Chemo with no rads?

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Elisec
Elisec Member Posts: 11
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

Has anyone here done surgery and chemo with no rads for stage 3 squamouss cell?

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  • Chicklette
    Chicklette Member Posts: 225
    edited June 2017 #2
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    I doubt it ...

    The radiation is the curative ... the chemo just makes the radiation more effective. (At least this is what we were told)

  • SuzJ
    SuzJ Member Posts: 427 Member
    #3
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    same, rads are key

    same, rads are key

  • soonermom
    soonermom Member Posts: 155
    edited June 2017 #4
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    Radiation

    I would ask for an explanation about why you are not having radiaiton.  Trust me, it is not pleasant but I see a lot of reference to it being critical for cure in many cases.  Having said that, this is a complex cancer and patients have many different factors that can impact the treatment plan.  We are questioners and our medical team was never offended by our questions.  If you don't get answers that satisfy you, then think long and hard about what to do.  

  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,722 Member
    #5
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    more than one way to treat cancer

    Elisec,

    Yes,  there are H&N members treated with surgery only (no rads, no chemo) and there are those treated with surgery and chemo (no rads), but I wasn’t one of them.

    Surgery only is more common for certain types of H&N cancer as is rads and chemo but no surgery for others. 

    The doctors will usually give a good reason for the treatment plan they have chosen.  Is this something the doctor recommends or is this something the patient wants?

    There are those who choose a  natural path without having to deal with the standard treatment plan.  Most of us select from the doctor recommended treatment options.  You may do whatever you want.

    Best of luck.

    Matt

  • Elisec
    Elisec Member Posts: 11
    #6
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    Patient wishes

    My husband had surgery and the docs are reccomendong chemo and rads but he is refusing rads. His docs won't give him chemo without the rads so I am looking into other options and other docs. He's 70 and just doesn't want the quality of life rads has to offer.

  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,722 Member
    #7
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    Elisec said:

    Patient wishes

    My husband had surgery and the docs are reccomendong chemo and rads but he is refusing rads. His docs won't give him chemo without the rads so I am looking into other options and other docs. He's 70 and just doesn't want the quality of life rads has to offer.

    do not borrow trouble, try to be sure

    E,

    I am 60 years old, 5 years post, 35 rads along with Erbitux and surgery for stage IVa, SCC, BOT, 1 lymph node, HPV+ and I am working outside today getting prepared for some concrete work and it is a nice day with good feelings far out shinning my problems from rads (dry mouth, discombobulated taste, etc).

    Maybe when I am 70, I will feel different.

    Matt

  • donfoo
    donfoo Member Posts: 1,771 Member
    #8
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    Elisec said:

    Patient wishes

    My husband had surgery and the docs are reccomendong chemo and rads but he is refusing rads. His docs won't give him chemo without the rads so I am looking into other options and other docs. He's 70 and just doesn't want the quality of life rads has to offer.

    so many unknowns but...

    It is critically vital your husband give serious consideration to the recommendations of the doctors. Please seek out a second opinion before making a decision contradicting the professionals. MANY of us here received radiation and I suspect most all would say they are better off today even with side effects than not having the treatment. I can tell you chemo isn't a free either and does not kill visible and detectable cancers. It does kill microscopic cancer cells that have strayed away. It does help make radiation somewhat more effective.

  • johnsonbl
    johnsonbl Member Posts: 266 Member
    edited June 2017 #9
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    Elisec said:

    Patient wishes

    My husband had surgery and the docs are reccomendong chemo and rads but he is refusing rads. His docs won't give him chemo without the rads so I am looking into other options and other docs. He's 70 and just doesn't want the quality of life rads has to offer.

    Hi Elise,

    Chemo doesn't do anything without the radiation.  I don't think you'll find an oncologist who would give chemo only.  It's all scary for sure...I was terrified of having to have chemo but was lucky I only ended up with surgery/radiation.  One could argue that the QOL after trying an ineffective treatment would be worse than the significant, yet manageable side effects of a really good treatment that could cure you...  But when we're scared we aren't very rational are we?

    Maybe hearing it from more and more docs will convince him.  Good luck...

  • donfoo
    donfoo Member Posts: 1,771 Member
    #10
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    hum...

    Some treatment plans include surgery followed by chemo. In these cases chemo is there to kill any small stray cancer that might be outside the primary, even though margins are clear.

  • Bob Watt
    Bob Watt Member Posts: 60 Member
    #11
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    I was given the option

    of rads and no chemo because of my kidney disease. However I was convinced the the lower dosage of chemo would greatly affect my chances of the rads being effective. I'm glad I took the chemo route, and to my understanding chemo and radiation go hand in hand. But having said that, in my town we have a chemo facility in our local hospital, and to have radiation we have to travel to another city. So I guess there are circumstances where chemo is all a patient needs.

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