Surgery only?

dadsfan
dadsfan Member Posts: 1
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
I'm new to the boards, but just from reading the posts it's easy to see what a great group this is!

My Dad had a neck dissection with a free flap in early October for a T3N0M0 SCC of the hypopharynx. He's doing great and the docs call him their "rock star" patient. His surgeons are nationally rated, and we're very pleased with them. However, in researching and reading, it seems very unusual that my Dad isn't having chemo or rad. Not questioning the docs, just curious if this course of treatment is a rare as it appears.

Blessings to all!

Comments

  • longtermsurvivor
    longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,842 Member
    #2
    it depends on "resectability"
    which is predicated on both size and location of tumor. He must have had a favorable location, and they were able to resect with enough tumor free margin to figure he has a good probability of cure. Under those circumstances this is not rare. In his case radiation can be reserved for treatment if he happens to get a recurrance. This way, he avoids the disability of radiation, while preserving this option in case of need.


    Best regards,

    Pat
  • Pam M
    Pam M Member Posts: 2,196
    #3
    Welcome
    Hey - my doc calls me a "rock star", too. Maybe your dad and I could go on tour. It does seem unusual to me for a T3 to have surgery only, but I'm sure your dad's docs know what they're doing, since they're highly rated. Good to think the rads and chemo aren't needed.
  • RayTodd
    RayTodd Member Posts: 187
    #4
    I almost got away
    My ENT said he could get enough clear healthy margin except for two areas one of which was my carotid so it was op and Radiation. I was lucky just radiation it was bad enough I feel for the ones who had chemo as well
  • sukichu61832
    sukichu61832 Member Posts: 12
    #5
    Ask the surgeon
    if he/she would recommend further treatment if it was his/her father. I had the choice of surgery only and no radiation, but when I questioned the surgeon he said he would get the "low dose" radiation treatments. NO Chemo was recommended. I am still in treatment so I am feeling kinda lousy, but if I had to do it over again I am not sure I would have chosen the rad treatments. What convinced me to do it was the comment from the radiologist/oncologist who said it was harder to radiate an area that has scar tissue (from the surgery)so it was better to get the rads right after surgery. Every doc has a different opinion.
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #6
    PET Scan
    Welcome to the forum.....

    Out of curiousity, have they did a PET scan or CT either before or preferably after surgery?

    Best,
    John
  • joannaw81
    joannaw81 Member Posts: 185 Member
    #7
    sukichu61832 said:

    Ask the surgeon
    if he/she would recommend further treatment if it was his/her father. I had the choice of surgery only and no radiation, but when I questioned the surgeon he said he would get the "low dose" radiation treatments. NO Chemo was recommended. I am still in treatment so I am feeling kinda lousy, but if I had to do it over again I am not sure I would have chosen the rad treatments. What convinced me to do it was the comment from the radiologist/oncologist who said it was harder to radiate an area that has scar tissue (from the surgery)so it was better to get the rads right after surgery. Every doc has a different opinion.

    Hi there
    my mom had tonsil cancer stage 3 with 1 lymph node. She had surgury and radiation, throughout the whole treatement I was wonderig and asking evertone why she will not get chemio as I was reading that 90% of patients in my mom's situation get chemio. Sloan Kettering finlly gave me clear answer. It is all about the stage, location, clear margins and the cause of cancer....everyone is different so I would just listen to the doctors however you can always go for the second opinion. I had questions that's why I ended up going for second opinion to Slean Kettering. Good Luck!
  • soccerfreaks
    soccerfreaks Member Posts: 2,788 Member
    #8
    further treatment
    If dad trusts his docs, I would go with their opinions, clearly.

    My personal experience has been (head/neck cancer followed a couple of years later by lung cancer), that my docs prefer chemo and rads or at least chemo, following my surgeries, to 'slay the strays', if you will. After my lobectomy (lung surg) the chemo was optional but I went with OncoMan's advice and did the deed. Following the head/neck surgery prior (tongue resection and radical neck dissection) I had rads and chemo and there was no option (well, there is always an option for the patient...we control everything, ultimately).

    I am now six-years NED (No Evidence of Disease) with the head/neck, and four years with the lung, so those guys knew something.

    Best wishes to dad and his family.

    Take care,

    Joe
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #9
    soccerfreaks said:

    further treatment
    If dad trusts his docs, I would go with their opinions, clearly.

    My personal experience has been (head/neck cancer followed a couple of years later by lung cancer), that my docs prefer chemo and rads or at least chemo, following my surgeries, to 'slay the strays', if you will. After my lobectomy (lung surg) the chemo was optional but I went with OncoMan's advice and did the deed. Following the head/neck surgery prior (tongue resection and radical neck dissection) I had rads and chemo and there was no option (well, there is always an option for the patient...we control everything, ultimately).

    I am now six-years NED (No Evidence of Disease) with the head/neck, and four years with the lung, so those guys knew something.

    Best wishes to dad and his family.

    Take care,

    Joe

    Joe Neddy.....
    I'm glad that everything is finally working out for you Joe.....hoping that you live long and prosper.

    Best,
    John
  • soccerfreaks
    soccerfreaks Member Posts: 2,788 Member
    #10
    Skiffin16 said:

    Joe Neddy.....
    I'm glad that everything is finally working out for you Joe.....hoping that you live long and prosper.

    Best,
    John

    NED
    Everything has been working out from the beginning, John, as far as I can tell. I write about the ups and downs, of course, but mostly to express the notions of Hope and Humor. As you know, there is pain on occasion, there are ups and downs, there is the proverbial roller coaster, but I would say I have had it better than most to this point, although your proclamation is greatly appreciated.

    I wish you the same, John, while strongly recommending that you go back to the wife because the girl in this pic is, well, rather ugly :).

    Take care, my friend,

    Joe
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #11
    soccerfreaks said:

    NED
    Everything has been working out from the beginning, John, as far as I can tell. I write about the ups and downs, of course, but mostly to express the notions of Hope and Humor. As you know, there is pain on occasion, there are ups and downs, there is the proverbial roller coaster, but I would say I have had it better than most to this point, although your proclamation is greatly appreciated.

    I wish you the same, John, while strongly recommending that you go back to the wife because the girl in this pic is, well, rather ugly :).

    Take care, my friend,

    Joe

    Grouper Lips....
    But the one on the photo does have some awesome grouper lips......all the better to kiss me with... :)

    JG
  • braziliangirl82
    braziliangirl82 Member Posts: 42
    #12
    I also had no chemo / rad
    I had a T1N0M0 Tongue SCC and also had not chemo / rad. Your father is lucky!

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