Upon initial consultation with my radiation oncologist my case was presented to the hospital tumor board. Apparently my case caused a split within the group because 1/2 think I should have combined radiation and the other 1/2 feel that I shouldn't. I feel overwhelmed because ultimately the choice is mine and I'm just not really sure what to do. I'm hoping to get some insight from people here in this forum.

For a little background about me: I was diagnosed early July 2002 with SCC of the tongue. On August 15 2002 I underwent surgery and the following was performed: Hemi-glossectomy(approx 40% tongue removed), salivary gland removal and radical neck dissection. From the neck dissection 2 nodes where found to be malignant. As of today I have undergone 4 of 35 radation treatments to the neck and tongue.

Hi Stretch,

Sorry to hear of your diagnosis but glad to see you are doing your research. I believe that in addition to reading what the "experts" say, going to those who have been through this is very valuable.

Here is my not so humble opinion - and I am the caregiver, not the patient. I lost my husband to lung cancer. He had concurrent chemo and radiation. My mother is now battling SCC of the oropharynx and she has had concurrent chemo and radiation. I have spent the last 3 years consumed with reading about cancer and it's treatments and the overwhelming evidence is to go for the "concurrent" treatment plan. My opinion is that if you are going to fight this, you should do it 110%. Chemo works systemically and radiation is more localized. The two together are the best way we have right now for making sure that not only the primary tumor but any micrometastases are destroyed. Apparently, doctors are divided on this topic with SCC because radiation and surgery have always been the gold standand for treatment of SCC. But as new trials are conducted, the evidence is showing a place for chemotherapy in the treatment of this disease.

Concurrent treatment can be like hitting a brick wall - but the good news is that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

My mother is only a month out from treatment so we can not be a source of long-term information as of yet. Hopefully, she will be. I'm sure others further long will weigh in with their experiences.

Best wishes on whatever course you chose and keep us posted.

Cynthia

I agree 100% with Cynthia, my husband had radiation/chemo at the same time. They told him it upped the effects of radiation. He was stage 4 tonsil cancer, mets to 3 nodes, so they didn't give him an option. They did say Chemo alone for SSC isn't an option, they do it along with radiation. At least that is what this tumor board told us.
He did fine on it and he felt better knowing he was doing all he could for himself. He was on cisplatin, got sick for 2 days and tired...he didn't even lose his hair, just thinned a bit.
Good Luck in your decision.
Sherrie

I had 4 weeks of relatively light chemo, cisplatin and taxil that ran concurrently with 6 weeks of radiation. Doing the chemo is really no problem. It made me feel a little tired and weird a couple of times, but once it was over, it was over. The radiaiton treatments, which, in my case ceased 3 weeks ago, continue to affect me, and I guess, will do so in many ways for the rest of my life. Although the concomitant chemo and radiation is still considered somewhat experimental in throat cancer ( I had to convince my ins. company to pay for the chemo. ) studies show that along with the radiation the chemo often helps shrink the tumors. Therefore I can see no downside of adding the chemo. I did not even lose my hair.
The only debate, I think, is for those people who have a choice of whether or not to undergo radiation. In my case , with a base of tongue tumor and nodes considered stage IV, surgery was not feasible and my only choice was to have the radiation...whether or not the chemo came along. I repeat...adding a little chemo was no big deal as the effects are not long lasting. Radiation, on the other hand is a bitch....necessary, but a bitch!
Dan G.

My husband also had a combo of chemo and radiation. He actually "enjoyed" the chemo. They gave him benadryl and he zoned right out in the comfy chair. No ill effects. We wanted everything they could give him to fight this thing. The radiation is over and now he has a modified radical neck disectomy scheduled on 10/9 (his birthday) to get rid of any lingering cancer in the lymph nodes on one side. It is 50/50 if there is anything in the nodes, but we want better odds. Good luck in what ever treatment you choose.

There seems to be as many opinions/variations on this as there are possible options. I just found this site and I'm on my last week of radiation/chemo. I did a lot of research and a lot of discussion with the doc and arrived at the following.

Had squamous cell of the tongue, spread to 7 lymph nodes. For my particular case the advise from 2 ent's and the oncologist was surgery on the tonge to remove the primary tumour, plus radical neck dissection followed by radiation and Chemo from 2 docs, with the 3rd saying the concurrent chemo was not necessary.

Opted for the surgery (of course) then to follow with HFRT radiation twice a day for 5 days a week for 7 weeks, combined with Cisplatin of I think 9mg once a week during the 7 weeks, given early in the week.

Idea is that the Cisplatin not only has a systemic affect on the carcinoma, but also attenuates the effect of the RT so that it works better on the cancerous cells and doesn't destroy the good cells.

Thinking about this all mecanically, how radiation is supposed to work, how the ciscplatin is suppsed to work, and looking at some studies, I felt this was the best way to go. So far not much side effects from the Chemo, a little heartburn for a couple of days after the session. The radiation however, WOW, If ther'e looking to cook me to well done, they've almost done it!! But I've still not experience the kind of pain/discomfort, damage that I've read about from some of the survivor's stories. I wonder if the machinery used makes that much difference. Anyway, I'm finding each case is highly individualized, and take everything you hear with a grain of salt.

Hobo,
I had radiation with the concurrent chemo for base of tongue cancer with neck nodes also involved. I did not have any surgical procedures..at least as of yet I have not. The small doses of chemo don't cause too much discomfort and once they are over..they are over. The radiation, however, gets worse as it goes on and after treatments are finished. I discovered this website once all treatments were finished, because I got so damned depressed following the radiation. I finished around labor day so it has been about 10 weeks and I feel much better.
Keep us informed how you are feeling. This is a great place to talk about it.

Danny G.

I was diagnosed with stage 4 tonsil cancer and I received concurrent radiation and chemotherapy. According to my oncologist, effects of the treatment strengthen each other when applied simultaneously. It is almost a year after completion of 48 rounds of radiation and 4 rounds of Cisplatin(done within seven weeks). The tonsil tumor disappeared after about three weeks of treatment and the enlarged (really very large) lymphnodes on my neck shrank gradually. Initially my doctor told me that neck dissection might be necessary but thank God, two months after the treatment, the CT scan and ultra sound scan could not detect cancer cells and so I am spared from the 'knife'.Although the treatment is effective, the side-effects are more fierce too. No more saliva,raspy voice, numb limbs, stiff neck and shoulder muscle, fatigue... Lucky that I didn't lose any hair.

Early tomorrow morning I have ultrasound and possibly needle biopsy to determine if there is any cancer remaining in my lymph nodes. The original base of tongue tumor is gone and the doctors cannot feel anything with their hands but CT scan showed one little area of concern.
I hope that my results are as good as Karen's.

Danny G.

Danny,

Best of luck tomorrow. I can't believe I was supposed to go for a CT scan today and the machine broke. So I am trying to reschedule before my next round of chemo next week.
I'm sure like me you just want to get it done and get the results.
I wish you good things on your answers.
Take care,
Dinah