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Head and Neck Cancer

Archives for August 2011

My latest news
Last week on the 2nd of August, I had surgery. I decided to go along with Mayo's plan, and opted to leave the surgery decisions with them...The previous surgeon was opting for a mandibulotomy with neck resection, removing my left tonsil and soft palate where it was necessary...Mayo's team decided that they could do it all…
Why am I not feeling better yet
I have Base of Tongue cancer and have been out of 7 weeks of radiation and weekly chemo treatments for almost six weeks now. My tongue and mouth are still covered with sores and my throat stills hurts immensely. The mucous/phlegm continues and still cant sleep more than 1-2 hours at a time without awakening to clear my…
Back Home
Hi all: Just checking in and reporting I'm back home. I returned Sunday afternoon. It was a good trip. Charlie's family and I observed his 1 year anniversary quietly. The "boys" were overjoyed that Mama is back!I'm spending Labor Day in Chatt. with best friend and family at their campsite so should be fun as always. I did…
More Waiting
We thought we would have the gene sequencing from my lung biopsy today, but that is now due on Friday. We found out that the lung masses are definitely cancer,but we won't know if it is the same cancer that invaded my parotid gland until Friday. So, I have cancer in three parts of my body and as of right now, there is no…
im back .. with a different parent
Hello to my other family. I still continue to lurk on my iphone ( sweet i dont know how you do it) Moms doing really well (tonsil)... struggling with fatigue and still cannot taste. Anyway, dad just called me to tell me a biopsy on his face was positive for SCC! i didnt even know he was going for a biopsy! His…
into week 3 radiation
and as of 4 days ago right side of mouth feels like its one big open sore and throat everytime i swallow feels like both sides are peeling the skin off each other ouch I got a big BooBoo LOL see trying to laugh
Lump in back of throat
Hello everyone, it has been quite a long time since I have posted here although I still read through the posts almost everyday. I had a malignant paraganglioma removed from the right side of my neck in Dec. 2009, followed by 5 weeks of radiation treatment. The cancer had spread to several lymph nodes that were also…
My hisband was just diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue
He says he isn't extremely upset, but I am. I had colo-rectal cancer 9 years ago. This is scary. Any words of advice? He hasn't had the CAT scan yet. It will be scheduled today. Thanks everyone.
Eating Ability
Before I was diagnosed with tonsil cancer I was the kind of fellow that made the management of the all you can eat buffets nervous. Now, 13 weeks post treatment, I can east solid foods again without assistance from meds like Mary's Magic. As a matter of fact, I stopped taking all pain meds about a week ago (was taking…
Elevated Potassium Levels
Hi everyone! I'd like to pose a situation and see if anyone else has experienced this. I am 13 weeks post rad for tonsil cancer and things are progressing well. Like many here, I subsisted on many bottles of Ensure and Boost for quite a while. Last week I began experiencing significant back pain to the extent I could not…
Shock and Awe!
Hi Friends! I went today and was in the "Donut" for an hour, awaiting the biopsy needle. Well, they remove me from the table, after flipping me around like a cod fish, and told me the Dr. needs to talk to me. Okay. I get up, and the Dr.comes in, and says he cannot find anything to biopsy. What!!? He compared all the scans…
Nasopharyngeal Cancer - EBV or HPV
hi, my girlfriend was told she has Nasopharyngeal cancer and we are just waiting for the biopsy result before starting treatment. Does the result from pathologist tell if the cancer is EBV or HPV positive? or does the result just to confirm weather it is cancer or not?
conjunctivitis
Hey y'all Have any of ya'll gotten conjuntivitis of the eye from yourc hemo treatments, or as a late effect after radiation is finished? Are any of you taking celuximtab for chemo? (I guess thats how its spelled)
Thanks from a Lurker
A thanks from someone who has never posted--or even joined--but relished the ideas and stories. I am in the final week of radiation for tongue cancer. 42 radiations, 2 chemo (Cisplatin). Prior to that, I had a tumor in my tongue (HPV+) removed through TORS robotic surgery and a partial neck dissection removing 44 lymph…
My wifes Stage IV Nasopharyngeal Cancer
My wife had fluid backup in her ear and the first general doctor had her use antibiotics. It didn't help. Gave her a second dose and it didn't help. He sent her to an Ear doctor who put a drain tube and insisted she get checked for nasopharyngeal cancer. She refused based on crap reviews on yelp.7 months later we went back…
Glutamine
