Hi everyone,
I don't really know why I'm writing this now, but after nearly 2 years clear, I’ve finally got a bit curious about the details. I'm currently NED (No Evidence of Disease), which is amazing, but the treatment back then was a proper slog.
I had 35 sessions of radiotherapy and was supposed to have 3 lots of Cisplatin chemo. I only managed the first chemo properly—the second had to be swapped for a different one because of tinnitus, and the third was cancelled completely because I ended up in hospital poorly. The main focus was just getting me through the radiotherapy.
At the time, I did exactly what I was told and stayed well away from Dr Google. I just put my head down and got on with it, but I think my brain only took in certain bits of information!
I recently dug out my old clinic letters and I was honestly shocked. I definitely remember the doctors explaining it all at the time, but I must have completely blanked it out to cope.
I was surprised to see that my biopsy showed two different types of cancer at the base of my tongue—one was HPV positive and one was negative. I had completely erased that from my memory! I also didn't realise radiotherapy came in different strengths.
It doesn't change anything now since I'm nearly 2 years clear, but now the dust has settled, I'm just a bit nosey about the technical side of it. I wondered if anyone here could translate the medical jargon for me?
What does 70gy actually mean? The letter says I had 70gy over 35 sessions. Is that a really high dose?
What stage was it? The letter says T2 N1/2b M0 right base of tongue SCC. Does anyone know what stage that actually translates to, especially with having both the positive and negative types?
I never asked about staging or questioned anything at the time, I just trusted the doctors. I do wish I'd found this group back then instead of finding it now during my recovery!
My treatment is listed below.
Sending love to anyone still in the thick of it or trying to get used to their "new normal.
Proposed treatment:
Many thanks for referring Michaela to the clinic. Today, she was accompanied by her son and her friend. I went through the diagnosis with her. She has already seen my colleague, Miss Dawson who explained the surgical option for treatment to her.
I have re-explained that she has a choice of treatment and both offers the same cure rate. She does know that treatment is curative in nature.
I have explained that if she goes down the route of surgery, then about 6 to 8 weeks after, she will start adjuvant treatment, which would be likely radiotherapy or radiotherapy plus chemotherapy, depending on the histology results from the surgery.
e alternative would be primary treatment with chemoradiotherapy over seven weeks. This will be
70 Gy in 35 fractions with Cisplatin 2-3 cycles. Side effect and practicalities have been explained to her and this has been listed below:
What does 70gy actually mean? The letter says I had 70gy over 35 sessions. Is that a really high dose?
70 is the amount of radiation
I had 66 over six weeks and you had 70 over seven weeks. Is it a high dose? For HNC no. It's a therapeutic dose.
Does anyone know what stage that actually translates to
Does anyone know what stage that actually translates to, especially with having both the positive
Stage 2
negative
Stage 3
But ! wouldn't pay any attention to that. Your treatment was curative so stick with that
Dani
Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019
I tred to post but I think I put too many quotes in it and it failed
70 Gy is the total amount of radiation. It's divided into daily fractions. I had 66 over six weeks. You had 70 over seven weeks. It's not a high dose for HNC, it's a curative one.
As for staging
Your Staging is 2 for the positive cancer and 3 for the negative but I would ignore that. Treatment is curative and that's all that matters
Dani
Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019
