Change of voice before chemo/rad treatment
I've beed reading your discussions for a couple of month now - since my Dad was diagnosed, and now I've decided to join you.
I apologize in advance for spelling and language because I write you from Europe - country Slovenia (former member of Yugoslavia). In Slovenia there are almost no discussion boards regarding head and neck cancers... Maybe the reason is in the fact that we're very small country.
Well... My father (57 yrs old) was diagnosed in 30th May 2012 with Oropharyngeal cancer T2N2bM0. It started in his base of tongue and spread to lymph nodes. One of the lymph nodes is very big - a size of golf ball. He was heavy drinker in his young age but he completely stopped drinking 13 years ago (and he never drank again). He also stopped smoking 5 years ago).
Planned therapy was surgery and radiotherapy at first, but with further examinations doctors told us that surgery is out of option due to inoperable lymph nodes: one lymph node is very, very close to one important cervical artery.
So now he will have radiochemotherapy: radio therapy together with chemo (Cisplatin).
On last CT he was already diagnosd T2N3 which quiet scares me how lymph nodes grow very fast now... It's been almost two month now from dx, and he starts his first therapy on next Wednesday 25th July.
Ok, this was the description of his disease... Now.. Today he woke up with change of his voice. He did not have that until now or maybe just a little. But today my mom called me and told me that his voice is pretty much changed... Does it mean that cancer is spreading/growing so fast??
It calms me down that his first therapy starts in just few days, but anyway.... I'm afraid that he has poor chances due to those lymph nodes. And first it was N2b, and now is N3... And now this change of voice...
Did anyone had something like that before the treatment started?
Thank you all for your answers and I gotta say it was very comforting for me to read all your discussions - I educated myself a lot. I tell everything to my Mom and Dad because they don't use internet and both do not speak English.
Comments
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Welcome and sorry to hear about your Father
Vanessa,
Ok, your on a good site # 1, alot of people with good knowlege. # 2, voice changes in H/N cancers go with the territory. So this is not necssarilary a need for worry. My dx was Adcc of major saliva gland...so different. But others will jump in soon with some answers for you ! Keep asking the questions for your parents, and you sound spot on with your approach to getting answers. # 3, we have alot of long term survivors on here that should give you a better piece of mind for your Fathers dx. Warmest regards, Katie0 -
Welcome Vanessa
Just know that cancer these days have much better cure rates than in years past.
I had some similarities as your father.
I had STGIII SCC Tonsil Cancer HPV+, also with an enlarged lymphnode very colse to the carotoid artery.
They also opted not to surgically remove the tumor for the same reasons you stated...or not initially anyway.
My tonsils were removed, then nine weeks (three week cycles) of cisplatin, taxotere and 5FU...then seven weeks of concurrent weekly carboplatin and 35 daily rads sessions.
The thought on the lymphnode was to see the effects of chemo and radiation first.
Hoping to dissolve it or shrink it so as to be a less invasive removal if needed.
For me that was a good decision, the tumor actually dissolved away, and has been gone since.
My diagnosis was January 2009, and so far all as been clean and clear.
Also, the voice change could just be a result of the tumor in his throat and pressure or irritation to the vocal cords... I'm not a MD, just my guess.
Again, most welcome for you to the forum.
Best,
John0 -
Hi Vanessa
your English is definitely far better than my Serbo-Croatian:). As has been said, the change in voice does not imply involvement of the vocal apparatus, it rather is just part of the scenery. He will get other vocal changes as he goes through treatment. Some of pretty much completely lose our voice for aehile. I was reduced to writing notes for several months, for instance. The rapid change in node size does not mean the cancer is growing rapidly, it probably teflects swelling due to immune responsw to the cancer. Your dad has a good chance of cure through the treatment yiu describe. It is time for all of you to hunker down and anticipate success.
Pat0 -
Hello Katie!katenorwood said:Welcome and sorry to hear about your Father
Vanessa,
Ok, your on a good site # 1, alot of people with good knowlege. # 2, voice changes in H/N cancers go with the territory. So this is not necssarilary a need for worry. My dx was Adcc of major saliva gland...so different. But others will jump in soon with some answers for you ! Keep asking the questions for your parents, and you sound spot on with your approach to getting answers. # 3, we have alot of long term survivors on here that should give you a better piece of mind for your Fathers dx. Warmest regards, Katie
Thank you for your support and positive vibrations. I also wish you all the best!!!0 -
Hello John!Skiffin16 said:Welcome Vanessa
Just know that cancer these days have much better cure rates than in years past.
I had some similarities as your father.
