#20346 05-04-2006 06:37 AM | Joined: Aug 2004 Posts: 1 Member | OP Member Joined: Aug 2004 Posts: 1 | I just wanted to introduce myself. I am a 53 year old male with a previous history of chewing tobacco use. I was diagnosed with SCC which originated in the tonsil, then spread to one local node. I had a radical neck dissection with clean margins and no other nodal involvement. This was followed by eight weeks of chemo (Carboplatin/Taxotere) and IMRT radiation. It has now been three years and there is no evidence of recurrence. If there is any information or support I can give, or experiences I can share, please post.
Paul W.
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#20347 05-04-2006 08:43 AM | Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 90 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | Supporting Member (50+ posts) Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 90 | Paul, Just the fact that you are three years out with no evidence of recurrence is great news to me. My father would not take the very strong chemo that you took(Carbo/Tax combo). He was too afraid of the side effects. He however agreed to the new drug Erbitux and just finished his last chemo treatment Tuesday and will finish radition next week. Your story gives me hope........ Tx Kim
Caregiver to Father:Stage III unknown primary; modified left side neck dissection 2/2006; 8 wk trmts of Erbitux 3/2006 with-37 radition treatments; 11.2010; biopsy of base of tongue results questionable. 9.2013 tumor on left side of tongue; squamous cell cancer. 10.2.2013 Hemiglossectomy(1/2 tongue removed) with reconstruct tongue using left thigh tissue;surgery included IORT. 25 additional IMRT radiation trtmts & 5 wks/chemo. Carbo & Taxol combo.NPO;100% PEG depend;aspiration pneumonia 3/2014
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#20348 05-04-2006 06:07 PM | Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 5 Member | Member Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 5 | Paul. I dont get it. I was told at Stanford University that chemotherepy was worthless for scc. Could I have heard wrong? | | |
#20349 05-04-2006 06:22 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 | Chemotherapy (ct), by itself, is still not considered a frontline treatment for head & neck cancers. It is either used as an adjunct to radiation or for palliative purposes. Things are changing rapidly in this area however, with monoclonal antibodies and targeted growth receptor drugs.
Gary Allsebrook *********************************** 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) ________________________________________________________ "You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14 NIV)
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#20350 05-05-2006 01:40 AM | Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 2,019 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 2,019 | Gypsey, Just want to add to what Gary said that when it is used concurrently with radiation there is some very solid research showing that it increases the effectiveness of the radiation by quite a bit! So hardly worthless is that regard.
Nelie
SCC(T2N0M0) part.glossectomy & neck dissect 2/9/05 & 2/25/05.33 IMRT(66 Gy),2 Cisplatin ended 06/03/05.Stage I breast cancer treated 2/05-11/05.Surgery to remove esophageal stricture 07/06, still having dilatations to keep esophagus open.Dysphagia. "When you're going through hell, keep going"
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