definitive recommendation, but I can tell you that I had rad/chemo/surgery to defeat my cancer. It was tonsil and not tongue, but when the radical neck dissection was performed after rad/chemo, it was sure good news to hear that the lab pathology report was that the lymph nodes removed during surgery had zero cancer cells left. Rad/chemo had destroyed all of the cancer I had in the lymph nodes as well as the tissue around the tonsil where the primary site was. I would have been very disapointed with myself if I had not done everything I could to kill the cancer and it came back. Will pray God will guide your decision to the best for your situation.

Bob, I hate to say this, but sounds like the doc in Philidelphia who said 6 weeks of rad isn't enough and is advocating only more surgery is kind of out there.

In my case I did have SCC on tongue, had glossectomy, neck dissection, and rad to tongue and neck with chemo. That area has been cancer-free for almost 2 years now. I did have an early spred to the opposite side, probably should have had rad to both sides at the outset.

Also suggest getting a third opinion in this case. What was that guy thinking?

Bob (the other one)

Bob,
Run for your life...........and I do mean your LIFE...............from the silly doctor that said 6 weeks of radiation wasn't enough. Sorry to come on so strong but, as the leader of our board, Brian, will tell you, this is nothing to play around with.
Take care and everyone here is pulling for you.
Minnie

Bob,

I don't think it is against board rules to name a facility. I know posting doctors names and numbers is frowned upon, but I for one would love to know which NYC center you were seen at. I keep hoping it was MSKCC. Was it? I have had radiation, lung surgery and am now undergoing chemo there so I may have some information for you. If you go for radiation you need to get moving. I think the general rule is 6 weeks pot-op and not more than 8 weeks.

Glenn

Thank you all for your input. You are giving me a lot to think about. I agree that I need to seek a third opinion. (And I may have misunderstood what the Philadelphia radiation oncologist was saying about 6 weeks of radiation not being sufficient.)

Glenn, MSKCC is indeed the Cancer Center that recommended the 6-week radiation treatment. I should say, though, that the doctor there did tell me that he ~thought~ this would be his recommendation, but he still needed his pathology group to review the slides from my glossectomy post-op (which they now have.) So, I suppose that the results of MSKCC's analysis of the pathology slides might change his recommendation.

Bob

Bob,

Sounds like MSKCC is taking a methodical approach to this. I think, whether he said it or you misunderstood him, most of us were questioning the PA guy. Sometimes we push for additional opinions because we want you to come to what we believe your correct choice would be. We may not be correct but I'll tell you this. There have been quite a few "re-appearances" around here lately and we all worry.

The board is getting to an age where quite a few of the early members are at that critical time in the journey. We are starting to see problems for long time members and we all worry about the choices of others. I'm sure you will be well guided by MSKCC.

Glenn

deni,

It looks like your post got lost within Bob's. You should post a new thread. Just click on the "New Topic" button at the bottom of the screen and ask your question again.
Generally speaking, you can only have an area radiated once, but there are some exceptions, esp. with IMRT. For a recurrence after radiation, options are very limited. Chemo is used, but it is usually more of a palliative treatment than it is a curative one.

Repost your question and I'm sure you will get some answers.

Rainbows & hugs,
Rosie

According to information that was just posted in a link in the General Board, "Good Website",
"Repeated Irradiation
A previously held dogma that normal tissues can only tolerate a specific maximal lifetime dose of radiation has been challenged by studies in which second doses of radiation of up to twice the expected tolerance of normal tissue have been given with a surprisingly low incidence of serious toxic effects.82,83 These clinical data support laboratory investigations that have demonstrated that normal tissue may recover in time, suggesting that it may be possible to give additional doses of radiation in many types of tissue.84 This approach is currently under investigation by multiple clinical-trial groups.85"

Hi Gary,

I just read that article. Unfortunately I read it after posting the above! Very informative article. Everyone should check it out.

Rosie

Which facility were you at in PA? Are you certain the doctor didn't mean you needed surgery in addition to 6 weeks of radiation when he siad '6 weeks of radiation isn't enough'. Actually I'm surprised MSKCC isn't recommending both. Did the cancer board review your case in PA. And as my surgeon said to me, 'remember, I'm a surgeon, I think surgery, go get other opinions from radiology' or something to that effect.

Did you take someone with you to these appointments who might have heard what they said. I'd ask for clarification.

Take care,
Eileen