Base of Tongue with spread to Lymph Nodes in Neck

Hi Marta, I was glad to hear I was getting the iMRT proton treatment as Dani tells me it is the "gold standard" for our type of cancer. I hope you are able to get the iMRT treatment.

All the best!

Dan

Oh yes, that is holden standard”…

I don’t know if i am getting it, but as going to good RMH i would think i will. I can’t remember what my oncologist said so, as it was so much  to take in, so I can’t even remember half if it  

thanks  

Hi Dan. The gold standard is IMRT using X-rays 

IMPT uses protons and is available in the nhs at only two hospitals in the U.K. At the moment only patients in a trial get it. There’s one running called Torpedo 

Hi Dan once treatment starts everything falls into place. Yes please let us know name of trial. I know people  who have bern  on pathos trial and torpedo one. 
Baby steps one day at a time 

Hazel 

Hazel, what this people say about it?  

x

Hi Marta There’s various thoughts , the trials are in early stages and everyine has various issues. There’s no magic bullet for any if us , proton beam is very new and has its own issues with the few that’s been on that trial. It will be years before the papers are analysed and published but it’s good to know head and neck cancers are being trialed l

Hazel x

There’s little doubt that proton has fewer long term side effects. One of the  main ones being secondary cancers caused years down the line by radiation which is why it’s been used first in children for many year in Europe. The U.K. is lagging behind a little. Modern IMRT which is very finely focused minimises collateral damage and most of us recover very well. Protons don’t exit the body after the target ( which X-rays do) so thus damage us reduced. 
Is it better? Yes

Is it much better ? Is there evidence for using it instead of IMRT? 
Thats  what the trials are for. 
It’s expensive and availability is low. 

Thanks guys…yes, will take time to find out, and hopefully in the future will be easier. 

my oncologist is one of involved with proton beans trials, but for me he was strongly opinionated with 30+2

Dan, any news?

tnx x 

Good luck Marta. Let us know how you get on. 

No new news. I'm hoping to start treatment soon but still waiting to hear from the hospital on a firm date. I haven't heard from the immunotherapy specialist either.

Hopefully it will all be sorted out by next week. 

Cheers,