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Saliva Glands
Some of the post here are about people having saliva gland problems after radiation, I am starting this thread so we who have been through radiation can all give advice on what we are doing to help our saliva glands to work. Here are some of the tricks I am using: 1. Chewing sugarless gum, 2. Using Sea mineral Boost,…
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Describe your treatment regime, i.e. what stuff, how much, and how often?
Hey, insurance finally said yes, and I get my PET-CT Monday, and tonsils removed, scoping, and many biopsies on Tuesday. I guess that is my scoping and staging phase? All we know so far is that the one 3-cm lymph node taken from the neck was mets SCC, and my MRI showed nothing. Here's hoping for more information! I know…
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New to this Board- A couple of Questions
I was diagnosed with SCC w/unknown Primary in Sept. 09. Had two triple endoscopies with multiple biopsies as well as a tonsillectomy with no primary found. Just the lymph nodes it had spread to. I finished 9 weeks of induction chemo with taxol & carboplatin 3 weeks ago and will begin chemo (cisplatin) w/radiation on…
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Malignant Neoplasm
In 2007 I had a malignant neoplasm removed that was hidden deep inside my face between the eye and nose. I originally thought that a tiny speck on my nose was a repeat of a basal cell carcinoma (and so did my surgeon). I have had the most wonderful surgeon and I'm going to see him next week to resolve a question that I…
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Man, when does the "WANT" come back...
Some of you guys are familiar with my story, but just a brief, Squamous Cell Carcinoma, base of tongue, 36 years old, 3 chemo, 35 radiation. My last radiation was Dec. 17th, 2009. My nausea is finally subsiding, my saliva is still pretty much non existent, it comes and goes, nights are worst, Ive trained my self to sleep…
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TPF Chemotherapy or Hospice - Need HELP/ADVICE!
Hi all, I am new to this Cancer Network and have signed up on behalf of my Dad. He is 65 years old and battling tongue cancer. He has already went through the following treatments and is now faced with what seems like the final crossroad. 1. Surgery to remove tumor on base of tongue in Jun 2009 2. Cancer returned 2 months…
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Calling all NPC Starters & Survivors
Hi everyone I have notices that the NPC survivors are growing here on CSN and thought it good to get a list together so we could all recognize each other and better help others just starting treatment. My NPC Started is Nov 2002, Last treatment was March 2005, I am almost 5 years survivor Take care everyone
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Just Starting the Journey
I am 55 years old and live in the UK. I was diagnosed with tonsil cancer after having my left tonsil removed in December. My treatment plan is 30 sessions of radiotherapy to left side of my neck and throat area. I have now had 8 treatments and already I am finding difficulty eating because of the taste. I know this is…
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HPV
It seems that so many of you did not smoke and mostly all were HPV positive. I am really trying not to live in fear but I want to do everything I can to minimize my chances of getting head/neck cancer. Since my husband was HPV positive, I am at risk. It is now possible to spread via kissing.(so I've read) I do live a…
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ORN
Anyone had experience with treatment plans for ORN (osteoradionecrosis)? My husband was diagnosed with this today after getting is CT results. Wondering if anyone else has had experience with treatment plans, etc. Many thanks
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Diet
Hello everyone, I have come to the time when I can eat things again after the surgery and was wondering about any suggestions for good books on foods that fight cancer. I know that in a short while I will probably not be able or want to eat, but I and my wife need to research this. Any recommendations? Thanks in advance…
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coughing alot after 2yrs after total laryngectomy
went to see my ent dr 3weeks ago everything was ok but i cough alot does anybody that has had this operation have the same problem cant go out to eat because i start to cough hate to go anywhere
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Smoking
Hello everyone, My husband is in his second phase of treatment, the first round we finished in Sept but the PET showed areas in the chest that is now being treated with more chemo. I have read so much on this site about what everyone else has been going through and I want to do everything I can to keep me and my husband…
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So afraid.
I had a lump on the back of my neck and after having a needle biopsy it came out squmous cell carcinoma. I have to have a PET scan this coming Thursday. I have always felt fine and healthy. I have been a vegetariann for 10 yrs and then a vegan. I felt I have had a healthy life style. So I was so shocked when I found the…
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pain meds
Hello again everyone hope you are all having a great day.We go see his new medical oncologist on the 1oth.He is not seeing an ENT anymore because the last 3 said there is no more surgery to be done.But they do have him on this new chemo(erbitux).He started that on jan20 it,s 1 day a week for two weeks then 4 day,s in…
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Pain Med,s
Hello everyone I hope this finds you all well. I have a question if anyone can help.Is there any such thing as to much pain killers.They have my husband on fentanyl patch and he has oxycodone for break thru pain now they just gave him morphine to take also it just seems like to much to me.
