stricture biopsy

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maria uk
maria uk Member Posts: 3
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

Hi

My husband had neck dissection in April this year and finished 6 weeks of radio therapy in June. He has been in and out of hospital with an infection and weight loss. Last time in July he had a nasal gastro tube inserted. He was discharged and felt ok for a few weeks apart from tiring easily and unable to eat much.

Then he found it really difficult to keep any food down, and was vomitting when he tried. His dietician sent him to hopital and they gave him anti sickness drugs and tried to insert NG tube 5 times but it wouldnt go in. They did two scans.

He was sedated after a few days and they insertd a camera and diagnosed a stricture, also inserted NG tube and had biopsy. Since then he has devloped another infection in his neck. His face is swollen, he suffers from constant headaches, pain in his neck and jaw.

He is due to have another biopsy tomorrow behind his tongue before head & neck team transfer his care to the gastro team.

I am so scared now. What are the biopsies for? Did the scans show something? I am thinking more cancer. Dr's said potentially it could be.

Feel like this nightmare will never end and cant bear the fact that my lovely husband is suffering so much and rarely complains.

 

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  • hwt
    hwt Member Posts: 2,328 Member
    #2
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    Maria

    Sorry to hear about your husband's situation. I know how hard the worry can be on loved ones and caregivers. My suggestion has always been to "take it as it comes and deal with it".  Sometimes, I even have to remind myself of my own saying.  It is easy to let the mind wander but sometimes that ends up being needless worry and time lost on things that may never come to be. Get the facts and then you and your husband can make educated decisions.

    Prayers coming your way from the USA.

    Candi 

  • Ladylacy
    Ladylacy Member Posts: 773 Member
    #3
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    Husband

    Until all tests are done and reports in, although very hard to do, try not to worry.  We always say it ain't cancer until they say so.  As far as the stricture your husband has, radiation causes many, many side effects.  When my husband underwent radiation for laryngeal cancer, we didn't find out until he had a laryngectomy, 5 months later, that the radiation had completely closed off the back of his throat.  His throat had to be reconstructed during surgery.  And yes he was able to eat again until  his second round of radiation.  Now he can't swallow much of anything and relies on his PEG tube for his nutrition. 

    Scans can show lots of things but until the biopsy is done, nothing is really known for certain.  Scans have been read wrong and have been shown to be false positive.  I remember one time about 15 years ago, my husband had chest x-rays, CT scan with contrast, and we were told he had cancer in his lungs that was too far gone for treatment.  We were terrified.  Then when sent to a lung specialist he did a bronoscope and came out and told me that he didn't have lung cancer but a severe lung infection.  Then in February 2011 when he was in the hospital for another biopsy and a trach they said his lungs were full of fluid that was showing up on a chest x-ray.  Well they did a bronoscope and the specialist came out and told me his lungs were clear, they didn't have any fluid in them.  Two years later it was a different story but until the needle biopsy was done we held out hope. 

    Wishing you the best -- Sharon

  • debbiejeanne
    debbiejeanne Member Posts: 3,102 Member
    #4
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    maria, saying prayers 4 u and

    maria, saying prayers 4 u and ur hubby.

    God bless.

    dj

  • Hummingbird3
    Hummingbird3 Member Posts: 67
    #5
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    Maria,  I will be praying for

    Maria,  I will be praying for you both tomorrow.  I do hope you can feel some peace as you wake in the mornisleep as others have said, live in the moment of hope, find one little thing to think on that your most grateful and let that have victory over the unknown righT now.  Wishing you sweet dreams dear.  Keep us posted.

    christie

  • jim and i
    jim and i Member Posts: 1,788 Member
    #6
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    MAria, praying for you and

    MAria, praying for you and your husband. I know what you are going through. Jim had a CT of stomach 6 months after treatment because he was having stomach pains. They sent him immediately to the hospital from the Scan site to have surgery because they found a mass and were sure it was cancer in his colon. Thankfully it was not. He had a severe infection in his appendics from cronic constipation. They also thought the cancer has spread to his brain 3 months after treatment and it turned out to be water on the brain. I think the doctors always assume cancer when you have had cancer. I will not tell you to not worry because I know from experience you can't but worry. I will say I am praying for an outcome of not cancer but something that can be treated and eliminated. I also pray your husbands suffering can be eased and that you both feel the arms of God around you.

    Debbie

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