Treatment Update

Saw Dr. H, radiation-oncology/Methodist, today and got the scoop on what he recommends for treatment.

It is more good news/bad news: yes radiation, no chemo for sure; yes to a more general radiation of Matt's right side of his neck (tonsil bed and node area) but no to radiation of the left side. So - hopefully - Matt will be able to keep half his salivary glands. Treatment will begin mid-January, once Matt's throat has finished healing and then should be done early March (7 weeks). He, Dr. H, thinks - while a risk to not treat Matt's left side - that the benefits outweigh doing both sides at this time.

We are thinking we should be happier to hear all this - it's what we hoped for after the Un. of MN consult, but you know...it all still sounds like it's going to be the pits, for Matt. The side effects are going to be very hard on his neck and throat, and man, we just didn't need to hear that right now after last week!

We asked about, and he thought it couldn't hurt, going to Mayo one more time and revisiting Dr. O as well as another radiation-oncology dr. so we will probably do that, to get affirmation/confirmation of the partial radiation approach.

One other thing: Matt will have to go back to the oral surgeon, Dr. Ha, now that we know how the neck is going to be treated. Of greatest concern are Matt's wisdom teeth. They are going to be very close/part of the radiation area so.....We are going to try to NOT project on this one. Matt is going to make an appointment and we'll see what Dr. Ha says. If Matt has to get the wisdom teeth out, we don't know what that will do to the timing of the treatment but we will have to wait and see.

We do have an appointment set with Dr. H for a 'mapping' session when Matt will get his custom-made mask in preparation for the radiation treatments. That date is Jan. 7.

Next week Matt gets a final lung/chest CT and we see the pulmonologist to get the (hopefully) all-clear for his lungs. Dr. H said we would have keep an eye on those pesky spots - but didn't seem to be too worried....And we also see Doogie (Dr. W), late Monday, for a final check on the throat. We plan to talk to him at greater depth about what might help help Matt manage the throat swelling that is likely to accompany the radiation. We just can't take him not being able to sleep again due to blocked airways!

So that's it for now. Matt will be just fine, we know - but getting to the other side of this is going to kind-of suck. Ah well.

Take care all.