No chemo! YES chemo! .. No surgery... yeaa you need surgery!

bpell0402
bpell0402 Member Posts: 61
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
Just sharing ...

Mom diagnosed with SCC 1 lymph node, no primary yet, PET/MRI negative.

We met mom's new radiation/oncologist today ... ( she is new because we switched our care over to another hospital)

The great news is that I LOVE HER. Did not like the other rad doctor. i have also spoken to some previous patients of hers who love her.

Last week we met with the medical oncologist.. he told my mother that she did not need more surgery and that she did not need chemo. ( other doctors recommended surgery). This doctor said he was the chemo specialist and did not think chemo would benefit her.

Radiation/Onc RESIDENT came in first today and he told my mom she did not need surgery and that surgery would not alter radiation.

Radiation/Onc ATTENDING then came in and said mom SHOULD HAVE surgery, it WILL affect radiation and she probably will need chemo. She was very suprised the med/onc told us no chemo. but we ended the conversation stating that based on the surgery results (tonsillectomy) we will then decide on chemo.

We see the surgeon officially on friday. Hopefully we can take the next step then...


Just venting on the change of treatment from day to day .. even minute to minute as the resident told us completely different information! I am in the medical field, and completely understand there is no perfect treatment and every case is different. i actually appreciate the change in plans because that tells me the doctors are thinking about mom as an individual

but poor mom's head is spinning! she was so scared when they said more surgery.. then when the doctor said no surgery she was relieved and stopped crying everyday. Same thing with chemo. she was so happy when doctor so no chemo ( i was suprised that he said that as most of you have chemo). But he literally said to me and my mother I am the chemo doctor and chemo will not help you.

The radiation doctor today informed me that they are a team, and that after surgery we will all discuss if chemo is right for mom.

I was sort of hoping that her radiation would start next week! but i guess not.. we are going on 5 months from the time when mom noticed her swollen lymph node.. getting more worried about the time frame ...

wow this is long. just like getting things out

Comments

  • Pam M
    Pam M Member Posts: 2,196
    #2
    Dizzy?
    Wow - I'm sure your mom is beside herself again.

    Very glad, though, to hear that doc said that the members of your med team will gather to discuss the game plan after surgery.

    As for treatment being pushed back - once things were in motion, they moved quickly for me. Hope that's the case for you all, too.
  • KristynRuth86
    KristynRuth86 Member Posts: 140
    #3
    Pam M said:

    Dizzy?
    Wow - I'm sure your mom is beside herself again.

    Very glad, though, to hear that doc said that the members of your med team will gather to discuss the game plan after surgery.

    As for treatment being pushed back - once things were in motion, they moved quickly for me. Hope that's the case for you all, too.

    I can relate
    Vent away, I know how you feel. My doctors did the same thing to me in respect to the chemo. One day it was no chemo, then yes chemo, then no, then yes! I agree that the game plan needs to be altered to fit the person best, but it's hard to be taken on that roller coaster ride when you're already an emotional wreck because you were diagnosed with cancer! My thoughts are with your mom and I'm sorry her emotions are going on that ride :(

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