I had STGIII SCC Tonsil Cancer HPV+, also with an enlarged lymphnode very colse to the carotoid artery.
They also opted not to surgically remove the tumor for the same reasons you stated...or not initially anyway.
My tonsils were removed, then nine weeks (three week cycles) of cisplatin, taxotere and 5FU...then seven weeks of concurrent weekly carboplatin and 35 daily rads sessions.
The thought on the lymphnode was to see the effects of chemo and radiation first.
Hoping to dissolve it or shrink it so as to be a less invasive removal if needed.
For me that was a good decision, the tumor actually dissolved away, and has been gone since.
My diagnosis was January 2009, and so far all as been clean and clear.
Also, the voice change could just be a result of the tumor in his throat and pressure or irritation to the vocal cords... I'm not a MD, just my guess.
Again, most welcome for you to the forum.
Best,
John
Thank's to you too for your words. It is so great to see how supportive you all are!! I wish you all the best too!!
My mum just called me before and said that dad's voice is back to normal again. During the day it was changing from normal to different.
But there is another thing that also happened today. He was shaving and noticed enlarged lymph node on the other side of his neck! I didn't see it because I live 70 miles away so we can only talk by the phone. I'm afraid that it might spread to another side of his neck... Till now he had it only on the left side (enlarged and cancerous nodes).
I don't know if his radiation plan includes also the other side of the neck or just the left side(where enlarged lymph nodes were at dx). So this one on the right side gives me worries now.
My mum will try to call the doctor on Monday just to mention this and to ask if it has any difference to his treatment plan now.
Thank you again!0 -
Hi Pat!longtermsurvivor said:Hi Vanessa
your English is definitely far better than my Serbo-Croatian:). As has been said, the change in voice does not imply involvement of the vocal apparatus, it rather is just part of the scenery. He will get other vocal changes as he goes through treatment. Some of pretty much completely lose our voice for aehile. I was reduced to writing notes for several months, for instance. The rapid change in node size does not mean the cancer is growing rapidly, it probably teflects swelling due to immune responsw to the cancer. Your dad has a good chance of cure through the treatment yiu describe. It is time for all of you to hunker down and anticipate success.
Pat
You made me laugh when you mentioned yout Serbo-Croatian
). My language is actually Slovenian but you are not supposed to know that since our countries are so small spots in the world map .
Thanks for your calming words! I actually got scared that the cancer grows fast because it's been two months now from dx to his first treatment which will take place on Wednesday. As I mentioned above he also felt another enlarged lymph node today - but this time on the other side of the neck. Till now his other side was clear - no sign of cancer.
Now it scares me that it has spread...
As I was reading on the internet, N3 desease has much worse outcome. And due to the fact that it takes such a long time from dx to tx, cancers can spread easily
.
He is also HPV negative which is a bit worse.
But he is strong, has quiet some weight on... Likes to work and is pretty much strong person; mentally and physically. So I hope he's gona overcome this.
I wish you all the best Pat and thank you for all the help!0 -
Both Sides...
I only had the affected tonsil and node on the same side, but they still radiated both sides..just not quite as much on the non-affected side.
More than likely if he does have another node on the other side, that could cause a STGIV Dx as that is one of the factors in staging.
Others on here and were Dx as STGIV so don't get wrapped around staging...everyone responds and recovers differently.
Same with the HPV Dx, HPV is noted to respond well to treatment, but many on here weren't Dx as HPV+ and have recovered fine..
Actually as far as I know, there is no difference in treatment...
Hang in there and see what the MD's have to say.
Best,
John0 -
WelcomeSkiffin16 said:Both Sides...
I only had the affected tonsil and node on the same side, but they still radiated both sides..just not quite as much on the non-affected side.
More than likely if he does have another node on the other side, that could cause a STGIV Dx as that is one of the factors in staging.
Others on here and were Dx as STGIV so don't get wrapped around staging...everyone responds and recovers differently.
Same with the HPV Dx, HPV is noted to respond well to treatment, but many on here weren't Dx as HPV+ and have recovered fine..
Actually as far as I know, there is no difference in treatment...
Hang in there and see what the MD's have to say.
