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Head and Neck Cancer

Archives for July 2011

I want to know why????
I want to know why some people have cancers that come back and/or they have metasis to other parts of the body and others don't. Hell, I think doctors do not know the why's... It just saddens me to see that some people have to battle this beast over and over again. Why is cancer meaner to some folks and nicer to others.
Tonsil Cancer
Hi. Im new here, just found this site while looking for information. I am 36 years old, female, wife and mother of 4. I had a swollen lymph node and went in to my doctor. They ran blood tests and told me it was a virus/infection, take these antibiotics and it will get better. It didnt. I went to 2 more doctors, and got the…
EAR PAIN
Good morning and hope all is well with my CSN friends. I have been having some ear pain lately. it is the ear on the same side as my surgery, and the pain only lasts maybe 10-20 seconds, but can be very intense. It seems like it is in my ear canal, not too very deep inside. My jaw is always sore, and wonder if it might…
7 week follow up
I went to see my rad/onc doc on 7/12 for 7 week follow up. He had not seen me for 3 weeks and the first thing he said was, "Who's this guy?" He said I looked great compared to the guy 3 weeks earlier with the burnt and peeling neck, unable to open his mouth or swallow, etc. I seemed relatively normal now in comparison. I…
I've done it before
and I can do it again. Not how I planned to spend the rest of my summer vacation. Last August I had surgery for a lump on my upper lip. Squamous cell, spindle cell varient, peri-neural invasion. Stage I, clean margins, HPV-. Had radiation (with amifostone), ended Mid October 2010. I went back to work in January. Major…
Delaying Radiation
I am wondering if anyone has delayed their radiation for a couple of months. What was your outcome? I ask because my employer has notified me that I will lose my job after 6 months as is company policy (currently in my 5th month off, completed chemo, and ready to do radiation for 6 weeks).
Hot spots on follow up PET scan
My husband has been fighting cancer since January. Tumor on base of tongue and cancer spread to lymph nodes on both sides. After concurrent chemo/radiation treatments ending this past March, he had the follow up PET scan last Thursday. We were called into office for Friday and told that the cancer in his tongue and lymph…
G-Tube feeding diet suggestions durning chemo!
Hi everyone my dad is on his second week of chemo and the doctors are very impressed with the results they are seeing. The swelling in his face has gone down a lot and as of now they think things are moving in the right direction! But we are still not out of the woods yet, he is still on a G-tube and still has a trach. We…
G-Tube feeding diet suggestions durning chemo!
Hi everyone my dad is on his second week of chemo and the doctors are very impressed with the results they are seeing. The swelling in his face has gone down a lot and as of now they think things are moving in the right direction! But we are still not out of the woods yet, he is still on a G-tube and still has a trach. We…
Water and swallowing
Anyone who has had a partial larengectomy knows that liquids and water are the most challenging to swallow without having it go into the lungs. Wifey has tried water thickner powder, which she says is like swallowing bad tasing slime. ANY IDEAS as to ways to get water/liquid intakes by mouth to ensure hydration. I know…
neck, lung + post rad vent & question
Hello, i havent been around for ages so im going to check in with a vent , gripe and question. We were just into our 3 month post neck rads. Wifeys neck burns healed really well. Though food tasted like garbage, the mouth sores seemed to be clearing and were almost gone as an issue, believe it or not. But then, swallowing…
Mentally Coping With Everything
A couple of months before I was diagnosed I had lost my 10 plus year job. I was on unemployment at the time and switched over to disability later on ( I should have done it sooner). I'm having real issues coping with everything. While I am getting better physically slowly but surely I'm finding my mental state is really…
How Can I Cope?
Still having lots of facial pain and now my throat feels sore and swollen as well. I had planned on getting back in to see my ENT this week, but last Sunday, my Mother died and my world is in turmoil. I am very nervous about coping with the funeral home and the funeral itself today and tomorrow. Sometimes, the pain in my…
No Chemo today due to low blood
hi all, my dad suppose to have his 2nd cycle of chemo today but after blood test due to low blood (accordingly to him). he unable to do his chemo and have to wait next week to see how again. is it normal? will it affect his treatment by miss one of his cycle? what happen if he miss again next week? so sad!!!
