My 48 year old husband - SCC stage IVa - diagnosed in May - 10 weeks since end of chemo (9 cisplatin) and radiation (90 treatments).
We went yesterday to meet the new radioncologist at MD Anderson. He did some scans and read the scans that were already done. He thinks that surgery this week is not going to happen as he has concerns about the original tumor site and the apparent tumor that has developed on the other side and is not sure if the surgery will be an option next week. He wants to contact and conference with the radioncologist that did treatments.
I watched the scope of the throat and cannot believe the damage done but the tumor/radiation/scar tissue. I could clearly see the two tumors in the throat. Scary as hell to see what is there. He said that they would have to do a radical on BOTH sides of the neck now. BOTH....
One thing we did find out is that the tumor mass and/or radiation destroyed his soft palate and the speech that he has now is the best it is going to get, no speech pathology will help. They did swallow testing and helped us find foods he should avoid since the lack of soft palate allows food to get pushed through his nose (no puddings, sticky things that cannot pass smoothly). Interesting when a doctor keeps saying :wow.. this tumor had to be massive: over and over again. He left the exam room three times to go back and look at the scans.
Weight is now back down to 105. He still goes to work but is majorly fatigued. Having surgery hanging out there has him a nervous wreck.