Last November, Cindy noticed a swelling on the left side of her neck
and was referred to the head and neck center at the Baltimore Medical Center
and was examined in December. Cancer in
the lymph node was tentatively diagnosed; a CAT scan, PET scan and other tests
confirmed it.
A surgeon operated on
January 23rd removing the swollen lymph node from the neck and four spots under
the left side of the chin which showed on the PET scan. Samples taken from the tongue and throat
were, thankfully, negative but the resulting soreness made for slow
eating. The surgeon subsequently
recommended radiation treatment; she also recommended chemotherapy if Cindy
could stand it. The chemotherapy would
have a 6 to 8 percent benefit beyond the radiation. She referred Cindy to Arlington & Reston
Radiation Oncology.
We saw the radiologist
on Friday, February 15th. Cindy is
scheduled for 30 radiation sessions over six weeks starting March 18th. Still a question on chemo, which is done
simultaneously with radiation to add 6 to 12 percent benefit to the areas
addressed by the radiation. When we
asked about chemo, the radiologist demurred on a direct answer but said he
wouldn't recommend chemo for his mother under the same circumstances; we'll
await an appointment with an oncologist for more insight. (The chemo would be done by a different
doctor/practice.) The potential
side-effects from radiation alone are daunting (including a stomach tube if the
patient can't get enough food down).
Going to see if we can fatten Cindy up a bit in the next couple of
weeks.
Cindy saw the
oncologist on March 1st. He
explained the diagnosis and recommended either chemotherapy or an alternative
immunological drug. The latter isn’t
chemo per se, but side effects are similar if not as severe.
We’re impressed with
the collection of specialties involved in this.
On the 4th, Cindy sees the “oncology social worker” and next
week the speech and swallowing practitioner.