Best,
John
as the others have said. Without this website I will tell you I would not have gotten thru to the point I am. These are great folks. I was dx with Base of Tongue multiple lypmh nodes back in March. My voice changed slowly and I to posted a concern. Then it seemed to be ok but yes it will change, just the nature of the location and treatment. So far I can still speak its just more muffled. So tell your dad we will be here for him. I still a newbie in the sense Im just half way thru treatment but again these folks have led me by the hand all they way. God Bless0 -
Thanx dittoditto1 said:Welcome
as the others have said. Without this website I will tell you I would not have gotten thru to the point I am. These are great folks. I was dx with Base of Tongue multiple lypmh nodes back in March. My voice changed slowly and I to posted a concern. Then it seemed to be ok but yes it will change, just the nature of the location and treatment. So far I can still speak its just more muffled. So tell your dad we will be here for him. I still a newbie in the sense Im just half way thru treatment but again these folks have led me by the hand all they way. God Bless
for all comforting words. Right now my worries are on the fact that this another lymph node got swollen on the other side. I hope that doctors DO have some experience with people who possibly get progress in their desease during the waiting period (before the treatment actually begins).
Has anyone waited so long for treatment to start? Two months?? Well those two months were not just waiting, but firstly they thought he's gonna be operated, then another cancer board where they decided for only rad/chemo, then CT scan,... Almost every week he had something, but treatment will start now for real.
Ditto, I wish you all the best! Let your treatment finish fast and cancer never show up again. My prayers are with you and all those wonderful people here!!
Thanx to everyone. I sure will be the member of such wonderful group. You're all in my prayers!!0 -
Hi VanessaVanessaSLO said:Thanx ditto
for all comforting words. Right now my worries are on the fact that this another lymph node got swollen on the other side. I hope that doctors DO have some experience with people who possibly get progress in their desease during the waiting period (before the treatment actually begins).
Has anyone waited so long for treatment to start? Two months?? Well those two months were not just waiting, but firstly they thought he's gonna be operated, then another cancer board where they decided for only rad/chemo, then CT scan,... Almost every week he had something, but treatment will start now for real.
Ditto, I wish you all the best! Let your treatment finish fast and cancer never show up again. My prayers are with you and all those wonderful people here!!
Thanx to everyone. I sure will be the member of such wonderful group. You're all in my prayers!!
Glad you found our Party Hot-Line,
There's a bunch of useless info on here from everyone....lol
Just joking, this board is full of knowledgable and helpfull
people , who are not just people they beome a part of your
family and suport you through your or a loved ones ordeal.
I'm origionaly from England but live in the USA, I had tonsil
cancer high stage II and only had Rads as treatment (No chemo
or Surgery) so everyones treatment is different.
I do ( did ) quite a bit of work on the cruise ships (Carnival )
and I met quite a few people from Slovenia who work on the
ships.
Anyway best wishes to your dad, with Gods grace he will be ok.
God bless
Tonsil dad,
Dan.0 -
Hey Dan!Tonsil Dad said:Hi Vanessa
Glad you found our Party Hot-Line,
There's a bunch of useless info on here from everyone....lol
Just joking, this board is full of knowledgable and helpfull
people , who are not just people they beome a part of your
family and suport you through your or a loved ones ordeal.
I'm origionaly from England but live in the USA, I had tonsil
cancer high stage II and only had Rads as treatment (No chemo
or Surgery) so everyones treatment is different.
I do ( did ) quite a bit of work on the cruise ships (Carnival )
and I met quite a few people from Slovenia who work on the
ships.
Anyway best wishes to your dad, with Gods grace he will be ok.
God bless
Tonsil dad,
Dan.
Thanx for your support! Wow, interesting that you actually met somebody from Slovenia.
I hope you stay healthy for loooong long time in the future!
Yes, this club nobody wants to join, but it's great to know that there are people who go thru the same ordeal and their words, support and advice are just life saving (literally). I wish we had something like that in my country, but it's good to know that people pray for you even accross Atlantic .
Btw: Few years ago (before I gave birth to my, now 3-year old daughter) I visited London and later also New York with my husband. 0 -
Two Months...VanessaSLO said:Thanx ditto
for all comforting words. Right now my worries are on the fact that this another lymph node got swollen on the other side. I hope that doctors DO have some experience with people who possibly get progress in their desease during the waiting period (before the treatment actually begins).
Has anyone waited so long for treatment to start? Two months?? Well those two months were not just waiting, but firstly they thought he's gonna be operated, then another cancer board where they decided for only rad/chemo, then CT scan,... Almost every week he had something, but treatment will start now for real.
Ditto, I wish you all the best! Let your treatment finish fast and cancer never show up again. My prayers are with you and all those wonderful people here!!
Thanx to everyone. I sure will be the member of such wonderful group. You're all in my prayers!!
I was somewhere in that neighborhood...
Dx Jan2, 2009...tonsils out on the 5th...
