My dad is 72 years old and was just diagnosed with cancer in the tongue (complete right side) and floor of the mouth. The cancer has not yet spread. He is offered 60% success rate with surgery removing right side of tongue, floor of mouth, and lymph nodes. Radiation to follow surgery. Other option is 30% success with Chemo and Radiation 5 days a week for 6 to 8 weeks. If it fails, surgery to follow. He wanted me to try to find opinions from others and/or what he could expect from the treatments.

Dear S, Both treatment protocols are going to be tough, each in it's own way. Have his Doctors discussed quality of life issues that may result from either approach? The surgery [60% success rate] option is going to be the longer recovery period- that's extensive surgery. Hope you or someone is going with him to listen carefully and ask questions of these Docs. You can search on this forum for the effects of radiation, and the type of surgery they are suggesting. Best luck and keep asking questions. Amy

Thank you Amy for your reply. My brother is going to the dr with him. They are both out of town at this time, but I will make sure we ask more questions prior to his decision. Everyone in the family and our friends think surgery would be best because of the success rate. I am still on the fence and cannot decide. How difficult to have such extensive surgery and literally only half your tongue left. I think this forum may help us in the decision making process. Again, Thank you for your reply

You didn't say where your father is being treated. If he is not already at a CCC hospital, I would go to one for a second opinion. If he is, I would ask them where to go for a second opinion. When cancer is involved, it usually takes only a few days to get an appointment. With that kind of major surgery, you want to be certain it is done by someone who 'can do this in his sleep'. You need to ask lots of questions. Is there a cancer board and which way are they leaning. Remember surgeons think surgery and RO think radiation.

Take care,
Eileen

S,
Many factors come into play here.

His current health status. Is he healthy enough for the treatment? It can get a little rough towards the end of treatment. But if it works, it's worth it.

Make sure you guys are at a Comprehensive Cancer Care Center. It's really important that he gets involved with one rather than a community hospital. Mayo is up your way, take a look.

As a 44 yo I cant say how I would have done at 72.

But I am certainly here to help in any way if I can.

Talk to you soon,
-rh

He has been losing weight because he has so much pain and can't move his tongue. We have been processing his food and pushing the Ensure drinks. We are trying to get him "healthier", but this was one of my concerns. I will look into the Mayo Clinic, we also have the Univ of Minnesota and Abbott Northwestern that I will check into. Thank You for your input. I appreciate the offer of help. S

Consider Carnation Instant Breakfast VHC. It has 560 cals in the same nutritionally balanced 8 ozs.

If you can get an appointment at the Mayo clinic that would be a good choice. You can go to the home page on this website and look at site map for listing of comprehensive cancer centers, mayo clinic is one of the best. Good luck JoAnne

Hi,

Ask for a second opinion and see if those percentages are correct.

There really doesn't seem to be set protocol on this treatment. ie; some have surgery first then treatment. Some have surgery and no treatment; others have treatment and then surgery or no surgery.

Take notes when you go to the dr's and always have someone go with your father. Ask lots of questions about the possible complications of both treatments and weigh it all out. But like others have suggested; go to a 'cancer center' and not just a regular hospital.

Hopefully others who had that type of surgery will let you know what to expect afterwards; and quality of life issues.

As to what to expect for rad and chemo treatment: Here is a link I posted for someone else on the board for their father; regarding my Dad's treatment (he's 69).

http://www.oralcancerfoundation.org/ubb/ultimatebb.php?/ubb/get_topic/f/2/t/000761.html

But remember everyone's treatment is a bit different and it all depends on the area of cancer, size etc. And everyone takes to treatment differently. But we also met a 71 year old man that did pretty good as well. Treatment does get rough from about week 3 onward. One dr told me that older men are tougher then the younger ones ha.

Your father has to do what 'he' is comfortable doing.

If you have any questions please ask. I know this is a very scary time for you.

If you consider the surgery, make sure the surgeon has performed the same surgery a million times and he/she can do it in their sleep.

I got 5 different opinions before I went with Moffitt and they didn't advise surgery. But remember, as has been said, everybody and their situation is different.