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Head and Neck Cancer

Archives for December 2010

Is the chemopherapy drug 5FU too toxic?
My wife Connie is in a clinical trial. She is doing induction chemtherapy. She has cancer at the base of her tongue that spread to the lymph nodes in her neck. Her chemo regiment is 3 week treatments 3 times. The 1st day she does Cetuximab, Cisplatin and Doxetacel, then she takes home a pump with 5FU which pumps continuous…
Finished treatments!
Two weeks ago I finally finished my 35 radiation treatments to my sinuses and cervical lymph nodes and 2 rounds of 8 day chemo treatments. Now I am home and trying to find my new normal. There is a lot going on emotionally - I spent a several days in tears. My biggest challenge is recovering from sinus surgery and the…
SPOT ON LUNG
Hello all. What luck I have. I just posted yesterday about my clean Neck CT. My ENT called back late in the day to tell me the Radiologist noted a small spot on my Right Upper Lobe. Apparently the upper portion of your lung shows up on a Neck CT. My ENT said the spot did not look cancerous. He thinks Scar Tissue from the…
Anyone have robotic surgery on tongue?
I got news yesterday that the surgery for the tongue primary tumor removal is set for the 22nd. My doc will be using the recently FDA approved robotic method - I think it's called the da Vinci machine and the overall surgery is TORS - Trans Oral Robotic Surgery. Has anyone had experience or know anyone who's had this…
Clean
Hey All, Everything is clean and I get my port out in early January. Does it get any better? No more cancer paraphernalia. Steve
First chemo today
Whew!! What a long day! In an effort to get treatment started as soon as possible, my husband went to a different hospital where his onco practices to get the first treatment in. It is 55 miles from where we live. The drive this morning (during rush hour) turned out to be rather pleasant. We made it in about 1 hour 20 min.…
update g tube is out - "what a long, strange trip it's been"
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee Dr Feng said "well, you ready?" and in an instant my buddy, the narrow tube that's kept me hydrated and fed for 8 months, vanished. I kept the tube and will attach it to my other buddy, Mr Rad Mask. I'm thinking feathers and…
sciatica?? do what now???
He had been having pain in his left leg from hip to toe that had been getting progressively worse since Sunday. For hubby to ask for meds means its baaaaaad. He took Tylenol 3 with little relief. So off the to ER we went. His diagnosis: sciatica. Ok, do what now?? After I did research, I found that sciatica is a secondary…
CLEAN CT SCAN OF NECK AND THROAT SCOPE
Not quite a happy dance yet, that will not take place until Feb. 24th when I get my first PET Scan. My ENT Doc. was thrilled with the CT Scan of my neck this morning. He said there is absolutely nothing on the scan to be concerned with. He also scoped me and everything looks great. He did say I am still very swollen in the…
Tongue SCC questions
I had a biopsy last July ('09) in the area of a painful sore that my surgeon called a chronic ulcer. The biopsy came back as papilloma vulgaris. He said vascular activity as a result of the surgical trauma at the site of the biopsy might cause the sore to heal. I waited and the pain/sore eventually came back but eventually…
I don't know what to do...
My boyfriend was diagnosed nearly a year ago with laryngeal cancer. I met him in the summer, and only found out about him being sick in October. He simply didn't do much about it since his initial diagnosis. He had one biopsy done but he doesn't have health insurance because he's self-employed (however, the cost of…
Who out there understands SUV (Standardized Uptake Value)?
I met with my ENT/Surgeon today to discuss my 3 month PET-CT Scan and he is concerned with the SUV level on the scan which was 2.7 (the higher the number the more likely that the area of activity is cancer). Anyone out there understand the SUV? I have three options at this point: 1. Wait and repeat the PET-CT Scan. ENT…
Just started treatment
My husband had his first chemo yesterday and 2 days of radiation. This is all so new to me. He lost his appetite immediately, and is so tired he slept hours this afternoon and went to bed early. This is only day 2, and I just wasn't expecting him to go down so fast. Is this what others have experienced? Do I need to be…
esophagus dialation (throat stretching)
Hi everyone, I am almost 4 months post treatment and still losing weight. Most solid food is rough to get down, I rely on liquid by mouth and small quantities of soft food for nourishment.I dropped from 180# down to 138# and can't seem to gain any. My ENT suggested throat stretching,has anyone had any experience with this…
First Day of Treatment