But between getting the port put in, a bout with diverticulitis and various other things, I dodn't start chemo until sometime late February.
JG0 -
Welcome Vanessa....
Everybody has answered many of your questions....you're right! This is a wonderful forum.
I was dianosed with Nasopharengel Carcinoma in the first of March, and didn't start treatments till the 24 of April...I too "found" another lymph node...but when I mentioned it to the Radiation Dr., he said not to worry...both sides of my neck were going to get zapped....so don't worry about that.
It sounds like your dad is getting pretty much the same treatment I got...no surgury, with rads and chemo to start....then later down the road if the nodes are still showing signs then surgery to remove them.
p0 -
Thank you Phranniephrannie51 said:Welcome Vanessa....
Everybody has answered many of your questions....you're right! This is a wonderful forum.
I was dianosed with Nasopharengel Carcinoma in the first of March, and didn't start treatments till the 24 of April...I too "found" another lymph node...but when I mentioned it to the Radiation Dr., he said not to worry...both sides of my neck were going to get zapped....so don't worry about that.
It sounds like your dad is getting pretty much the same treatment I got...no surgury, with rads and chemo to start....then later down the road if the nodes are still showing signs then surgery to remove them.
p
It's comforting to hear that your treatment is so similar to my dad's. And also that you found another lymph node before treatment. Well I hope my dad is gonna get both sides radiated too.
Phrannie, I wish you all the best! Thanx again!0 -
Hi Vanessa ...VanessaSLO said:Thank you Phrannie
It's comforting to hear that your treatment is so similar to my dad's. And also that you found another lymph node before treatment. Well I hope my dad is gonna get both sides radiated too.
Phrannie, I wish you all the best! Thanx again!
I too had No surgery ...only radiation and Eribtux (I did not have the platinum chemo drugs) ...I was stage III base of tongue with one lymph node....
I was diagnosed on October 21st, had biopsy on November 11th and started radiatio November 21st 2011 ..finished my last radiation January 20th 2012...
You can see a picture of my neck from radiation on my expressions tab ...
My first post treatment scan was good and I have had several scopes / finger exams since then and the ENT and Oncologist continue to tell me all looks good.
Your dad sounds tough and he obviously has a great caretaker team (you and the docs) on his side!
Keep us posted!!
Best,
Tim0 -
Great family you have...Tim6003 said:Hi Vanessa ...
I too had No surgery ...only radiation and Eribtux (I did not have the platinum chemo drugs) ...I was stage III base of tongue with one lymph node....
I was diagnosed on October 21st, had biopsy on November 11th and started radiatio November 21st 2011 ..finished my last radiation January 20th 2012...
You can see a picture of my neck from radiation on my expressions tab ...
My first post treatment scan was good and I have had several scopes / finger exams since then and the ENT and Oncologist continue to tell me all looks good.
Your dad sounds tough and he obviously has a great caretaker team (you and the docs) on his side!
Keep us posted!!
Best,
Tim
... as I can see it in your profile picture. Wow, you're really blessed. It must be great to have them around you. I always missed to have a big family since I was the only child to my mom and dad. Now I have a 3 year old daughter and there is no bigger blessing in life than children.
Thanx for your support. And yes, I saw your radiation burns in that picture... It looked really painful. But the most important thing is that you stay healty. It's a horrible price to pay for health but... there is no easier way to beat this cancer.
I'll keep you all posted! I guess now the time is coming when I will need you all the most.
Vanessa0 -
Nodes/timelineVanessaSLO said:Great family you have...
... as I can see it in your profile picture. Wow, you're really blessed. It must be great to have them around you. I always missed to have a big family since I was the only child to my mom and dad. Now I have a 3 year old daughter and there is no bigger blessing in life than children.
Thanx for your support. And yes, I saw your radiation burns in that picture... It looked really painful. But the most important thing is that you stay healty. It's a horrible price to pay for health but... there is no easier way to beat this cancer.
I'll keep you all posted! I guess now the time is coming when I will need you all the most.
Vanessa
My rads/chemo were delayed about 9 weeks as they harvested a bone tissue from my leg to reconstruct my jaw and wanted the leg wound to begin healing before starting chemo. Also, just prior to surgery my ENT said a couple of nodes on opposite site of neck uplighted on PET scan. I went for sonogram and 4 doctors could not find them. They came to the conclusion that they were just inflammed at time of PET and not necessarily cancer. I did get rads on both sides as a precaution.0 -
Airway?VanessaSLO said:Great family you have...
