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How long after surgery would you no longer offer adjuvant postoperative treatment for head and neck cancer when a patient (with multiple adverse features that needs adjuvant treatment) keeps postponing the start of radiation?

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Mednet Member
Mednet Member
Radiation Oncology · University of Iowa

Ultimately, I feel this depends on why the patient keeps postponing treatment. If there are legitimate medical reasons for delay, I would not have a cutoff for starting adjuvant RT at any time - even several months after surgery - as long as the patient can tolerate curative-intent therapy and I hav...

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Mednet Member
Mednet Member
Radiation Oncology · University of Florida

I agree that there’s not line in the sand. I try to start postop RT within 6 weeks and certainly within 8 weeks. My enthusiasm begins to wane after 8 weeks and by 3 months it’s pretty much gone.

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How long after surgery would you no longer offer adjuvant postoperative treatment for head and neck cancer when a patient (with multiple adverse features that needs adjuvant treatment) keeps postponing the start of radiation? | Mednet