Anyone had surgery (TORS) with no radiation or chemo after?

@kcaldaba thank you for the info.

Yes, I had TORS on 10/28/24 with a left side neck dissection. The margins came back clear and I did not have RT or chemo. My tumor was on the base of tongue. I had RT and chemo in 2011 when I had a tumor of the piriform sinus and was cancer free (mine was HPV 16 in 2024, I assume it was in 2011 too but they did not check for that back then) until 2024. I did not have any neck nodes involved on my PET scan in 2024 but I did have a couple in 2011 so they were zapped back then (don’t think tors was even available back then). I was surprised I had no neck nodes involved in 2024, which REALLY, surprised me, but I was told this is not unusual because these nodes were zapped in 2011. Dr Van Abel (is this who you had do yours?) said because the nodes were zapped in 2011 they usually shrivel up and don’t really work so this is why the cancer probably did not leave the original tumor. She told,me after she removed the nodes during my dissection in 2024 that the nodes were shriveled up and some were not even there. Since you had envolvement I assume this is why the RT and chemo are scheduled. I will tell you I have a weak left arm from my dissection. It was not really POUNDED into me that this will be a problem usually. I didn’t really do the exercises I was showed because I think they needed to really say this IS going to be a problem in a month or two. Everything works but the muscle aches when I use them and the strength is not there.

As far as my radiation and chemo back in 2011, I can tell you that was a nightmare. I had photon radiation (7 weeks x 5 days) so if you have the proton I would think this would be easier for you. They put a feeding tube in right away, before they started RT, as this was suggested because they said that I might not need it but if I did need it, after I was feeling crappy, to have to put a feeding tube in was just gonna make life more miserable. They suggested I just put the feeding tube in right away if I don’t use it great and then they’ll just take it out at the end. I glad I listened to them because after about three weeks, I started using it as I just couldn’t eat through my mouth. The first couple weeks wasn’t too bad but by the third and fourth week I was pretty much in my pajamas and mostly in bed to be honest with you. Having the tors surgery alone and no chemo and radiation was much much easier than having just the radiation and chemo. From what you wrote I can see why you’re having chemo radiation because this to me would seem like the safest option based on what you said and what happened to you. My only suggestion would be if they suggested to put a feeding tube in before they start, I would definitely do that. I couldn’t imagine after I was feeling so bad after about the third fourth week having to have the surgery to put that feeding tube in too. I wish you God’s speed and you will be in my prayers for a fast recovery
🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

Forgot to mention, knock on wood, I have been cancer free with just the tors and I was back to normal eating in 2011 after about 3-4 months after RT/chemo. I do have a few little eating problems after just the tors in 2024 but I can live with that!