Hi All,

I don't post that often, but I regular read all the post. I can not login at work so I read the post as a guest.

My radiation doctor has recommended that I get some steriod treatment to help me recover from the radiation treatment I received. Has anyone had such and treatment. The steriods will be administred via an IV over six weeks. The doctor said it will help the swelling in my throat and help it to heal faster. I completed 31 radiation treatments almost 3 months ago for stage IV tongue and neck cancer.

One of my concerns is that when I had my CAT scan (about a month ago) there was mass that was not normal on the left side of my neck, same side that I had the dissection performed on. My surgeon wanted to operate rigth away, but my radiation doctor and a second opion from another ENT said I should wait and have another scan done in January to compare too. If there is still residual cancer, wil the steriods cause it to spread or grow quicker?

Whew! That's a very good question. I do not know the answer, but if I were you, I would waste no time in posing it to your doctors. This is most certainly something that needs to be discussed. Please let us know what you find out.
Joanna

Steroids can be a mixed blessing. Steroids will not cause the cancer to spread. Steroids are used to control swelling, but usually when the swelling is due to a tumor pressing on vital organs such as the brain or spinal column.

The down side to steroids is water retention, insomnia, and personality changes. Long term use can cause brittle bones.

Since this therapy is not a standard protocol for treatment of head and neck cancers, I would ask more questions of the doctor.

Cynthia

Tjb23:

Just a thought-your CT scan would have been read and signed off on by a radiologist of record. In addition to the second opinion by another ENT, I would ask to meet with the radiologist that read the scan and ask for a comparative reading by another radiologist.

Often, masses appear on post-radiation Ct scans that are dead tissue and not necessarily cancer. It would be good if all the players could be in the same room so you could get their collective thoughts.

Kim