Radiation Oncology

the first station i went in national cancer centre (NCC) was Radiation Oncology. since the cancer has spread from the nose to the lymph node, the doctor assumed it's a stage 2 and planned everything according to a stage 2 treatment before further tests and scans r conducted. stage 2 treatment required me to go on 6.5 wks of daily radio therapy. to go for radio, i'll first need to get my dental clear. so i was referred to national dental centre (NDC). in order to confirm the staging, i need to do a series of test, scans. in order to do radio, i need to make a mask, test the mask. so basically every alternate day i was in hospital.

i got so sick of going to hospital. if there's a hell on earth, it'll be NCC. seeing all the cancer patients made one really depress. am i going to become like this?

finally on 11th of march 2010, all my reports were out. but again, no good news for me. the PET scan shown that the cancerous has grown upwards to the bone. so it is considered a stage 3 rather than stage 2.

the difference between stage 3 and 2 r:

stage 3 5-yr DSS is 86%, stage 2 is 95%

stage 3 requires chemo and radio

stage 3 treatment period is 16wks instead of 6.5 wks

at that point of time, i suddenly thought of a joke. i was just like a boy going for NS. mindef posted me to commando camp. after i went into the camp, i was told that i need to clear the ranger course. and, i dun hv a choice. hahaha... initially it's SIONG, now it's SIONG SIONG SIONG.

after this "shocking" news, they brought out a trial plan which seems to be very attractive, trying to lure me into becoming their guinea pigs.

stage 3 treatment plan is 16 wks, starting with first 7 wks radio daily, chemo every 3 wks. after that break for 2 wks, then chemo every 3 wk, but 4 consecutive time in the wk.

if i participate in the trial, they "GUARANTEED" the effect is as good as if not better than the initial plan. the trial consist of 2 arms, which patient may be randomly selected into one of the 2 arms.

the first arm consist of 8wks. first 7 wks, radio everyday, chemo every wk. wk 8 one more session of chemo.

the second arm consist of 18wks. 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 7th, 8th wk chemo weekly. starting from 11th wk, radio everyday, chemo weekly until week 18.

if signed for the trial, chemo is free. so it sounds like a good deal right? there's a possibility of reducing the 16wks to 8wks. also, i can avoid the dreadful 4 times chemo a wk even if i got the 18wks.

since i'm oredi doing my chemo, needless to say, i got into the second arm. 18wks. so immediately i was being referred to medical oncology. my first session of chemo is scheduled on 17th march, my nightmare began.