Radiation question

Dav1965
Dav1965 Member Posts: 132
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
I had stage 4 tongue cancer and went to one of the best hospitals in the state. Nobody in my home town would operate on me. Thank God. Now my friend has tongue cancer and he is being treated in the same town that would not operate on me. He is having radiation and chemo but no surgery. He is stage 4 also. His chemo is weaker than mine and he only gets about 10 minuets of rads at a time. I got cisplatin and something else and my rads were 25 or 30 minuets at a time. I tried my best for him to see the best he would not do it. By the way im 45 and he is 61. Would age make that big of difference for chemo and radiation?
Also he gets chemo once a week where i got it every 3 weeks. Thanks for your help because he calls and asks questions and i like to have the best info i can give him. David

Comments

  • Greend
    Greend Member Posts: 678
    #2
    differnet treatments
    There are a lot of reasons for differing treatments but a big one is probably the age difference. My 81 YO mother gets weaker overall treatments each time but they are spread out over a longer time. Doc said this is because her body could not take the massive doses I received when I was in my 40's. If they can get the cancer under control without surgery then I'm certain they will try. I see folks on this board with the same cancer I had getting different treatments. As long as they work, that's all that matters.

    My best wishes to all.

    Denny
  • ratface
    ratface Member Posts: 1,337 Member
    #3
    Greend said:

    differnet treatments
    There are a lot of reasons for differing treatments but a big one is probably the age difference. My 81 YO mother gets weaker overall treatments each time but they are spread out over a longer time. Doc said this is because her body could not take the massive doses I received when I was in my 40's. If they can get the cancer under control without surgery then I'm certain they will try. I see folks on this board with the same cancer I had getting different treatments. As long as they work, that's all that matters.

    My best wishes to all.

    Denny

    More than one way to skin that critter
    Cancer is very individual specific. Two people with the same diagnosis's can be treated and respond totally different. Stage 4 in one person can be a whole different ballgame as far as size, location, and spread. There are several types of radiation machines currently being used as well as several types of protocols. Once a day vs. twice a day. There are different kinds of chemo and different doses and schedules of administering them. Much about cancer treatment is tailoring a treatment program that doesn't kill you and the Doc's are pretty good at that. Sequence of treatment need not follow any pattern, surgery can come after radiation, some do chemo concurrent with radiation and some do it alone. Your experience may not be right for him. He should ask his doctor to explain why this treatment is the right one for him. He still has options. You're a good friend.
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #4
    Differences
    Like mentioned, could be a ton of variables on why the differences....

    I'm 57 now, 55 when I was diagnosed with STGIII SCC HPV+ Tonsil Cancer with a Lymphnode. My treatment was a combination of you and your friends.

    I had the tonsils out surgically, then nine weeks (three week cycles) of Cisplatin, Taxotere and 5FU. The 5FU was from a portable pump that was strapped on for 5 days.

    Then I had seven weeks of concurrent chemo/rads. Weekly Carboplatin, and 35 daily rads for about 15 - 20 minutes each session.

    Age can be a variable as well as general health going in...current studies, facility, MD's...many variables.

    Best,
    John
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    #5
    You are a great friend to be
    You are a great friend to be so concerned. I am glad he has you for support.

    You know how we are always saying, everyone is different, around here. That of course also pertains to treatment as well. Not only with the physical side of treatment, but the mental side of it as well. Attitude and overall happiness are part of survival and recovery, too. Maybe being treated in the same town is important to him. Maybe it's to stressful for him to cope with going for treatment in a place he doesn't know that is more of a commute for him. That could be harder for him to cope with. Could be an insurance or financial issue that keeps him in town. Or maybe he needs the support of his family in town. I don't know, just throwing stuff out there, but my point is that he has to feel good about his treatment and as comfortable as possible with what he has to endure.

    This may sound stupid, but I know if I had gone to NY for my treatment, and not had my dog with me and my friends, I don't think I would have pulled out of what I went through.

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