STAGE REVISION

Lena Rose said:

Hi Mike
I wouldn't get too caught up in the numbers. The fact that you're HPV+ is significant for a better prognoses. Try to stay positive. My husband was also radiated on both sides of his neck along with chemo. Wishing you all the best as you start treatment.

Greg53 said:

Percentages
Mike,

Don't worry about the percentages!! Like it's been said here many times, those percentages are based on groups of people. You're an individual and based on what I know about you, you have a tremendous attitude and are a big time fighter. That along with you being younger and in good health and HPV+ all make your odds go up. No matter how good the doc is, they really don't know the percent. It's more of a SWAG (Scientific Wild A#@ Guess). To me the doc re-staging you shows that he's concerned and has a big interest in you, so that's a plus. Focus on the fight, not the numbers that you can't control!!

Of course having said that, I was all over all 3 of my docs with those questions. They didn't re-stage me, but when I went in for the rad neck dissection they were not expecting what they found - mets to 10 nodes on my right side and one on the left. When the ENT came out to tell my wife he was crying and this is the guy who does more of these surgeries than in anyone here in our town. He said my chances had gone from 85% to below 50%. Since that time I've kind of thrown the percentages out the window. I'm a numbers guy so I still like reading and researching all the information on it, but I don't ever think in those terms. I just know I'm gonna make it! Since the surgery and my last clear PET awhile back, he's re-evaluated and said 75% now. I love my ENT but in my opinion the percentages are just a guess.

It sounds like yours is more aggressive than you originally thought, but you just need to concentrate on kicking the shix out of this, because I'm gonna hold you to meeting me up at Clancy's as soon you are able!

Positive thoughts coming at ya Bro!

Greg

Skiffin16 said:

Good Advice
I feel that the above advice is good also....

As for the percentages, I really think that there are so many factors involved, general health going in, age, attitude, genetics, etc....everyone is different.

As for your comments on now the decision to radiate both sides along with chemo, well I was staged at III and that was the plan for me upfront and all along. So I would have thought that would have been in the works for your initial treatment plan.

My plan for Right Tonsil, and one lymph node STG III, SCC HPV+, was to remove the tonsils, nine weeks of chemo in three week cycles, followed with seven weeks of concurrent weekly chemo and 35 days of radiation (both sides of the throat).

Are they considering this a recurrance or an updated original diagnosis?

Again, try not to get wrapped up in percentages, staging, etc.... Stay positive and fight the fight with everything you can, staying on track to beat the disease.

Everyone is different, everyone reacts differently, and everyone heals differently....

Best and God Bless,
John

Kimba1505 said:

HPV is a good thing.
Mike,
Like Lena Rose and Greg said, the HPV, if you've got it, is a good thing. Who'd of thunk?
Mark was in yesterday and I was into asking some HPV questions. The overall answer to the HPV questions is there are more questions than answers. But the thinking is that HPV has a high CURE rate. These cells seem to get trampled in treatment. There are thoughts that people who are HPV+ may not need the aggressive treatment of the traditional H&N cancers. And there may not be a need for chemo at all if it is found to be contained to the Head and Neck. But it difficult to do research on this because no one wants to take the chance and opt for anything less than "throw the book at it". So that is the good news about being HPV+.
Once they opened up Mark's neck they saw he had spread to his muscle, and I all his lymph nodes on that side were removed. Because of this his numbers went from 90-95% to 85-90%. Of course I still worry...but am grateful that we chose to cut out as much at first and do radiation AND chemo to clean everything up.
Do not get caught up in the numbers. You are a case unto yourself, and like others said, attitude and health prior to treatment are huge factors in success.
Take care,
Kim

delnative said:

You're a wise man, Mike
Looks like a good night's sleep got you back on track.
Take comfort from the fact that you're HPV-pos, but most of all, keep a positive attitude. I'm 100 percent convinced that it helped me through, and it's made a big difference in my life since then, too.
Best of luck.

--Jim in Delaware