recurrence
A few weeks ago I posted that they thought my husband's cancer had metastasized to the bone. Well the biopsy showed that it was true. Sooo...we are now in our 2nd battle and trying to regain hope and strength. He will be on standard chemo for the mestastisis and hopefully we can kick this canceer's **** a second time. Wish…
Chefdaddy just called me.
I just spoke to Mike, and he asked me to do a post and update everyone. He is at the hospital with his son. They have given all his options, and they had him chose what he wanted to do. If he did nothing, they figure 1.5 - 2 weeks is all he would have. Doing a low dose of chemo, to try and spare his liver, may buy him a…
Prayers Please
Hi all: Basketcase here. I just wanted to ask for prayers for a lady in my church Donna. I think I posted a few months ago; she went in for her welcome to medicare physical and they found a tumor in her lung and one on the liver and further investigation it had progressed to her bones. She had started a clinical trial and…
I am sure I have asked this before, but I am going to ask again
How many weeks did it take before you felt better.. Like able to move around without a problem, lowering your pain dosage and eating? My husband vomited yesterday and he has been dry heaving most of the day today. It seems like he should show some signs of improvement, but in some ways he seems worse. I do not know…
8 rads in!
Well I have had 8 rads so far on my throat. Starting to feel the pain, swallowing is hard.
8 rads in!
Well I have had 8 rads so far on my throat. Starting to feel the pain, swallowing is hard.
still in complete shock ...
my mother NEVER used her feeding tube! i cant believe it! i know it was still the right decision given her 107lb weight and all the stories i heard. but i am in shock that she NEVER used it. she still eats some things by mouth - eggs, oatmeal, pasta, cheerios, hot dogs, french toast... but on bad days she drank ensures and…
Kinda Worried
Hi, My dad is a little over a year out of treatment and he told me yesterday his has a place on his tongue. When he showed me it appears to be a cut with a small red looking bump. My dad has no teeth and has been eating Ritz crackers and using that side of his tongue to break them up. He also eats at least on large tomato…
kidneys and dehydration
Jim was admitted to the hospital Friday for dehydration. This morning the doctor said his kidney function numbers were up and if they did not go down by tomorrow they would call in a kidney specialist. I am scared. Has anyone been through this? He has been on intervenious fluids since and is not getting any better. Doc…
Lymphedema Problems
I am suffering from severe lymphedema of the face, neck and I think what appears to be my tongue. I am now over four years post surgery and treatment for pharyngeal cancer. I think they removed about fourteen lymph nodes in my neck during my surgery. I was not initially bothered by lymphedema at least as not severe as it…
Thrush
My husband keeps getting thrush. When he gets Thrush it seems like it takes 2-3 prescripts to knock it out. How often have you been affected with Thrush?
Are you different now?
Maybe a weird/dumb question, but I want to know how many of you feel like you have survived treatment and now truly feel like a different person than you were before? I'm not talking about the physical stuff, that's obvious. And I don't really mean, "I am just thankful to be alive," either. I mean thinks like how you view…
Another milestone
Hi all: Basketcase checking in here. Yesterday, the 8th was a year ago when we found out how bad Charlie's cancer was when it returned. However, I had quite a busy day. My friend's husband came over and finished the things my brother was going to do around the house when his tragedy struck in Oct. So, now I do have a new…
Has anyone spoken to Hal61?
I haven't spoken to Hal since March. Just wondered if anyone has heard from him? I am hoping he is just busy working and living life. Hal, if you are lurking, check in, please. :) Sweets
windpipe transplant
News just broke that Swedish Drs just performed the first "man made" windpipe tansplant. Done using patient's own stem cells, and doesn't have to take anti-rejection meds. Patient was stage-4 C of the larynx/voice box, and is said to have had no other options. Have a couple more planned this year, also. FYI kcass
Hondo
I went to see a myofacial doctor for my jaw pain and he sent me to physical therapy for treatment. I was supposed to have some osscalating treatment but she would not give it to me because she said that before i could get that she had to make sure i did not have cancer. She showed me 3 excercises to do that she said would…

Head and Neck Cancer

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