Update on 2nd Go 'round w/SCC

Story45
Story45 Member Posts: 7
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

We met with my FIL's surgeon on Tuesday and he said there was a 30-40% chance of the cancer coming back within the next 5 years without re-radiating.  With radiation we would have a 20-25% percent chance that it would come back. Obviously percentages are only that, but at this point, the reward is not greater than the risk.  They'll do a CT scan in 2 months and PET scan in 5 months. 

Comments

  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #2
    percent

     

     

    Sometimes all we can do is to try and make the best decision with the info we have in our hand. I have found that doing a complete change in what I use to do helps me in avoiding any recurring NPC. I had to change in what I ate and what I did (Work) to help keep stress in my life down, it was not easy but this month November I am Ten years from my last recurring of NPC . Keep strong and keep the faith and keep living

     

     

     

    Tim

     

  • wmc
    wmc Member Posts: 1,804
    #3
    What ever you decide...........

    You will make the best desision you can with the information you have at this time. Just remember to never second guess your dissision. I new the odds on mine but never told by my doctor. I was told he did not think I needed it. With mine the tumor was in larynx just above my vocal cords, so when they took my larynx they got it and everything around it and it had not gone to any of the 86 lymph glands they took as a precaution. 

    Head and Neck cancer covers so many different areas and even some different types. So the one comon thing we all have is, we got cancer. Everyone is so different and respond different to treatment. The good that comes from this site is everyone will try to help and let you know what worked to stop pain or help with dry mouth because someone might not have saliva. I do understand when you say the reward is not grater than the risk. It was my choice to not have radiation. Now if my doctor had said he felt I should, I would have, but he didn't. 

    They will still watch it very close and "if" there is any sign of it you can do it at that time. I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

    Bill

  • hwt
    hwt Member Posts: 2,328 Member
    #4
    wmc said:

    What ever you decide...........

    You will make the best desision you can with the information you have at this time. Just remember to never second guess your dissision. I new the odds on mine but never told by my doctor. I was told he did not think I needed it. With mine the tumor was in larynx just above my vocal cords, so when they took my larynx they got it and everything around it and it had not gone to any of the 86 lymph glands they took as a precaution. 

    Head and Neck cancer covers so many different areas and even some different types. So the one comon thing we all have is, we got cancer. Everyone is so different and respond different to treatment. The good that comes from this site is everyone will try to help and let you know what worked to stop pain or help with dry mouth because someone might not have saliva. I do understand when you say the reward is not grater than the risk. It was my choice to not have radiation. Now if my doctor had said he felt I should, I would have, but he didn't. 

    They will still watch it very close and "if" there is any sign of it you can do it at that time. I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

    Bill

    Percentages

    Sounds like you made an educated decision. I believe I would have made the same choice and like Bill suggested, watch it closely.

  • Story45
    Story45 Member Posts: 7
    #5
    2nd Go Round SCC

    Thank you everyone.  Overall my FIL is doing fairly well.  Still has the trach, but we are hoping it will be removed within the next 2-3 weeks.  Hopefully sooner rather than later.  He's dealing with a lot of thick mucous, which is funny (not funny) since his first time around dealing with SCC (radiation) basically annihilated his saliva glands, so he's suffered with dry mouth for 15 years.  Now it's the complete opposite.  We were told by his surgeon that the excess mucous is due to the trach and the air bypassing the mouth going directly to the lungs.  This causes his lungs to produce excess mucous to compensate.  It's been extremely frustrating for him.  He was so active before his surgery, so I'm hoping when the trach comes out he can start doing some of the things that he enjoyed before.

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