• 10/31/2004
  • Ivanhoe Newswire
  • The Traingle & Fayetteville Headlines

Combining radiation and chemotherapy to kill cancer cells is often very difficult on patients because of the side effects, but new research shows the results may be worth it.

Days like this with her family make it all worthwhile for Ruth Toseland. Three years ago, she was diagnosed with tongue cancer. A portion of her tongue was removed, but the cancer came back. After two more surgeries, she opted for an extreme treatment, radiation combined with chemotherapy.

Oncologist Julie A. Kish, M.D., of Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Fla., was involved in a national study that may change the treatment of choice for patients at high risk for recurrence. “At two years, the recurrence rate was lower in patients that had the combined treatment as opposed to radiation alone,” she said.

But the treatment is very hard on the patient. Researchers say four of the 228 patients in the study died as a result of the combined therapy. Still, Dr. Kish says, for some, the tough approach is worth it. “If you can prolong the time until the cancer comes back, which potentially, at some point in time, it may not come back, which we never say because we can’t predict that, it’s worth going through it.”

Ruth finished her treatment two and half years ago. So far, the cancer has not returned. Her husband, Michael, said, “We’ve got a lot to be thankful for. It was touch and go for a long time.”

Ruth’s case was unusual in the sense that she had no risk factors for head and neck cancer. This type of cancer usually happens to men over age 50 that smoke and/or drink.

Dr. Kish said the longer the patient goes without recurrence, the less likely it is that the cancer will come back. The first two years are the most risky.