Best Treatment Centers For Radiation

I have just been diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma with a primary site in the remnant of a tonsil removed as a kid. The back of the tongue and neck will also need radiation. Does anyone know the treatment centers with the best track record for this type of cancer. I live in South Florida. Bethesda, and Boca Community have been suggested by Sylvester as alternative locations. I am not limited however to doing the treatment at those locations and can go out of state if there is a material difference in Doctors and or equipment or results. What questions should I be asking in this regard? I am pretty terrified. Any information would be greatly appreciated.

I have the same type of cancer you have. Mine is (was) at the base of my tongue. I hope that youR situation is a little better. They had to go in through the side of my jaw (which needs a metal plate to hold secure) cut out 40% of my tongue. Next, and posssible the worse was the radiation treatments followed by kemo. What is bad about the radiation is that it affects your whole mouth making eating difficult. The porblems with the radiation is that it will affect the inside of your mouth forever. It is not something that will re-grow itself into new cells. I needed a feeding tube installed in my stomach to help me eat. I hope things are not as bad for you. I have been on liquids for 2 years now. As far as we know the cancer is still in remission. I assume that you have had a PET/SCAN.?? My surgery was done at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford, CT. I have an excellant surgen who has been doing this type of surgery for more than 20 years. If you need his name and phone, I will be happy to give it to you. You can call my cell phone at --- Message edited by CancerCompass staff: for personal protection, phone number removed. Please review CancerCompass Member Guidelines at http://www.cancercompass.com/common/guidelines.html ---. I hope I have been of some help. Kindest Regards, Zayle

M.D. Anderson in Houston has a great treatment center.
I had the same type and placement of cancer three years ago. Dr. Steckler at Medical City hospital in Dallas removed half of my toung and grafed from my arm to replace it. He is very well thought of in his field. He treated Celian Deyon husband. His phone nymber is --- Message edited by CancerCompass staff: for personal protection, phone number removed. Please review CancerCompass Member Guidelines at http://www.cancercompass.com/common/guidelines.html " target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.cancercompass.com/common/guidelines.html ---
I will be happy to answer any question you have.
Good Luck. --- Message edited by CancerCompass staff: for personal protection, email address removed. Please review CancerCompass Member Guidelines at http://www.cancercompass.com/common/guidelines.html " target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.cancercompass.com/common/guidelines.html ---

I just sent you a message and gave the wrong e-mail address. It should be --- Message edited by CancerCompass staff: for personal protection, email address removed. Please review CancerCompass Member Guidelines at http://www.cancercompass.com/common/guidelines.html ---

Hello,
My husband had his maximum radiation treatments in Tyler, Texas. We had no choice of other locations, at the time. We have heard that MD Anderson in Houston is excellent. My husband chose not to have chemo and it has been over a year now and he is cancer free and doing so much better. He had his feeding tube for 8 months and finally forced himself to eat normally, since he hated the tube so much. He had squamous cell carcinoma in his left tonsil. Everything was removed and then he had the radiation. I will add, that prayer was the main help in his situation. It is still no 'picnic' but you can make it with help from GOD. There is 'life' after this kind of cancer. The mouth is majorly affected and takes time to heal. If you would like to correspond with me or my husband, just send your email address and we can answer more questions from you.

Thank you all for your input. It is greatly appreciated. Based upon the information and interviews had so far, it looks like I will be going to Beth Israel in New York City. It looks like radiation and chemo for 7 weeks and then surgery 4 weeks after that. I am told I can expect to be on morphine during the latter weeks of treatment. I am quite terrifed of the whole process. Thanks again for all of your help. I just got back today and wanted to get out a quick response.

... Mickey