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Head and Neck Cancer

Archives for August 2010

tonsils removed
I had both tonsils removed on Thursday, 8/26, along with a righ partial discession. Went home on Friday. Both Friday and Sat were not to bad. I think now the anthestis had not worn completly off. WOW was Sunday and since a difference story. The pain in the throat is bad. The neck is tollerable. The pain med put you asleep…
SPOHNC (anybody here familiar with this org)
I emailed our SPOHNC contact early yesterday morning looking for guidance about how to get my brother seen at a local hospital here since he is indigent & needing medical followup asap. I left her a voicemail too about 9:15 yesterday. No return email, no return call so far. Anyone have any experience or contact with…
PET/CT results for Dad
We got good news yesterday. The oncologist said that the CT scan came back clear and the PET only showed a little activity in the original cancer site on the tongue. He said the number on the PET at the time of diagnosis was a 15 and now the number is 3. and anything over 4 is cancer. He seems to think that is really scar…
Radical left neck disection
Hi everyone, I am new to the CSN and finally decided to join up and ask some questions. I was diagnosed with SCC 4 months ago after seeing a huge knot come up on my neck. I had an unknown primary wih a radical left neck disection. They removed 23 nodes with 3 being positive along with my jugular and left shoulder…
How long do I need to stay on my meds?
Hello everyone, I am new to this and I am 5 weeks out from my last radiation treatment. I had an unknown primary with a radical left neck disection. They removed my jugular and they removed my left shoulder trapezoid along with 23 lymphnods which 3 were positive. My pain is limited but the meds seem to help me cope with my…
Late Side Effects Radiation
I am almost 2 years post-radiation treatments to my sinus's areas and lymphs in neck. I am now having issues with my thyroid and petuitary glands not producing or producing to much of different hormones, which is causing havic with my body. They said it is "late side-effects from radiation". MDAnderson referred me to a…
three for three
4 1/2 weeks out now and things are looking up. 1st: My wife, Kusi, and I went to our fave Italian restaurant on Sunday and I was able to eat some of everything we ordered: the thinnest of thin crust margherita pizza, spaghetti napoletana, mussels arrabbiata (Kusi's choice) and some salad. I had tried some pizza just 2…
NEXT PHASE OF TREATMENT
Hello all, hope things are good with everyone. I met with my Radiation Doc last week and met with my Chemo Doc today. We have the final plan and am ready to do some serious battle with Mr. C. I am having both sides of my neck radiated starting Sept. 8th. 6 weeks M-F. The Chemo portion will be 3 doses of Cisplatin over the…
Surgery Recovery ???
I hate to keep posting all these questions, but I have searched the internet and can't find an answer. I realize I need to talk to the doctor about it, but am trying to save my questions for closer to surgery, so am hoping y'all can help. My husband will be having modified radical neck dissection (one side only), plus they…
pity party
I am feeling guilty, My husband is the one with the Cancer in his throat and here I am complaining and feeling sorry for myself! But I have lost half my family and I am only 50 Will be 51 next week. I lost the baby of the family in 1997 to a car wreck, my sister Karen (Beautiful young lady at age of 29) Lost my mother Mary…
Frustration
I should be two weeks into treatment by now; but due to some issues with lymph fluid (chyle)collecting in my neck and distorting the simulation scans, treatment is delayed. Last week, my ENT put a drain tube into my neck, along with yet another pressure dressing, and modified my diet. Tomorrow he will hopefully remove the…
A Heartfelt Thanks
Hi all: Basketcase checking in here. I've been on my own since Sat. now and it is very hard. I miss Charlie so much! The visitation and service were beautiful and so many people came by and to the funeral. Our church provided a luncheon after the service and it was just great! His brother and I spoke at the funeral service…
Last One!
I am currently sitting in my lovely chemo infusion hospital receiving my last chemotherapy treatment. Good o'l cisplatin is a running through me now and later I get my external pump connected for 5HU. I can't believe I made it this far, it seemed to go buy so fast the last three months. Crazy.. Best wishes to all!
Do you look in the mirror
Hi all. Thanks for the responses to the survey. It is very interesting. I am wondering if any of you ever look in the mirror and say with an element of disbelief. You've had CHEMO and RADIATION. I certainly do. Its almost like it happened to someone else except you have the side effects xxx
Good and Bad days,
