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Head and Neck Cancer

Archives for March 2012

Ready for the Fight?
I apologize in advance for this question, because so many of you have been fighting this Beast and as I read your comments Im inspired that the human spirit can show up to fight things that I would think are just impossible. My question is, is the journey worth it. Im sure Im just anxious after reading all the trauma…
Weight loss during External Beam Radiation
I'm kind of confused about weight loss during external beam radiation. My oncologist told me to expect to lose a lot of weight, but my radiation therapist/oncologist told me to try not to lose weight.... What was your experience?? I can't imagine being able to keep my current weight (which is not a healthy weight) up when…
Jitters again over staying here or
going to a big Cancer Center. I just got my NPC Stage III diagnosis last Tues., and even set up appointments for the Radiologist and the Oncologist next week. At first I was thinking that since they have an IMRT here, and because the chemo seems pretty much standard for this that I would just stay here for treatment.…
little over 3 weeks out from last rad/chemo
Well Hello there! What can I say, I made it through treatment. I was hospitalized a few times, had a pretty rough road but I am finally turning the corner and life is much better. All of my superficial burns have healed, I got my PICC out 2 days ago. I have been dry swallowing pretty well and am gonna start thick fluids…
Diet during treatment
New to the group. My uncle is starting treatment- Radiation and Chemo and we are looking for any advice, suggestions, comments, or opinions on what he might be able to eat during his treatments. He had his tonsil and a portion of tongue removed so swallowing has been difficult but is getting better. Any suggestions?
Thought Branchial Cyst for Months - Turned out Cancer
Hello all - I am 34 years old, from Liverpool in England and have just been diagnosed with cancer this week after many months of tests having strongly suggested otherwise. Bit of a shock but I'm up for the fight! I had quite an unusual presentation of what will be an oral cancer (of unknown primary) and was wondering if…
Organic Diet Benefits
Today I had my weekly visit with my Rad Oncologist and always enjoy our talks. He is very smart and is extremely well read. IMO anyway. I asked him about Zinc to help with my taste buds after treatment. (only 3 left out of 30) He said he really didn't know about it and doesn't hold vitamins in high regard as there isn't…
PET Scan
Received my PET scan results from Mondays test...NED!!!!!! Wahooooooo. Now it's back to see the onco again in 3 months and follow ups with CT scans prior to that visit. Linda
Happy Day
One more rad session down, 13 to go. Just thought I would mention I had bloodwork done on behalf of the Chemo Dr and I got my results yesterday he shown me every Test they did, Complete Blood Count & Complete Metabolic panel and I was really Happy because every test was perfect, when I say perfect I mean that all the…
NPC and Proton Radiation....
I've been reading about Proton Rads...has anybody gone this route instead of the IMRT? Everything I'm reading says it's as effective as IMRT, but with less damage to surrounding tissue, as well as less side effects during and down the road. My insurance will cover at 3 or 4 places that offer it, yet all are far away from…
In case you were worried...Because I was.
MONDAY, Mar. 26, 2012 — Over the past several months there have been a number of alarming news reports highlighting links between oral sex, the human pappillomavirus (HPV), and cancers of the head and neck. It all basically started after the Journal of Clinical Oncology published a study in October detailing a significant…
UPDATE TO RECENT SCOPE AND EXAM SUCCESS
Hello all, as I stated in my previous post I had an upcoming neck and chest CT with contrast on the 26th. I got the results and they have found some "Groung Glass" like nodules just like I had with a CT last June. My last CT was in December and nothing was seen in my lung. Of course I am a little nervous, but since I have…
Sick of shakes?
Hope you don't mind a commercial plug here, but I really wanted to share because it helped me and I've seen a lot of talk about being fed up with a shake diet. I was recently declared NED, but understand the disgust/monotony in having to sustain on Boost/Ensure. If I remember right, each bottle was less than 200 calories…
Coughing At Night
I was diagnosed with vocal cord cancer in 1993 and had six weeks of radiation therapy and have been cancer free. My voice is very hoarse still but I can talk and feel well and count my blessings. I still cough , most of the night. My throat has always been very dry since the radiation treatment and I get little like "b b's…
Two reasons to celebrate today
Today is my 29th wedding anniversity. My oncologist also gave me the results of my six weeks CT and PET scans this morning. They showed no evidence of cancer. Thanks to all of you for your help and support over these last seven months. It has made all the difference.
