Is it normal to have surgery before radiation?

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  • Roar
    Roar Member Posts: 269 Member
    #22
    fishmanpa said:

    Everyone's Different

    My cancer was HPV+. Due to an unknown primary and some rather agressive tumors, my team opted for surgery first, followed by chemo/radiation. It all depends on your situation. A second opinion, as Laralyn mentioned, preferrably from a CCC is prudent.

    "T'

    i am the same

    the same treatment after surgery for me - i had 1 lymph node removed followed by chemo three treatments and 32 rads - at he end of treatment my doc added 8 more rads aimed specifically at the lymph nodes in my neck

  • ScaredLilSis
    ScaredLilSis Member Posts: 12
    #23
    Skiffin16 said:

    Late for the Party

    I too had STGIII Tonsil Cancer with a lymphnode, HPV+...

    Tonsils came out first, then nine weeks of chemo (three week cycles), and an additional seven weeks concurrent with radiation. The reason that I can see of having surgery first is to remove infected tissue, then clean up any residual with chemo and radiaiton.

    HPV is a biggie as for H&N cancer these days.., though treatment is pretty much the same regardless... If I were to have someone that I know now, that was Dx with H&N cancer, and no mention or suspicions of HPV were mentioned, I think I'd be skeptical of the MD's..., or at least question them.

    I think most of us that haven't been exposed to a lot of people with cancer, feel they are going to die.

    Myself included, when Dx all I thought about upfront was pale, no hair, no color people that eventually whithered away and died..., far from reality.

    This is the best time in history as for treeatment, knowledge and success rates on treating cancer successfully... So get the dying thoughts out of your head..

    Speaking of which, a positive attitude is huge, find one, keep it, and stick those nay sayers in your back pocket for later..

    Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate....

    Many here will help with anything you encounter or question...

    Best,

    John

    Good News Today

    Hi Everyone,

    My brothers PET scan came out clean - so no spread of the cancer. In addition, this hospital went in to look around and do their own biopsy and they said that its probably stage 3 not 4. They canceled the 12 hour surgery and sent him home to do radiation and maybe chemo. So I guess this WAS the second opinion that people were suggesting. I still don't know if they found HPV or not but its kind of hard to get information. I'll probably found out when I can see him and talk to him.

    Once again I want to thank everyone for their support, advice and information. I'm sure I'll have more questions as he gets into treatment. But for now, I'm going to focus on it not being as bad as we were originally told.

     

  • TracyLynn72
    TracyLynn72 Member Posts: 839
    #24
    ScaredLilSis said:

    Not Many Options

    Thanks for suggesting a second opinion but I'm not sure its an option because he has no insurance or $. The first hospital he went to (local) said it was too advanced and there was nothing they could do. They sent him to a large teaching hospital. Although he has now applied for financial assistance through Medicare he hasn't been approved yet. Other than this hospital, I don't know if anyone else would see him with no insurance or funds.  

    Insurance and Medicaid

    I'm not sure where you are located, but I did not have insurance either.  I had TWO major surgeries followed by 30 rads.  I applied for Medicaid and it took them over 5 months to approve me.  Tell him to keep on Medicaid.  Annoy them.  Stay on top of what they want from him.  Take notes.  Make copies.  I had to fight for months but finally got what I needed.  I went through Levine Cancer Institute and told them upfront that I had no money or insurance from the beginning and they understood and  helped me anyway.  Best of luck to him and tell him to keep pushing on.  I had my surgeries at a major hospital through one of the top surgeons with a major cancer institute.  I just was honest about the situation from the very beginning. 

  • ScaredLilSis
    ScaredLilSis Member Posts: 12
    #25
    TracyLynn72 said:

    Insurance and Medicaid

    I'm not sure where you are located, but I did not have insurance either.  I had TWO major surgeries followed by 30 rads.  I applied for Medicaid and it took them over 5 months to approve me.  Tell him to keep on Medicaid.  Annoy them.  Stay on top of what they want from him.  Take notes.  Make copies.  I had to fight for months but finally got what I needed.  I went through Levine Cancer Institute and told them upfront that I had no money or insurance from the beginning and they understood and  helped me anyway.  Best of luck to him and tell him to keep pushing on.  I had my surgeries at a major hospital through one of the top surgeons with a major cancer institute.  I just was honest about the situation from the very beginning. 

    Good Advice

    Thanks for the advice. He seems to be getting good treatment even though he hasn't yet been approved for Medicare or Medicaid. I'm glad you were also able to get the treatment you needed and to finally get approved.

