Patient's Query
Hi doctor,
I was diagnosed with T2 N2 nasopharynx cancer, a non-keratinizing disease. I had two chemotherapy treatments and then had an MRI scan. There is no tumor in the nasal area. Do I need IMRT radiation?
Kindly help.
Hi,
Welcome to icliniq.com.
Chemotherapy and radiotherapy both need to be given. Later, you have to be on follow-up every two months in the first year and every three months for the second year. MRI can say that the volume has gone, but carcinoma is a mucosa or epithelial disease. Only a PET scan and a negative biopsy can tell you the exact condition of the disease.
I hope this information helps you.
Feel free to ask further queries.
Thank you.
Patient's Query
Thank you doctor,
Do I need to get a PET scan while on treatment?
Hi,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
It is not now, but after you are done with radiotherapy. The criteria for a PET scan are that you should not have had any infection or procedure done in the last three weeks. If so, then the result will be positive, and we will think it is related to cancer.
I hope this information helps you.
Feel free to ask further queries.
Thank you.
Patient's Query
Thank you doctor,
Can I retake the biopsy? If it is negative, then is it certain that there is no cancer cell in my body?
Hi,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
You can take a biopsy and confirm, but the issue is the site where you can take a biopsy. If you know the site of the tumor and if it is the only limited site, then you can take a biopsy. If the biopsy comes back negative, then it is certain that you are free of cancer. Still, it is advisable to stay under follow-up.
Feel free to reach out in case of any further queries.
Thank you.
Patient's Query
Thank you doctor,
Thank you for your valuable answers. Please explain the difference between chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Hi,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
The best example to explain chemotherapy versus radiotherapy is that, if you want to kill a harmful cell in your body, then you can do it in two ways. The first one is to make the cell starve for nutrition, and then it will die after a while. The chemotherapy drugs work on this principle. The second one is to kill the cell with a medicine, and most of the radiation therapy works on this principle.
I hope this information helps you.
Feel free to ask further queries.
Thank you
Patient's Query
Thank you doctor,
Can you please confirm from where I should take a biopsy? Is that from the site where my tumor was found? My MRI showed that there is no tumor, and only lymph nodes were seen after two rounds of chemotherapy. I took a biopsy from that lymph node, and it was negative. So, what do you think, doctor? Do I have to take another biopsy from the site where the tumor was found previously?
Hi,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
Yes, you have to take a biopsy from the same site where there was a tumor before chemotherapy. It is great news that the lymph node biopsy was negative. If a primary site biopsy is also negative, then you are tumor-free.
I hope this helps.
Feel free to reach out in case of any further queries.
Thank you.
Patient's Query
Hi doctor,
If the biopsy comes back negative, then still, do I need to get radiotherapy?
Hi,
Welcome back to icliniq.com.
As I already mentioned, the difference between chemotherapy and radiotherapy, I would still prefer to give radiotherapy.
Feel free to reach out in case of any further queries.
Thank you.
Was this conversation helpful?
Answered byDr. Alok Rathi
Medically reviewed byDr. K. Shobana
Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!
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