Diagnosis at last...
I have NPC T1N2M0 Stage III...the primary tumor is at a place in my throat that is against the vertabrae(maybe they all are with this??), so the plan is rads and chemo first. There is also an enlarged node on the other side of my neck, smaller than the original one. He said they'll be cooking those along with the tumor. I…
NED
Just had an exam/scope this morning and NED was the word. I'm now about 23 months out so I'm putting off the two year dance until June but it is was still a pretty happy dance. SCC Unknown Primary was my dx and we opted for surgery only so much of this time has been spent waiting and dreading the appearance of a primary…
Are some of us going crazy? No, it may be PTSS...
An excerpt from someone who recently finished treatment... "Her diagnosis was severe Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. When she first said it I thought, well that’s just silly! That’s only for people who have gone to war! I told her this and she nodded and said, “that is exactly what you have been through … you have been…
Fuzzy vision
Currently I am diagnosed with SSC Stage 4 with origin at base ot tongue and tumor positive for HPV. I have gotten 2 out of 3 chemo treatments of Cisplatin and 21 out of 35 radiation treatments. I was recently put on a fentenyl patch for pain and another patch for muscous. Within the last 10 day my vision has become blurry.…
Zinc
Okay, I bought some zinc today - I know it is a long shot but I figured I am already taking so many pills, what's one more, right? Even the pharmacist had heard of zinc helping regenerate taste buds.....I will keep you posted. I am three months out of treatment and am SICK AND TIRED of shakes so I needed to try this.....
Need your help, please. Stage 4 - Acinic Head/neck, parotid gland and lymph nodes acinic cell ca,
I need help to find out where to go and who to see now. I have had three failed surgeries of parotid gland and radical neck lymph node dissections at three different hospitals and the wrong radiation with damage and severe lymphadema of neck. Acinic cell is extremely rare and I was told I cannot have any more radiation and…
Sore throats and such post treatment?
Hi, I am almost 2 years out (In June) for stage 4 SCC. Yesterday and today I sound very hoarse and like a frog. My throat is sore on my left (affected) side and so is the side of my tongue where I had a partial glosectomy. Any one else do this sort of thing, or should I go in? Just had my check 3 weeks ago. Can't do any…
Bubble butt
No I'm not coming on the board to tell everyone about some new side effect from cancer treatments. My wife called me today from Mexico and told me that the vet had come by the house to give our two remaining puppies their health certificates so they can fly home on Monday. We didn't have to take puppy #3 to the river to…
did you choose the easy or the hard path?
Hi everyone, I'm new. Let me start off by saying that I've been reading posts here since the day of my diagnosis and this forum has been a place of wisdom, comfort, hope, and many smiles. When I talk about cancer I'm pretty emotionless, so here we go with some dry dry background info. :) I just turned 31, male, I don't…
Introducing myself
Hi everyone! I've been lurking around for a couple of weeks (posted a couple of times) and wanted to introduce myself. I'm 26 and I have an aggressive papillary thyroid cancer that is no longer taking up radioactive iodine (which is the standard treatment for thyroid cancer), so at this point they're treating me more like…
Scan vs. scope
Okay...I have two specialists...the chemo doctor (who I only met 3 times during treatment and did not really care for) telling me he wants me to have PET scans every three months. Then I have my radiation doctor (let me also add he is one of the best radiologists in the nation), who I highly respect and saw every other day…
Scan vs. scope
Okay...I have two specialists...the chemo doctor (who I only met 3 times during treatment and did not really care for) telling me he wants me to have PET scans every three months. Then I have my radiation doctor (let me also add he is one of the best radiologists in the nation), who I highly respect and saw every other day…
Dog Feet....
OK, I thought this was kind of funny and wanted to lighten the mood going into the week-end.... Kali & Daddy Feet Have a good one.... ~John
Whips and jingles....
I had my PET scan on Tuesday morning and the countdown has begun until my consult with my ENT on Monday afternoon. I want to know what type of C I have...yet, I'd love to back peddle about 4 years. I told my sister that if...when the Dr. starts talking...I cover my ears and start singing "lalalalalala"...to keep taking…
more uncertain news and more waiting
so we went for the consulation in reference to brachytherapy. After the doctor examined my mom he found "something" close to the tongue or rather more on the floor of the mouth. Said it's a little bump that is hard and he is not sure at this point if it's a scar tissue from radiation or post surgery tissue or another…

Head and Neck Cancer

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