  • TracyLynn72
    TracyLynn72 Member Posts: 839
    #26
    ScaredLilSis said:

    Good News Today

    Hi Everyone,

    My brothers PET scan came out clean - so no spread of the cancer. In addition, this hospital went in to look around and do their own biopsy and they said that its probably stage 3 not 4. They canceled the 12 hour surgery and sent him home to do radiation and maybe chemo. So I guess this WAS the second opinion that people were suggesting. I still don't know if they found HPV or not but its kind of hard to get information. I'll probably found out when I can see him and talk to him.

    Once again I want to thank everyone for their support, advice and information. I'm sure I'll have more questions as he gets into treatment. But for now, I'm going to focus on it not being as bad as we were originally told.

     

    I am SO glad

    to hear he got good news!!  Keep us posted on how he's doing and check in often :)  Tell him to stay on top of them at Medicaid.  They're dropping me the end of this month, so I'm on my own after that.  It's a hard fight, but worth it in the long run. 

  • Benjamin.Brown
    Benjamin.Brown Member Posts: 1
    #27
    TracyLynn72 said:

    Insurance and Medicaid

    I'm not sure where you are located, but I did not have insurance either.  I had TWO major surgeries followed by 30 rads.  I applied for Medicaid and it took them over 5 months to approve me.  Tell him to keep on Medicaid.  Annoy them.  Stay on top of what they want from him.  Take notes.  Make copies.  I had to fight for months but finally got what I needed.  I went through Levine Cancer Institute and told them upfront that I had no money or insurance from the beginning and they understood and  helped me anyway.  Best of luck to him and tell him to keep pushing on.  I had my surgeries at a major hospital through one of the top surgeons with a major cancer institute.  I just was honest about the situation from the very beginning. 

    Thanks for your feedback!

    Hi Tracy, 

    My name is Benjamin Brown and I am the community manager for Carolinas HealthCare System (Levine Cancer Institute is a part of our system). I wanted to take a moment to thank you for your positive feedback about LCI and for sharing that with your community. We sincerely appreciate it!


    Sincerely, 

    Benjamin M. Brown

    Community Manager

    Carolinas HealthCare System

    http://www.carolinashealthcare.org

  • TracyLynn72
    TracyLynn72 Member Posts: 839
    #28
    Benjamin.Brown said:

    Thanks for your feedback!

    Hi Tracy, 

    My name is Benjamin Brown and I am the community manager for Carolinas HealthCare System (Levine Cancer Institute is a part of our system). I wanted to take a moment to thank you for your positive feedback about LCI and for sharing that with your community. We sincerely appreciate it!


    Sincerely, 

    Benjamin M. Brown

    Community Manager

    Carolinas HealthCare System

    http://www.carolinashealthcare.org

    Awesome!

    I LOVE the Levines and CMC!!!  Nothing but good things to say about them :)

  • jackflash22
    jackflash22 Member Posts: 524 Member
    #29
    Surgery first

    I had surgery first, mine all happened very quickly. I found a swelling in my neck  between the ear and jawline. I saw my doc, he recognised the signs immediately and sent me to hospital for biopsy, biopsy showed a cancerous nodes,  the primary was base tongue cancer, surgery neck dissection, three cancerous nodes removed and 29 healthy ones. Tumour at base of tongue removed and repaired with the inside of my cheek. That meant I didn't have to have a flap cut from my arm or skin graft. recovery was quick the tongue felt normal and  I got my swallow back. The surgery healing wasn,t painful as you are numb where nerves are cut. Thetough bit was the trachea in my throat it kept getting blocked with mucus but they 'hoovered' that out and cleaned it. That lasted about a week. I think it's because it's such a long op it affects the lungs a bit. I now have 6weeks of radiation without the chemo. had first one today. The mask is a bit tight so you don't move while your being zapped. That to protect the healthy cells, the radiation is computer planned to hit the cancer  Everything is so clever these days. You probably have read of cancer side affects which are different in different people. My rad is about 10mins once I,m lined up. I,m told I won't have much affects the first 10days then there is medication and sprays to help you.  My room mate in hospital her rad first and her skin on her neck just wouldn't,t heal after surgery because the rad made it thin and sore. She,s fine now tho'. I,m having my PEG  put in next week, may not need it but its there if I do. Tell your brother to stay positive it does help if you keep telling yourself "I will be  OK "and have a nice holiday after its all over.I,m planning mine in Spring in Florida with my sister who lives on the space coast. I,m in Uk so it will be a pleasant month inth he sunshine after a cold British winter

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