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New HPV-16 back of tongue cancer diagnosis and treatment to date
Head & Neck Cancer | Last Active: Aug 12, 2025 | Replies (41)Comment receiving replies
I was treated at Mayo 4 years ago for SCC on the base of my tongue and a couple of lymph nodes. I wasn't a surgical candidate so I had radiation and chemo. At that time they were trying to reduce the radiation received. For me, I received 70 gys over 33 sessions (5 per week) , rather than the same amount over 35 sessions, plus weekly chemo. I would think less radiation over fewer sessions would be very helpful since the radiation seems to be the main cause of side-effects.
Good luck!
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Sorry for my delayed response.
As explained to me, the current science confirms that there is a direct correlation between the number of treatments and amount of gry received and the severity of short and long term side effects.
With each additional treatment, the severity of side effects grows in an exponential way, not a direct correlation.
The side effects and severity of each side effect certainly appear to increase more dramatically as treatments continue to weeks 5, 6, 7. Like a hockey stick graph.
So doctors are trying to cut back on how many weeks of radiation is given and also trying to reduce the amount of radiation given in each treatment.
I hope I am being clear.