We all have the Good and Bad day thing but I was wondering if there was something that helps you to have more of Good days then bad.
Has anyone heard from Clearblue ?
has anyone heard from them. She was questioning treatment for her husband and I was wondering if she found out anything. Last contact said she was out of the country, getting a little concerned. thanks everyone Dave
Trach Removed
I had My trach removed last monday, and was so glad, a few things that have come up, the hole healed in my neck, but now feels tight, i amd stretching my neck to get some relief, which seems to help, I also have noticed , my breathing gets shallow, and I need to mention my Left side of my larynx is paralyzed, we have no…
Hospital Stay - Suggestions?
With my husbands throat and neck surgery looming in the next couple of weeks (no date at the moment), and knowing there is a lot of experience on such stuff here - question for any of you who were hospitalized. Hubby will be in hospital for at least a week. Doc says couple of days in ICU, then 5-7 in regular room. I…
What do we have in common - revised questions
If you would like to help me with a little survey, cause I am curious to what we may have in common that has trigger our diagnosis. If we all look at the answers it may help. The only two questions my doctors asked was did I smoke and did I drink. And I was a smoker and light drinker. So they said that is why I got this.…
The things that have helped me
SCC Right tonsil - lymph node involvement. After my treatment I was in the doldrums, totally, on the outside everyone thought I was doing fine, but, on the inside I was churning constantly about thoughts of my existence. As the old saying goes, time heals, it actually does, I got stronger emotinally everyday. The I went on…
Heard From the Surgeon - Couple of Questions
Heard from doctor today and the great news just keeps on coming.... of course the biopsy was positive for cancer, we found that out yesterday. Today's good news is that he will have to have the "big" surgery. He will have modified neck dissection surgery where they will take out a couple of lymph nodes on one side. He will…
Need some answers from LadyforDarkNight
Hey Deb, I had my Trach out the same day you did, I Have expereinced the follong, neck is very tight, mainly from the hole healing, breathing is shallow, i still breath, but it seems muffled and congested. Any clues what this could be, when I sit i am fine, go to work after a few hours my breathing tires till I sit again,…
Dancing with NED tonight!
My three-month PET-CT was this morning at Stanford. My doctor was able to review the results and discuss them with me late this afternoon. NO UPTAKE! NO AVIDITY! NO EVIDENCE OF DISEASE! The scoping and all the palpations were normal. Got a finger jammed down my throat again today and it seems to be getting easier. I…
Help Anyone?--3rd Time---Running out of Optiions???
Surgerically removed tumor back of mouth, left wrist flap, 30 days rad: Dec 2008; Recurred Oct 2009 flap issues due to previous RAD treatment. Received an additional 30 days rad, 30 HBOT and 6wks Carboplation. Recurred again 7/2010. Very close to carotid artery; can't have any more Rads; doctor says he cut out all that was…
IS IT POSSIBLE I WILL HAVE TO USE THE FEEDING TUBE FOR LIFE?
MY TUMOR WAS INOPERABLE. THEN RAdiation iodine treatment failed. now they are going to try to shrink the tumor which is near my windpipe and aorta with radiation and a low dose of chemo. but my esophagus is shot too and i may need a feeding tube as i have two strictures. did you ever hear of anyone never being able to…
Biopsy Results Back
No surprise - it's positive. We should hear from doc tomorrow I would think on what surgical approach he will take. I'm strangely calm about it, I guess because it is what we expected - doc gave no indications it would be anything else. Bob took it well. He had a regularly scheduled appt with Medical Oncologist (chemo doc)…
Thrush and choking on mucus here!
I feel like I am going to choke on this mucus. Any ideas? I also got diagnosed with Thrush today and they put me on Fluconozole. Can't talk or move my tongue. Very painful.
Scoped again
Doctor scoped me this morning. he said he didn't see anything new. It's been 3 months since the last one. All clear. I am waiting for my Onco to call with the schedule for my six month PET. Waiting on the insurance approval. Still getting the lhermitts and dry throat. Salvia is much better. Eating is good. Maintaining…
RE: What do you crave.
I didn't want to interupt y'alls post so I thought I'd ask it here, how long does it take to be able to eat the way you did before the treatments? I guess this is different for everyone, and I guess only people who are fully recovered can answer me, but I'm curious.
MaryRC
Anyone heard from Mary, I haven't seen anything from her in quite some time that I can remember anyways? JG

Head and Neck Cancer

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