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Meet others living with Head & Neck Cancer: Introduce yourself
Head & Neck Cancer | Last Active: Sep 21 5:27pm | Replies (538)Comment receiving replies
Thanks so much for the info. The surgery was in November, however the radiation was not recommended until January, after the genetic lab tests came back. Rick factor 2 or intermediate. Since then I've had a scan done to look at my lymph nodes (negative). I'm told I will need another in 3 months since I opted out of the radiation. Seem strange to me that all the lab tests come back clean yet I'm still advised for adjunctive radiation. I 'm finally getting a second opinion next week.
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Hello @goldfinch. I have skin origin SCC but from my ear canal. I just had my 96 year old aunt to the dermatologist for a longstanding lesion on her scalp. It was a superficial SCC and Mohs is scheduled. The success rate for Mohs given to us was 97% for curative so that seems pretty good. I am surprised at your recommendation for radiation with only an intermediate risk factor for recurrence. I certainly agree with @hrhwilliam on this as far as radiation and brain damage. I had photon (traditional) radiation 12 years ago and was warned that I would have short term memory loss as a result, but my surgical margins were not clean so I had no choice. Now it is hard to know if my memory loss is age or radiation! In your case you have made an educated decision, which is the best method of advocating for your own health care. A second opinion is a perfect idea. I highly recommend Dr. Katharine Price at the Mayo Clinic Rochester, my head and neck oncologist, if you end up looking for a third opinion. The monitoring is stressful but it is the best way to catch things early. Please share with us your thoughts after the visit next week.