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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Are The Chances Of Getting Cured Of Tongue Cancer After Having Chemo?

My sister had tongue surgery about 6-10 years ago on her tongue and another sore recently surfaced which didn't heal and now had to have a part of her tongue removed. It was diagnosed as cancer. She has decided not to do anything else and In her words, "let nature take its course." She has had a lot of problems being sensitive to chemicals, etc. which then make her sick. So now I am sure she is afraid of having chemo. What has been your experience as far as having people going through chemo. and being fully healed from tongue cancer?
Wed, 22 Jan 2014
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Anesthesiologist,  's  Response
Hello,
For the treatment of cancer, many would consider chemotherapy to be the best option.
But for tongue cancer and oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancers outcomes may be improved if surgery was used as the first treatment option.
Most of the patients who had induction chemotherapy have poor response and intolerance to the chemotherapy.
Then they were scheduled for surgery followed by radiation treatment.
We know the immune system is critical in oral cavity cancer, and chemotherapy suppresses the immune system. As she is already debilitated by previous surgery for tongue cancer , She do not do well with chemotherapy.

Thus my advise is to have full removal of the tongue for tongue cancer, followed by extensive reconstruction and radiotherapy.

Hope this helps.
Please write back for further queries.
Wishing you good health.
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What Are The Chances Of Getting Cured Of Tongue Cancer After Having Chemo?

Hello, For the treatment of cancer, many would consider chemotherapy to be the best option. But for tongue cancer and oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancers outcomes may be improved if surgery was used as the first treatment option. Most of the patients who had induction chemotherapy have poor response and intolerance to the chemotherapy. Then they were scheduled for surgery followed by radiation treatment. We know the immune system is critical in oral cavity cancer, and chemotherapy suppresses the immune system. As she is already debilitated by previous surgery for tongue cancer , She do not do well with chemotherapy. Thus my advise is to have full removal of the tongue for tongue cancer, followed by extensive reconstruction and radiotherapy. Hope this helps. Please write back for further queries. Wishing you good health.