... as I can see it in your profile picture. Wow, you're really blessed. It must be great to have them around you. I always missed to have a big family since I was the only child to my mom and dad. Now I have a 3 year old daughter and there is no bigger blessing in life than children.
Thanx for your support. And yes, I saw your radiation burns in that picture... It looked really painful. But the most important thing is that you stay healty. It's a horrible price to pay for health but... there is no easier way to beat this cancer.
I'll keep you all posted! I guess now the time is coming when I will need you all the most.
Vanessa
I originally received radiation only for vocal cord cancer. A year later it came back. Although I was getting quarterly scans and biopsies, I had symptoms before any of the tests were positive.
My airway became compromised. I noticed that I rather suddenly could not walk at a normal speed or climb a flight of stairs.
When I went to the ENTdoc, she performed an "urgent" tracheotomy within a couple of days. At that time the tumor tissue was again biopsied and it was cancer.
The tracheotomy (temporary airway) was changed into a laryngectomy (permanent removal of vocal cords and establishing a new airway through the neck) in a second operation about a month later. Muscle from my shoulder was used to reconstruct the tube from mouth to stomach. The operation took seven hours; but I was asleep.
Why am I posting this? Although I had a very rare complication, the compromising of the airway is one of the worst things that can happen. So you should ask your father whether he can breathe. Actually ask him to take several deep and rapid breaths. And notice if his activity level suddenly changes.
On a positive note: I survived! I'm learning to speak again by swallowing air and burping, called esophageal speech. And I am happy most of the time. I am posting so that you and others can be watchful of potential complications. If you notice something, say something (to your healthcare team).0 -
A little like your dad
Hello, Vanessa. I agree with the others - you write English better than some people I know who are American.
I was diagnosed at Stage IV base of tongue cancer with two lymph nodes affected - one very large - one not very large, but still enlarged. I also was hoping for my treatment to start with surgery to remove my tumors - after doctors took a "look" at what was going on (tonsillectomy, CAT and PET scans), they told me that the surgery would not be an option - I was very disappointed.
I went through my treatment program, and four months later, my doctors said all the cancer seemed to be gone except for the smallest tumor. Nine months after that, I had surgery to remove all my lymph nodes on one side of my neck. Four months after that, I got my first report of "no sign of cancer"!
I, too, have had (and still have) voice changes. My voice sounds normal now to my famlly almost all of the time. My doctor told me that in my case the changes were caused by swelling in my throat.
For what it's worth - I started treatment two months after I found the knot on my neck.
I'm glad to see that your dad is a tough man who has some extra weight. I also started out with plenty of weight on me - I think it helped me. Also glad he has you on his side.0 -
Wow, it's great to hear you all with your experience!Pam M said:A little like your dad
Hello, Vanessa. I agree with the others - you write English better than some people I know who are American.
I was diagnosed at Stage IV base of tongue cancer with two lymph nodes affected - one very large - one not very large, but still enlarged. I also was hoping for my treatment to start with surgery to remove my tumors - after doctors took a "look" at what was going on (tonsillectomy, CAT and PET scans), they told me that the surgery would not be an option - I was very disappointed.
I went through my treatment program, and four months later, my doctors said all the cancer seemed to be gone except for the smallest tumor. Nine months after that, I had surgery to remove all my lymph nodes on one side of my neck. Four months after that, I got my first report of "no sign of cancer"!
I, too, have had (and still have) voice changes. My voice sounds normal now to my famlly almost all of the time. My doctor told me that in my case the changes were caused by swelling in my throat.
For what it's worth - I started treatment two months after I found the knot on my neck.
I'm glad to see that your dad is a tough man who has some extra weight. I also started out with plenty of weight on me - I think it helped me. Also glad he has you on his side.
Yes, truly does help me and my family to cope with this much easier.
He can normally breathe. His cancer is not actually that big and doctors are not so much worried about the cancer itself. More worries they have on those lymph nodes.
As it was written on dad's report from radiology doctor it says there the one "package" of lymph nodes is 8 cm big. I don't know if it means that all lymph nodes in that "package" measure together 8 cm or... I don't know. It worries me because he is T2N3 and that N3 is quiet frightening. At first he was N2b but when he went to CT simulator where they checked him up again and made preparations for the mask etc., they staged him as N3.
Even though he is a strong man and I know he can go thru this it scares me that the cancer will be stronger... Due to that scary N3.
Thank you, Pam, for your words, they really calmed me down! Thank you, really! Because your story is a lot like my father's. You really encouraged me!
Tomorrow he's going to the radiologyst again and also his blood will be taken out. On Wednesday he starts with the "journey".0
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