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Alcohol
Hi all, just wondering what discussions if any you have had with your Doctors regarding having any kind of alcoholic drinks. I am 4 months post treatment and other than some champagne on New Years have not had even a beer since way back in May of last year. I know to avoid any mouthwash containing alcohol but am not sure…
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Hi everyone!!
I just have to share my good news! I had my first MRI yesterday, and it came back clean!!! I was so nervous, as your mind tends to think from bad to good and back again! lol! My next one is in 3 months. OH! I am reading the Anti-Cancer book. It is difficult for me because we live in such a small town, with only one grocery…
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Wondering what might go wrong next but not giving up hope
Husband 42 years young diagnosis scc HPV stage 4 right side 5 nodes involved. neck dissection may 1 2009 Peg tube placed right after surgery.Chemo and radiation 8 weeks ended july 29th 2009.Had pain meds but did not use until end of radiation and then just to sleep.Some nausea but really through it all did pretty well…
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Pros and cons of neck dissection - where is this thread?
Sorry, I'm still having a bit of trouble navigating the site. Someone referenced this very good thread - in the "Oral Cancer Forum." Where do I find that? And then, there is a "Currently under Treatment" subheading under that? With a thread titled "Pros and Cons of Neck Dissection?" Where do I start? Thanks for any help…
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almost final pathology
Hey everyone, Had a pretty busy and informative week. Saw my OTO today and he said everything looked good healing progressing fine. Also met with my rad onco and really better understand what lies ahead for me. 33 daily treatments @70 grays beginning about the 20th of this month. The onco has already prescribed a mouthwash…
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I DESPARATELY NEED YOUR KNOWLEDGE - PLEASE HELP ME
Group, I just got results from a PET scan and need your help. When the doctor gave me the results he said, "the scan shows activity but maybe its just leftover radiation." I find that hard to believe and feel he is sugar coating the results. My family is thinking maybe it is swelling, tissue, throat irriation. Do you…
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PET-CT "not medically necessary"
I'm wondering if anyone else has had difficulty obtaining permission from their comprehensive Anthem Blue Cross coverage for a PET-CT scan after surgery to remove a 3-cm lymph node from the neck which biopsied to be a metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Is this going to be a trend? Does Blue Cross fear an excessive number…
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Help with "chicken neck" post treatment?
Well at least that is what my husband calls it...He is about 4 months post treatment for stage IV tonsil cancer, he went through surgery, 2 months of chemo, 2 months of radiation. He is slowly getting back to "normal", but he is complaining of this "chicken neck"--hanging, flabby skin under his chin. His surgeon said it is…
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ALT
Hello all I had a non-fasting blood draw yesterday and the results were all normal except for the ALT (live enzyme). It had been high, and a little more than a month ago it was still high (87), but now it is double that. It measures the amount of inflammation and typically is a sign of cirrhosis - not good when heading…
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Strange and Stranger
What makes things taste odd? What makes water taste better?? Any thoughts are most helpful! Stacey
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HPV and cancer care among the dinosaurs
At what point in your diagnosis/treatment process were you informed about the potential significance of the HPV virus to mouth and throat cancers? Never? During follow-up on that first discovery of a metastatic tumor? By your PCP? By your oncologist? Radiologist? Perhaps I'm expecting too much too soon. A 3-cm lymph node…
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Hiatal hernia
Hey everybody, I have heard a lot of people talk about severe acid reflux with treatments. Is this from chemo or radiation or a combination of both. I have been diagnosed about 4 mths. ago with a severe hiatal hernia. I just want to know so I can ask the proper questions to the docs I see this week. As always, thanks to…
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Rad-Chemo vs. Neck Disection
Hi all, before my treatment, my Doc offered the radical neck disection prior to beginning rads and chemo. However, he said that whether I had the disection or not that the result after chemo-rads would be the same. I opted for no surgery on that advice. I know some of you had both. Could you please comment on what…