Unfortunately I am not a candidate for the de-escalation protocol. There are several factors in my disease progression that point towards having the standard course of treatment. I can't go back in time but If I had questioned some decisions made by my ENT and cancer surgeon late last year I could have spared myself additional treatment. Without going into details there were decisions made based upon false and/or unknown information that delayed my surgeries, including my own decision to delay a biopsy 2 weeks. So I'll be proceeding with 5 weeks of radiation and concurrent cisplatin chemotherapy. My disease journey so far involves pain and suffering from treatment, then just enough time to heal before more pain and suffering. This has repeated 3 times so far. If it means no evidence of disease and no recurrence it will be worth it but its at a cost of potentially permanent side effects. I know there are many cancer patients worse off than me and I'll improve my attitude and get back to being positive but I need a moment to absorb this news and adjust my expectations.