The hope is that the radiation will stop the growth of my tumour. It wont’t, however, remove it. The success rate is roughly equivalent of the success rate of surgery (90%), and there is a greater chance of not loosing function on the left side of my face and keeping whats left of my hearing in my left ear.
They also wont have to drill out the bone behind my ear and remove the bones of my middle ear.
Instead they will make a mask of my face, take another MRI and CT scan, then I’ll go get radiated 5 times a week for 5 weeks. I likely wont even lose my hair, but they made me shave my beard.
That’s the good news (well except for the bit requiring me to shave).
The bad news is that the radiation has a 1% chance of causing cancer in the next 10-15 years; the type of cancer that doesn’t lend itself to a good outcome. And when a radiation oncologist says that you know it is serious.
But it’s only 1%, so it probably wont happen…
Ya that doesn’t bring me very much comfort either.
Scary! Hang in there, bro!
Good luck, I hope it goes well.
Best wishes, Dan. One day at a time.
Good luck Dan. I went through the same thing with my partner and he came out okay.