Sorry, which CCC are you going with?

Susan,

Thank you so much for reply. Appreciate your time to read my posts here. FYI, Yes I went to Fox Chase (Third opinion) but will have treatment at Abramson Center (Fourth opinion). It's closer from where I live and fact is team on both center are known to each other very well.

Thanks

Abramson CCC which is closer to FoxChase but is closest to my place.

I also went to Abramson CC (FYI - part of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania or HUP) for a 2nd opinion in 2005. Also a great hospital and I know a number of OC patients who were treated there with great success. I did not like the doctor (ENT/surgeon) I saw and for personal reasons I would not go back there, although he is one of the best in the field. A good choice.

What treatment are you having?

Surgery on tongue is planned as part of initial treatment plan by an ENT. He never ever mentioned to see entire team (Chemo/Rad specialist) at this point. Surgeon seemed highly confident on his treatment plan judgement after 40 minutes of core discussion. Neck dissection and combination of Chemo/Rad are part of treatment blueprint but not part of first phase of treatment plan. Surgeon mainly focused on maintaining natural algorithm of human body functions than attacking to a disease resulting affecting other functionality. Even after seeing my PET/CT scans, he explained, he doubt on these results since in my case node involvement is a highly likely speculation based on PET/CT. So a surgeon decided not to perform neck recession in first place. Surgeon decided to adopt an easy going approach instead of standard attacking approach that requires all weapons to fire at the same time.

It's amazing you got all 5 visits in 20 days. I don't think it would happen in a NYC. Good luck with your decision, and whatever it is, don't look back. Good luck with surgery too.

Paul,

I consider myself lucky here to have appointments lined up at four different CCCs within 20 days of time frame. Like I said, I was diagnosed in OH, so that was my first place, Chicago was 5 our by drive and so was a second stop. PA is from where I am and PA has two CCCs. So returned to PA and arranged for remaining two opinions within 4 days. I am not sure, but I didn't have to struggle to have appointments with shorter time frame. Spontaneously, all CCCs came back with offering dates within a week time frame only when I called them.

Thanks for your word of appreciation and motivation. That's a biggest antioxidant here I need.

Cancer can seed to the nodes and when in the early stages WILL NOT be picked up on a scan.
best of luck hopefully you wont have to have a second surgery - friends husband was recently diagnosed with the same cancer and they did the surgery told him he was cured. He went away for a month - a node popped up. When they returned the dr. Looked at it and the cancer was back and spreading and now they are chasing it. If three drs. have suggested a dissection... I would be leaning towards listening. But to each his own.
take care.

[quote]First CCC: Surgery + Neck Recession on both side on a same day. 4-5 days in hospital. Chemo+Rad based on Second Report

Second CCC: Surgery + Neck Recession on one side on a same day. 2-3 days in hospital. Chemo+Rad based on Second Report

Third CCC: Surgery + Neck Recession on both side on a same day. 4-5 days in hospital. Chemo+Rad based on Second Report. Offered/recommended reconstruction if necessary.

Fourth CCC: First Surgery only. NO Neck Recession required at all in first place based on my PET/CT results. 1 day in hospital. Neck recession will be a second phase look up/thought (not actual surgery) on a following appointment after three weeks of first surgery. Chemo+Rad will be least case scenario in this case.[/quote]
Cheryl's last comment had me go back and read it all again. There is a range in treatment from aggressive to minimal. Every doctor and the tumor board advised an aggressive approach - fire all guns the first time around and try to make the kill complete and thorough. I sleep very well knowing everything was done and no missed cancers were hiding out.

If the diagnosis is loco-regional and there is cancer in a lymph node, then I would not think twice to get rads and chemo. The chemo will seek out and kill the microscopic cancers if they are there but not detected. The rads will ensure a total kill in the neck area.

The very worst thing is recurrence so it generally is best to attack like no tomorrow. Obviously, if there are other circumstances and considerations that preclude going full guns then by all means heed the tradeoffs.

Cheryl,

Thank you so much for wise justification to my post. I appreciate your judgement. Here is a matter, what doctor said; "I'll see you in 14 days after the first surgery and will have closer look on your nodes to determine second surgery for sure even it is a one node involve. I just don't want to invade everything in first place neither I am avoiding neck resection, but like to perform it in a more productive way". He wants to see post surgery pathology report to gain better insight on involvement on number of possible nodes.