After the biopsy Brian's surgeon met with the tumor board to discuss the results and treatment options. Based on two factors they decided that surgery would not be the treatment of choice. 1. Because of the location of the primary tumor. It is a small tumor located at the base of his tongue, but it is right in the middle of where the blood supply and nerves feed the tongue so doing surgery in the area would be risky and they don't want to chance causing paralysis. They can perform robotic surgery in that area now that minimizes risk but they would like to see if they better success without it. 2. When the cancer spread to his lymph nodes it actually burst out of the containment of his lymph nodes and is now in his neck. They said because of this that makes him a candidate for chemo/radiation.
The radiation schedule is 5 days a week for 7 weeks. We are completing our first full week today. Fortunately radiation itself only takes a couple minutes so it isn't too bad. Chemo is set up once every 3 weeks. Those days are looonnngg. After radiation we go up to medical oncology and settle in for a 7 hour treatment session. At least it's not 7 hrs everyday!
It's been a little harder on him than we've expected so soon. He's not nauseous but he has been wiped out and had terrible bouts of heartburn and headaches. He is doing well with staying optimistic though. He knows he has to go through it in order to achieve the desired end result. He has met people at City of Hope that encourage him a lot.
Thank you all for your continued support and prayers.
Thank you all for your continued support and prayers.
