Treatment

Need help my mother is 53 and just had a tonsillectomy has a knot in her

neck also. It is squamous cell her surgeon said its stage III but has decided to only do radiation on her neck, no surgery. Any advice on this or the success rate? It scares her to leave it but he thinks the chance of it coming back is only about 10%. What if we only do radiation and it does come back then our only option will be surgery? correct? Does anyone have any advice?

Where is she being treated?  I would get a second opinion.  They might do the chemo/rad first, followed up by surgery 8 weeks post.  There is a thought that if HPV+, surgery is less necessary than otherwise.  I was also stage 3 and told that my survival would go from 80% to 90% with addition of surgery.  I would get to a cancer center and speak to a team that specializes in H&N only.  Let me know if I can help in any way.  The good news is that it's highly cureable.  The process is long and tough, but there is a light (green) at the end of the tunnel.  Best of luck to your family.

Rob J.

She is suppose to be at the best place, UAMS. I work for neurosurgeons and one of them said I wouldn't 2nd guess them thats what they do. But everything I've seen on the internet says combination therapy and surgery has the best prognosis. We want to be aggressive with this and do whatever it takes. I think I will just go back with her and ask questions. Her appt. with oncology is on the 31st. Did you have the radiation that pinpoints the spot where the cancer is? I am hoping that is less painful. Anyway, I appreciate any insight or advice. This is new to us and scarey. I will do anything to make this easier on her.   I will be asking more questions soon I'm sure. It helps to know other people have done this. Thank you so much.