Just found this forum; wish I had found it sooner.

I was diagnosed with SCC at BOT in May 08 (T4aN2cM0). Inductive chemotherapy was stopped after first treatment due to severe neutropenic reaction. IMRT (32 treatments) with concurrent Cisplatin (3 treatments at three week intervals) took place Jul to Aug 08. Biopsy of primary site and surrounding area in Nov 08 proved negative. Current concern is lymph nodes several of which remain enlarged (PET scan Jan 09). MRI scheduled for early Mar is expected to instruct the need for neck dissection. Otherwise, all indications are positive (good).

Also had trachestomy and PEG. Hardware was all removed just before Christmas with no complications.


R.M. (Mark) Lilienthal
Burtonsville, MD
My Battle with Cancer

Welcome Mark, As much as you wish you had found us sooner, we wish you didn't have the need. It sounds like your recovery from treatment is going along as well as can be expected. Lets hope the MRI results in good news. If not, a neck dissection can be done in ways that spare some of the permanent nerve damage. Be sure to explore options with the surgical team, if they suggest surgery.

Take care