My husband has been using a product called juven since the beginning of his finding out about his cancer. It has glutamine in it which I read a lot about on this site as being so beneficial to maintaining lean muscle tissue. It also has arginine in it which is another amino acid. Does anyone know if arginine causes mouth…
Never ending horror-arterial ruptures due ro radiation damage
I never saw this one coming.Might as well add it to the endless list of life threatening side effects.We are now 4 1/2 mos postX. Five days ago Daryl woke up coughing up blood. Buckets of it.By the time the ambulance reached Emergency he had lost 2/3 of his blood and had gone into shock.The hospital to which they took him…
Hurricane Irene vs Fatty Patty
Hi all! Hope everyone is safe. I am scheduled for my biopsy for tomorrow in Manhattan, and am ready to go. Unfortunately, Irene has hit, Bloomberg has closed the city down, and I do not have a ride. UGH! I am planning on going, weather and Bloomberg permitting, but cannot get a ride, so really will have to drive myself. I…
Distressing news (anxious on timelines)
hi, I recently discovered a lump in the right of my neck in July. I went for CT, PET and fine needle aspiration. The fine needle aspiration confirmed (poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma). I previously had colorectal cancer in 2008 so it was devastating to hear this news again. I hear that this cancer is…
Thrush
We have been batteling thrush now for over a month are on the 3rd bottle of antibiotics.Dr has been giving him fluconazole,has anyone heard of this med and has anyone hed better luck with another med. Thank you.
Starting to feel like a real member LOL
just finished second week radiation from upper lip to below collarbone right across. Cancer op site feels raw and wisdom teeth op sites feels raw inside of right cheel is swollen and raw,and throat is really starting to hurt, tongue slides on roof of mouth as its not even sticky. Don,t take this the wrong way just stating…
awesome news
Not really a discussion point but I am excited and I have to tell someone : ) My husband finished radiation just over a week ago...and tonight he came to me and told me he could taste his soup! Tomato and garlic with basil : )
Constipation - Need home remedies
My husband got the stomach peg put in Tuesday. Wednesday he weighed 164 lbs. Today he weighs 161. He said he doesn't want to eat because he's so constipated. They were going to wait for him to start using the stomach peg and now they say he has to start using it. Does anyone have any good home remedies for constipation. He…
Sleep All The Time
All my hubby wants to do is sleep, is this normal, I worry so much about him, he says I am fine just let me sleep. He eats very little and is so skinny. 4 months how much longer before he is able to stop feeling so weak. Linda
Salagen????
Is there any thing better than Salagen I’m not producing any saliva I have been taking Salagen for 2 ½ mounts and it’s not helping. I had my throat dilated yesterday and the Doctor said I had a lot of damage to my throat from the radiation and it want help much until I can produce saliva anyone got any suggestions.
5FU and cisplatin what to expect & my updatek
Hi everyone! Well I am now 16 days post radiation and I feel like I actually doing ok. I can taste some savory foods like tomatoes, cinnamon, oats and coffee. Decided not to drink too much coffee because it upsets my stomach. I figure I would try a little food everyday. I can only get down a few bites for now. The mucous…
Newbie
Hi everyone. I'm newly diagnosed cancer in my right tonsil, and lymph nodes on the right side of my neck. PET and CT as well as scopes indicate that it has not spread. I see the Hematologist and Radiation folks at Cleveland Clinic on Wednesday. A nutritionist friend recommended Glutamine powder in water to help my throat.…
Scan anxiety and the wait
A couple of weeks ago I had a soft tissue CT scan of my neck and the reading noted some "bumps" "possibly post surgical" etc. etc. so a folow up P.E.T. scan was ordered. SInce I hadn't had one since last November this was over due anyway. So the scan comes on a Thursday with a three day wait after that to get the results.…
Scan question. Type and frequency.
When i first finished treatments, I had 2 pet scans. One at 2 months and one at 4 months. The next schedule scan was at 7 months and the insurance company balked at pet scans and they were replaced by mri of head and neck and a cat scan of chest. Those have been my tests every 3 months since. I am now a year and 6 months…
Glossectomy & Stoma
Has anyone had a full Glossectomy, Radical Neck Dissection & Laryngectomy Stoma? My husband has this as his last choice from the Stanford Tumor Board. We are searching for survivors who can inform us what to expect during and after recovery. Any advice and info is greatly appreciated. Sending love to all who have to go…

Head and Neck Cancer

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