Thanks to all of you for so much information. Today is Dad's first day of radiation and chemo. Tomorrow is the surgery for the feeding tube. I guess we are in full swing now with treatment. I am a little overwhelmed as is Dad....some of it is a surreal feeling. I told him today is the first day in the battle to get better.…
In the NED club
Met with my radiation oncologist this morning, one week after post-radiation PET scan. NED! Now I can relax and let the healing progress at its own (slow) pace.
Integrative Medicine -
Hi there Im prompted by the "nausia and ginger post" : " my doctors and nurses and they advised me to stay away from herbal and vitamin supplements as they may interfere with treatment drugs, etc.." Does anyone know of a hospital where the integrative medicine unit/center(complementary medicine) is ACTUALLY integrated with…
Fast Food Medicine
I’m going to see my new medical oncologist in January. My original doc’s treatment center didn’t have their contract renewed with my group insurance provider. I’ll miss my old doc because he listened to what I said, didn’t seem in a hurry to get to his next patient, and wasn’t professionally defensive. A year from…
Nasal Congestion
So i have been using the NED nasal cleaning solution, which helps. Does any one know how long the congestion last and how long i will be blowing my nose. It's frustrating, but better than being dead. I have dry mouth real bad, but the stoppers 4 helps and i can get by o.k. with that. There are other side affects that still…
PET and CAT results came today
Hubby Pat has his surgery Oct 1 - radical neck dissection and a complete laryngectomy. Right after his surgery, his doctor told me that if the surgery had been postponed by a week or two, he would have died. The tumor was growing very, very fast. The doc took everything he could see and all the lymph nodes. He said he had…
Post Surgery PET & MRI Wednesday
Please say a prayer, howl at the moon, or whatever you do - for my husband on Wednesday afternoon. He is having his 3 months post surgery pet and mri, after surgery for hypopharyngeal recurrence cancer (had chemo/rads @ first occurrence). If nothing shows on pet, will not have to have chemo or more rads. You are all so…
ear ringing
Anything to help with the ringing in the ears? Brad
Almost Lost My Husband Today
Every day with cancer is an adventure. Found out the latest CT scan showed cancer popping up in various places in his abdomen, neck of his pancreas, chest wall and there were more lung nodules. All these were small. That was the good part of the doctor visit. Today my husband was supposed to start his Erbitux treatments.…
Neuropathy - Hands & Feet
Hi all! I've missed you all so much! I just saw the doc today and all is clear, had a PET scan the other week and that came back clear. Whew...I'm eating like I never had cancer or went through treatment, adding a bit more water to help chew and swallow but for the most part I think I'm at my new "normal". During my…
Ginger for nausea
My husband is to start chemo this Wednesday (head/neck and lung). I saw a post somewhere on here about taking ginger ahead of time to lower the nausea side effects. CAn anyone tell me, do you have to get capsules from a store or could you just mix ground ginger with some water. My husband is on a feeding tube, so taste is…
Estim Swallowing Treatment Research
People who get radiation therapy for head and neck cancer often experience trouble eating and swallowing. During radiation treatment, and up to 3 months after treatment, eating difficulty usually occurs because the radiation "burns" the tissues in the mouth and/or throat which can be extremely painful. After 3 months after…
Goodbye to my taste buds.....
Goodbye to my taste buds.....alas they are leaving. It happened so suddenly, I am 10 days into rads I thought maybe just maybe I'll be one of the lucky ones. I even prayed for it, though I know it is selfish. I was eating my usual foods when I realized that I had an extremely sour taste at the back of my throat. I tried to…
Worste headache ever
I finishid my first round of chemo yesterday, taxatir cyclplatin and 5fu and I have the worste headache of my life. I cant even spell now. This chemo is alot harder than the last I did, carboplatin Brad
WHAT CAUSES THE COLD AND CLAMMY SWEATS AND A CONSTANT SENSE OF BEING COLD
My wife is convinced two things are happening with me. 1) I have been on Fentanyl Patch 150 Mics since mid August. The Patches are to be changed every 3 days. I have on occasion changed them late, and at the same time was expeiencing the "cold clammy sweats" and a geneal feeling of not being able to get warm. 2) Since I…
-HONDO what supplements are you taking?
hello, hondo first of all congrats on beating the cancer 3 times! that is amazing, and i myself believe that the power of prayer is great! my dad was diagnosed with stage iv floor of mouth cancer, which did move to the tongue and one lymhnode.. in march of this year he did that very aggressive chemo/rad treatment.. august…

Head and Neck Cancer

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