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Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) P16+
Head & Neck Cancer | Last Active: Apr 4 8:21pm | Replies (110)Comment receiving replies
6 years ago my periodontist referred me to head and neck surgeon because a very small squamous cell carcinoma was found at the base of a tooth in the right lower jaw. The surgeon felt I was too old at 88 years to have extensive surgery, referred me to an excellent radiation oncologist who felt that radiation was too risky because of the possibility of radiatiion necrosis of the jaw. I then saw two medical oncologists who felt that radiation was not too risky and the best treatment for my age. I then called Mayo Clinic in Phoenix to get an opinion of a medical oncologist and they would only let me see a surgeon who recommended 12 hour surgery to completely remove the lower jaw and have a bone transplant from the scapula-a procedure which would require at least 7 hours of surgery under general anesthesia, more than a week in the hospital, and,possibly, a tracheostomy and a feeding tube. The surgeon was insistent and I refused because, as a physician myself, I felt that if I survived I could probably have dementia from the prolonged anesthesia.
A friend of mine from Sloane-Kettering in New York recommended a radiation oncologist in Phoenix who felt that radiation was the best option, who treated me with a month of radiation and has followed up with a series of petscans of the radiatiion site , and, so far there havbe been no symptoms and no evidence of recurrence of the cancer anywhere and there have been no symptoms whatsoever. At 93 + years I am healthy and enjoying life.
The moral of the story is get multiple opinions and if you are in your eighties realize that surgery can be lethal and cause severe dementia from prolonged anesthesia and cause terrible suffering worse than death.
I have been surprised by the Mayo Clinic surgeon's insistence that extensive surgery under prolonged general anesthesia was the only solution.
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@johnfinaz, wow! What an inspiring story you have. You give good advice about getting more than one opinion. On the same note, I was told my tonsils needed to be removed, although they had atrophied away due to age. That doctor had already performed a Nasal-Endoscopy (NE) and told me I had "arthritis in my neck!" After the ear/throat pain progressed, the doctor resorted to scheduling a tonsillectomy. That inner voice, or "feeling" if you will, said "no way." I call that the voice of our creator. Soon after, a Cat Scan was assigned. Believe it or not, they STILL did not see (?) the obvious tumor in my throat! The Cat Scan reading proclaimed "Eagles Syndrome," which is when the Styloid bones grow into the nerves in the jaw area. Once again, that voice told me "No." Finally, I went to an Indiana University ENT and had a third NE performed. This great ENT saw the tumor in my throat (Pyriform Sinus) right-off-the-bat. So, there were three opinions sought, not two. Instead of asking "Did you get a second opinion" the question should be "Did you get a third opinion?" I finished radiation in 2020, and so far, so good. Still, it required a lot of vocal exercises and swallow studies to regain my voice and eating/swallowing ability. After contracting Covid twice. I now have paralyzed vocal cords. Whether the radiation, covid, or a combination of both caused the paralysis, is anyone's guess. A tracheotomy was done two years ago, which allows excess mucus to be easily discharged. The vocal cords being paralyzed, blocked the mucus from escaping...This caused numerous lung ailments, plus a gross inability to breathe, so the tracheotomy is very welcome. If anyone reading this is undergoing radiation, or will be undergoing radiation, please research red-light therapy. A small wand runs about $20.00 and is proven very helpful with radiated tissue healing/protection. @johnfinaz, you are an inspiration!