My daughter had 1/4 of her tongue removed 2/18, and We Met with oncologist today and he wanted to talk with my daughters surgeon before making a decision regarding radiation. I was surprised that he would be considering no treatment since it was in one node. Margins of tumor were clear, and surgeon removed 32 nodes. Any input would be appreciated.

That does not sound right to me. At a bare minimum, I'd get a second opinion from a comprehensive cancer center.

Chock I agree with AnaD. She should definitely be considered for radiation. I was a T2N1MO and they threw the book at me... I caught it and ran with it... I was grateful they recommended it. Is she at a CCC? I had a friend recently who had a similar DX he was a T2N0M0 - the dr. said we got it all go home. He went to florida - 2 months later a node popped up and then he was in trouble. He returned home they sent him for some half assed rads treatment with no chemo - it was broken up for some odd reason - nothing like I had ever seen. I mean it was the proper rads but they gave him two weeks on two weeks off, and no chemo which was bizarre. Anyway his funeral was last week.
My point is - this cancer can be highly aggressive. It should be treated aggressively. There are certain things they look for that indicate further treatment - ece (extracapular extension) Peri neural involvement - tumor was large enough to touch a nerve (a lot of T2 tumors have this factor). I would ask more questions and if she's not at a cancer center get her there for a second opinion.
hugs and best of luck.

Hi Chock - welcome to the family.

My tumor was also initially T2N1M0. That determination was made from the first CT they did. Then, when radiation started they did another CT and the node had gone back to normal size. So, it was determined that the node enlargement was not caused by cancer and I was reclassified T2N0, and for that reason radiation only was my treatment protocol (no chemo).

This family is full of members who have had oral cancer or were caregiver to someone who did or does. Every one of us is different, that means the treatment each one of us receive may be different, in some instances vastly different from what others received on the forum. There truly is no one shoe fits all approach to oral cancer.

The bottom line is do you trust the doctors you are working with. Are they knowledgable about specifically oral cancer. The best place for that knowledge is a CCC, a comprehensive cancer center. Those guys really do know their business because cancer is all they do. A list of the CCC's can be found on the OCF website pages. Even if all you do is get a second opinion from one of the CCC's that may help you sleep better.

If after you think about this you decide that you trust your doctors then you have to follow the line of treatment they recommend. If not, then you also know what you have to do.

Either way, we are here for you and await an update on what you decide. We will help you get through this, every step of the way. Others helped us in our time of need, now we pay it forward.

Chock, the members of the OCF forum are just like you, caregivers and patients. We do not have the medical knowledge necessary to weigh in on what your daughters physicians are recommending. They should be following the NCI guidelines.

If you are uncomfortable with what is suggested, can you take her for a second opinion?

Chock,

I would definitely get a second opinion. Your case should have been reviewed by the tumor board. Look over the blogs and get some information to help you become your daughters advocate.


Fish