are there alternatives to radiation?

CivilMatt said:

no rads

The internet is full of alternate treatments, therapies and what not.

Surgery, Chemotherapy, nothing, prayer, natural remedies, vitamins, voodoo, water, naturopathic, Chinese, acupuncture, mind-body, proton therapy, pet-therapy, hypnosis, exercise, aroma-therapy, Biological and Pharmcologic Therapies, Antineoplastons, Gaston Naessens Therapy (714X), Revici Therapy,  Hydrazine Sulfate, Immune Therapies, Immuno-Augmentative Therapy (IAT), Issels whole-body immune therapy, Herbal Therapies, Harry Hoxsey formulas, Essiac tea, Mistletoe (Iscador)...as used by Suzanne Somers, Pau D'Arco, Chaparral, Nutritional Therapies, Wheatgrass Therapy, Macrobiotics, Moerman's Anti-Cancer diet, Metabolic Therapies, Gerson, Oxygen Therapies (including Ozone), Hyperthermia, DMSO therapy, Chelation, Live Cell therapy, Energy Medicine, Bioelectric Therapie, apricot seed kernels, papaya leaves and stalks, and lemon grass ……………………..to name a few.

Ill take the prayer and lemon grass please. I agree with the second opinion and a 3^rd if needed because everyone being so different it is hard to say what will work or will not work. For some people Radiation and Chemo will work the first time and others it doesn’t. Then there are some people that can take an alternative treatment and it will work for them but not for anyone else. I don’t think there is a reason other then our genetic make-up, the same reason why some people get cancer and others don’t. I had radiation twice and chemo once and it did not work because the cancer came back a 3^rd time. I do know that if someone has a strong positive outlook going into treatment it has a tremendous effect on there outcome of treatment. Other people who have a lot of friends praying for them tend to do better then someone who has no one praying for them. The way I look at it, do what you think best, make a choice and stick with it keeping as positive as can be, after all it’s your body.   

fishmanpa said:

What my team said

Hi Tim,

I was Dx'd   Tx N2b MO Stage IV HPV+   I had an unknown primary and the cancer was growing in several lymph nodes on the left side of my neck. 
My team decided for surgery (selective neck dissection) along with additional biopsies to help find the primary. All biopsies came back negative.

The point was this. If they went in and the tumors were still encapsulated then it would be radiation only. If they had broken out of their capsules then it would be chemo/rads. Either way rads would be necessary to make sure they eradicate any microscopic cancer cells that the surgery missed. 

If you're not already, I would get a 2nd opinion at a comprehensive cancer center.

Positive thoughts and prayers

"T"

 

Thanks for the advice Fishmanpa and Phrannie. I am currently being seen by The Medical College of Georgia (GRU), and yes, this is a pretty big cancer center. As I had noted before, the surgeon told me he would suggest that I do the RADS thing (due to my age), if I was 80 yrs. old he said he would probably pat me on the back and tell me to have a good life. I admire this doc for the amazing work he did on the surgery and has been very honest in my opinion.  Both of my parents had cancer, my mother had breast cancer (radical mastectomy) in one breast and had cancer cells in two lymph nodes. She opted out for Radiation and Chemo.... that was 25 yrs. ago and she is now 85 and in a nursing home. Cancer has not returned. My Dad had stomach cancer from ulcers, and he also after surgery opted out for Radiation and Chemo.... He died 13 yrs later from heart failure related to a fractured pelvis. So, I think everyone can see where I am coming from. I am now going to try and get a 2nd opinion about this. My wife is worried that it may come back right away with a vengeance. I also am trying the baking soda/ maple syrup regimen along with supplements to improve immune system.... I know it sounds crazy but, I did it for 5 days prior to surgery and maybe??? that had something to do with the tumor being smaller than originally thought??? Anyway, thanks again and I will keep all of you in my prayers and will keep updating what is going on.

When my husband was diagnosed with laryngeal cancer in 2010, we were told that the way to go was radiation (35 rounds) and 3 chemo.  We had hoped that would work, but it didn't and in 2011 he had a complete laryngectomy, partial neck dissection and his throat had to be reconstructed due to radiation completely closing off the back of his throat.  We were also told that he couldn't have more radiation.

Fast forward to 2012 when they found a tumor at the cervical of his esophagus.  Very small and surgery we were told wasn't a good option due to his prior radiation.  Now my husband said many times that he wouldn't undergo anymore radiation after the first time, well when faced with this new and rare spot for cancer we were told, he elected to undergo another 35 radiation and 7 chemo treatments.  Well the second time around it wasn't as bad but he did have a peg tube inserted once again before treatment.  Now after a follow-up PET/CT scan (second one since treatment ended) the cancer is back and has spread.  My husband elected no more treatment.  The only option was chemo since the cancer had spread to his right lung.  He said quality of time was more important than quantity.

On this journey, and after reading his PET/CT scans, I have had many questions.  The main one each time is if the PET/CT shows clear, then why did the cancer return.  I was told that no PET/CT scan, viewing by the specialist down the throat or in your throat, cannot find cancer cells that are tiny and this is why they suggest after surgery radiation and/or chemo.   So guess what I'm trying to say is that, although radiation is hard and H&N radiation especially, no one can predict the outcome.  And like all treatment, radiation/chemo/surgery each person responds differently to treatment. 

Wishing you the best outcome with your decision.  Sharon