Treatment Plan

Once the mapping is completed, Sam will receive radiation treatments Monday through Friday for seven weeks. Additionally, he will receive 3 rounds of chemo therapy and he will be scheduled shortly for a feeding tube to be inserted because he will have difficulty swallowing or eating.


When I asked the radiologist about Sam’s prognosis he said that because of the lymph node involvement on both sides of his neck this is a very difficult treatment and said that Sam’s chances are 50/50. I prefer to think they are at least 51/49 since we have God on our team.


The next day, July 9th, we are back at the Cancer Center so Sam can be fitted with a “radiation mask” and he is taken for another CT scan – only this time with the mask on. The mask was made from a mold of Sam's face and neck using moldable plastic mesh and the technicians use a software program and the CT Scan they took of Sam wearing the mask. The mask (which he will wear for every radiation treatment) will prevent him from moving so they can be exact as to where to aim the radiation.