Throat cancer

finz2lft
finz2lft Member Posts: 43
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
Now that I have completed my Chemo, Radiation and had a Radical Neck Dissection; whom should I follow up with in regards to my progress, my Oncologist,or Radiologist. They were different in my situation?

Comments

  • Hal61
    Hal61 Member Posts: 655
    #2
    Onco or Radio
    Hi Finz, I think they are different for most of us. Both of them will want to keep track of you for awhile. You'll probably be getting PET/CT scans every 6-months. I'm about a year and a half out of treatment and my medical oncogologist said I only need to see him every six months now. I'm keeping track of my PET/CT time as my radiologist moved, so I'll have to contact the radiologist they handed me off to for my next scan. So you'll be scheduling visits with both.

    bext, Hal
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #3
    Finz....
    LLoyd,

    For me my ENT has always been the lead, he's the one that diagnosed, took the tonsils out, staged me and set-up the team.

    After I had the tonsils out, chemo and rads...here's my schedule;

    Year One
    ENT every 3 months - scopes

    Chemo MD every 3 months - blood work,
    PET at 3 months then annually, CT at 6 months then annually

    Rads MD every six months for year one, then done.

    Year Two
    ENT every 4 months - scopes

    Chemo MD every 6 months - blood work,
    PET annually, CT annually ~ (6 months apart)

    Year Three
    ENT every 4 months - scopes

    Chemo MD every 6 months - blood work,
    PET annually, CT annually ~ (6 months apart)

    Hope you're doing well buddy,
    John
  • fisrpotpe
    fisrpotpe Member Posts: 1,349 Member
    #4
    Leader
    For me my leader was the ENT. If he saw anything or you needed help with certain problems he would get the oncologist or radiologist involved or send you over to them. The three of them talk all the time.

    I suggest going to see him every 4 weeks for the first 6 months, then every 8 weeks for the 6-12 month recovery time. Then every three months for the next 4 years. My feelings are this helps you confirm the good news that healing and recovery are going like they should.

    I would also ask that you see a speech pathologist to help you with your swallowing. They can give you exercises to strengthen the muscles.

    We will be waiting to hear your good news from your visits with any of the three.

    John
  • jim and i
    jim and i Member Posts: 1,788 Member
    #5
    All three
    Jim sees all three,ENT, Rad and Oncologist. He saw each one month after treatment. He then sees the ENT and Rad in two months and the oncologist in 6 months unless something comes up, then we call the ENT which we did three weeks after seeing him because Jim has a lump under tongue.

    Hope this helps.

    Debbie
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #6
    Hi finz

    I was seeing my Oncologist for the first few years after my treatment, but now I see only my ENT but still do all my PET scans ay MD Anderson.

    Hondo
  • buzz99
    buzz99 Member Posts: 404
    #7
    Follow-up
    The medical oncologist is doing all the follow-up for Buzz. Karen
  • shoeloy
    shoeloy Member Posts: 70
    #8
    Follow Up
    My RO is the one following my recovery. I chose him because I really did not want to drive into downtown Houston to see the ENT. But I know that if something comes up the team at MD Anderson will work together for the treatment plan. Will be praying for a speedy recovery and for God's blessings on you.

    Loyd

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