Chemotherapy for Neck Cancer Treatment

Chemo was my choice...
I was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma with an unknown primary. Surgery to remove a suspicious lymph node revealed extra-capsular extentions...and landed me at stage IV.

The option was mine to have Cisplatin chemotherapy...the Cisplatin would enhance the IMRT radiation treatment. The phrase "if you want to throw the kitchen sink at it"...and that's what I decided to do. My doctors told me at the time they were concerned that it might be over treating...but had every confidence I was young and strong enough to handle it very well.

They were right on. So far, I have had three CT Scans with no evidence of disease. I'll have my fourth in about six weeks.

I would ask for detailed clarification. Mayo is top-notch.
All the best to you and your upcoming treatments.

Chuck.

Chemo
I was treated with the rads/chemo combination for base of tongue scc stage 4. As Rush said, "The option was mine to have Cisplatin chemotherapy...the Cisplatin would enhance the IMRT radiation treatment". It was stated exactly the same by my MD's.

If you're not sure of anything related to your treatment, ask them to go over it again, and again if necessary, until you have a firm understanding of this. Cheers

Jimbo

chemo for head & neck
Although docs told me it was my choice, here was their criteria for recommending chemo + rads + surgery for my SCC, BOT, met to lymph node in neck.
I saw several local docs and was also evaluated at Dana Farber Institute in Boston as well as seeing a genetic counsilor for further testing and recommendations....they all agreed that chemo would not offer a lot of benefits and that radiation was the mainstay of treatment....BUT...due to my age (43) and health (excellent) and the fact that it had metastasized to lymph nodes, everyone agreed that I should hit it with everything as I could most likely easily tolerate the treatment.

buzz99 said:

Chemo Protocols
It is odd that a Mayo doc said no chemo for above the neck cancer. We consulted with three Mayo docs last August and all three mentioned treatment with chemo and radiation should we choose to not have surgery. Buzz had two rounds of Taxotere, Cisplatin, and 5FU followed by Erbutux and concurrent radiation (33 treatments) as recommended by Mayo but done in our home town. Your paticular case may not warrant chemo but you should ask why.

Huh?
I am Nasopharyngeal, as are a number of others here. Nasal, as in nasal cavity, and pharynx as in the back of the mouth. I was not presented with a choice, according to my ENT and Onco, with the apparent blessing of the University of Iowa- got both chemo and radiation at the same time. ENT told me that ONLY RADIATION WAS THE WAY IT USED TO BE TREATED, but now it's standard, at least for H&N that has shown to have spread, to get both the chemo and rads. Chemo is what aces the C everywhere it might be, whereas the rads ace the C where the rads are applied. Not as simple as that, but I think that's a good overview. And, chemo is definitely used for Cs that are above the neck, as many here will testify.

Your C Dr. may have specific reasons for advising that chemo isn't needed, and the reasons might be justification, but this does seem a bit peculiar. Mayos?! One would think any Dr. affiliated directly with Mayo's is top-notch, and correct in the treatment plan. Might wanna ask this Dr. for at least one specific reason why chemo isn't in the cards. As you say, though, you are getting surgery done, so that just may factor into this in a way that makes your Dr.'s plan correct.

kcass


I should have noted in the above post that the reoccurance factor is part of the chemo and rads combo treatment. Personally know of a case that was tongue, and only rads were done. Within two years it was back so severe that one of those 16-hour Ops was necessary at the U of Iowa, and took a great physical toll on the patient. Drs. at the U of Iowa told him he should have had both chemo and rads- not just the rads.