Hi All: Buzz and I went to Oncologist at Cancer Center today. We had previously met with the Oncologist at Baptist Hospital who stated that only radiation would be required.
Today we learned that following the complete pathology that Buzz' diagnosis is:

T2N2B and that treatment would include 30 IMRT, as well as Paclitael & Carboplatin chemotherapy..5-6 tx.

He stated that the original tumor was approx.
3 cm. Also that the Node 'level is '4'

Then he said that Buzz is now in STAGE IV-A, which I have yet to find a reference to...also that he is 'significantly worried' about Buzz' prognosis..

Any thoughts/opinions would be appreciated!

We have an appt with the Radiologist on Tuesday, who will make further arrangements.

Hope everyone has stayed cool today. The temps here are STILL over 100*

Hi, EmmyLou, Are the 2 Oncologists you all have seen in different fields? [ie: surgical, medical, chemo Docs, radiation Docs] Sounds like Doc #2 is planning to be much more aggressive in his approach. Remember there are many stage 4 survivors. Keep your chin up. Amy in the Ozarks

Hey Amy: The Radiation Oncologist was at Baptist Hospital. The doctor we saw today is a Hemotologist, Oncologist. The doctor we will see on Tuesday is in Radiation Oncology.
I am pleased to know that Buzz will receive the combination therapy, as I understand the survival rates are better! Thanks for your encouraging words!

..okay, I found the definition of IV-A
I'll post it, just in case anyone else needs to know:

Stage IV is divided into stages IVA, IVB, and IVC. In stage IVA, the tumor has spread to nearby tissues in the lip and oral cavity (mouth); and/or cancer has spread to one or more lymph nodes in the neck and the involved lymph nodes are 6 centimeters (about 2 inches) or smaller.

Emmylou i think rather than worry too much about prognosis you need to concentrate on the treatment and all it will entail.Stages are just a set of numbers and i have no great faith in them myself Robin was T1 N2c and to all intents and purposes stage 1 with a 90% chance of a ten year survival prognosis.That was a hard lesson to learn,that no one can acurately predict the course of this disease,so just fight it and take each day as it comes dont worry too much about anything else as this stage.

love liz

Emmylou

Just to let you know that Marvin is a IV-A and when I found that out I too was really scared. But then when I started reading about the staging that helped me. Marinv in now down with all his treatments and is in his 4th month of recovery. It is slow going but we are making progress. God has been with us all the way. Marvin recieved good news the end of july from his pet scan that at this time all is clear no signs of cancer. He also had his lymph nodes involved and they too are clear. I pray daily that God will keep this cancer from him for the rest of his life. It does feel good when you read on here of others that are doing good who have the same diagnosis as your loved one.

The suggestions made are right on the mark; don't fixate on the statistics. I was a stage IV cancer; the tumor was over 6cm when it was removed 14 months ago.

I believe strongly that the only way to fight the Beast is to throw everything you can at it. I had an extensive surgery, and 6 weeks of radiaiton...I would have gladly gone the chemo route too had my medical team suggested it. They did not, and I had confidence in the decision they made.

It is a long, painful process..no question. It is a fight you can win though. Early on after my diagnosis, I did the same thing everyone does; research the statistics, fixate on them and panic. When I asked my primary ENT about the numbers he told me that paying attention to them was a fools journey. They approach every tumor with the intention of cure...nothing less is satisfactory. Cure doesn't always happen of course, but when your mindset is strong in that regard, it's one more weapon in your arsenal.

Stage IV cancer patients DO survive; I'm one of them. Will it stay away? Who knows? I know that today is a beautiful sunny day, and I'll enjoy it fully. A recurrence is not going to occupy my thoughts...I choose not to let it. Make the choice to focus on the treatment process, not the what ifs.
Wayne

As you can see from my signature I have about the same dx. I'm 5 months post tx and am doing ok. I will be trying to return to work at the beginning of sept. I agree with what the others have said. I was glad to get my dx and understand it but I never went down the whole prognosis street. For me it made no difference because I planned to fight as hard as I could and focusing on my chances would only distract me. I still do not know the prognosis and have only came across it occassionally on this sight when someones bothers to put in a post. I just ignore it then. People say it is irresponsible because of having things in order and all that crap. Having my affairs in order should be done whether I have cancer or not so I vowed to do what has been suggested to me. It has been suggested and is really my only choice and that is get up each day and do what is in front of me to do. A few months ago that was simply get my treatments and fight. Now it is prepare to return to life as normal as it will be and most of all continue to fulfill my responsibilities. Good luck to you and Buzz. You guys can do this.

Hey Lee 33

- I just turned 34

So glad you made it through all of your treatments. I finished mine too and returned to work. No tongue! Commuicating is challenging but I'm doing well though- My job is in graphic design so talking is pretty minimal- thank god!

Anyways- I don't know my prognosis either. I didn't have any lymph involvement but they think cancer could have travelled microscopically via my nervous system. Hopefully the chemo got everything.
I had surgery chemo and radiation.

So I figure I gave it my best shot- time to just pick up my life where it left off - take good care of myself and just rehabilitate and enjoy life. I hope I live for a long time- but its maybe I will maybe I won't-- but honestly- its kind of like that for everyone. something could happen at any moment to change anyones life.

There is a plan for each and every one of us and stressing out about it just tarnishes the time that you have-- whether that is a few years or decades.

Wishing you lots of years of good health and good times!!!

Emmylou & Buzz

Right now all you can do is just go ahead with the treatments and give this your best shot. The treatments are no worse than the effects of the disease and they could be the cure that gives Buzz many more years of life.

Good luck - wishing you lots of strength during such a tough time.

Kate