Next: Radical Neck Dissection

My husband (48) has been very bravely battling stage 4a tonsillar cancer (scc) since May.  He went through chemo (cisplatin) treatment for 9 weeks (once a week) and 9 1/2 weeks of radiation treatments twice a day for about 90 in total.

He did well with treatent, got himself to treatments and off to work afterwards.  He missed very few days, although there were days when he was fatigued and could not go back to work after the 2nd rad of the day.

Our prayers were not answered when we got the PT/CT results - the cancer is still active and with the rad/chemo treatments ending 8 weeks ago is back to growing again.  There is also evidence that it as spread to several areas but that is secondary to the fact that the tumor is encasing the carotid artery. 

A radical neck dissection is sched for next Weds the 14th.  I have researched what I can on the surgery and am not sure this is the right treatment for him but would like to hear from caretakers, patients, nurses.. ANYONE that can tell me what to expect and if the surgery was worth the risk. 

They are evaluating to be sure he is a surgical candidate but he is losing weight again and has slipped a lot in the last week.  The worst part is that they cannot remove the tumor - they are going to remove all the nerves, jugular, spinal accessory nerve, muscles, etc.... things that give life QUALITY.  With a permanent trach, no ability to swallow, move an arm, smile, he has lost most of his hearing, AND try to eradicate the tumor using radiation seeding process...  IS this the best choice when he will STILL have the primary cancer AND have all the secondary ones?

Please share your experiences with me.

L.

 Given all the info that you have provided, I'm sorry to say that he is  probably not a good candidate for surgery because of the Carotid Artery situation. I had the Radical Neck Dissection and it was unsuccessful for that very reason,and I was in stage III.

pandale,

What treatment did you end up with since they could not do the neck dissection?  Tell me a little about your story.

Unfortunately when they went in to do the surgery they stopped after taking some biopsies because the cancer has invaded the entire neck region, sinus, base of skull, and growing rapidly.

We stopped curative and began palliative care.  The cancer is just too aggressive.  The surgeon said that in the three weeks since they had done the PT scans the cancer had grown at such a rate that he had not expected and there is just no way it can be cured.

He started chemo on Monday (Erbitux) and has done ok.  The first dose is a "booster" dose so this would be his worst week.  So far no allergic reaction and the acne has not started yet.

Yesterday he had a PEG inserted, something he has fought hard against.  He was feeling pretty sore and, considering he never complains of pain, in a lot of pain. 

I have prayed so long that he be cured, now I just pray that this illness not take him before Christmas.  He has so little time left.

L.

On 11/4/2007 Weezy wrote:

My husband (48) has been very bravely battling stage 4a tonsillar cancer (scc) since May.  He went through chemo (cisplatin) treatment for 9 weeks (once a week) and 9 1/2 weeks of radiation treatments twice a day for about 90 in total.

He did well with treatent, got himself to treatments and off to work afterwards.  He missed very few days, although there were days when he was fatigued and could not go back to work after the 2nd rad of the day.

Our prayers were not answered when we got the PT/CT results - the cancer is still active and with the rad/chemo treatments ending 8 weeks ago is back to growing again.  There is also evidence that it as spread to several areas but that is secondary to the fact that the tumor is encasing the carotid artery. 

A radical neck dissection is sched for next Weds the 14th.  I have researched what I can on the surgery and am not sure this is the right treatment for him but would like to hear from caretakers, patients, nurses.. ANYONE that can tell me what to expect and if the surgery was worth the risk. 

They are evaluating to be sure he is a surgical candidate but he is losing weight again and has slipped a lot in the last week.  The worst part is that they cannot remove the tumor - they are going to remove all the nerves, jugular, spinal accessory nerve, muscles, etc.... things that give life QUALITY.  With a permanent trach, no ability to swallow, move an arm, smile, he has lost most of his hearing, AND try to eradicate the tumor using radiation seeding process...  IS this the best choice when he will STILL have the primary cancer AND have all the secondary ones?

Please share your experiences with me.

L.

  

dear sweet SWEET woman,

I am in your same boat now.  I am scared to death and feel so alone.

My husband did the chemo and the two a day radiations also.  Now it is growing again so he is slated for a radical left neck dissection on December the 19th. 

 Girl, I will keep ya'll in my prayers!  Any help you can give me is well wanted.  Your husband is very lucky to have you!

Noel