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Head and Neck Cancer

Archives for September 2012

Certified Tumor Registrar (CTR)
anybody with experience in the field? turns out that our neighborhood CC has a program leading to degree/certification, and I'm considering a late-life career change. would require retaking science classes that I took 25-30 years ago--just to get started--but what the hell. looking for a way to contribute to the fight…
Day One of Induction is in the bag
I know it won't always be this easy, but what a great way to start. You guys/gals were all spot on correct. Got there for a 9:00 AM at the lab, 9:45 with the Doc and 10:00 in the chair. Didn't get out till 4:30. So, on to the good stuff, here's what I got: Cisplatin/Docetaxel and Fluorouracil (5-FU) in the pump on my hip…
Biopsy
Well I am back home from the hospital and a little sore, but not too much. The biopsy was a needle biopsy. Got there around 6am this morning, got into the assbackward gown and was taken into the cat scan room. was strapped pretty tight so that I could not move then run through the CT scanner, a mark was made on my upper…
Update: Chest X-ray clean
Hey all, Just wanted to say I got my chest Xray resulst back today .....all clear. Who knew that a ventral hernia can also cause shortness of breath and a nagging cough (we all know what that sounds like on this board) ...so of course when I went in to get checked for the hernia (only bc someone on here mentioned that's…
Dad's CT scan results
Good News! The doctor said there was only a slight change since his last scan. It might have grown by 10% at the most. So he has ordered another scan at the end of November and we will see what is happening then. The change is so small he can not feel anything yet. There were not any new spots which was the best news.…
My Final Answer
I talked to my doc (whom I love) just now and have made a final decision to not do the makeup infusions. My 2 concerns were that it had been 8 weeks since my last treatment and that the dosage is low anyway. He said the ONLY reason he gave me the option to make up is because he knew how my mind works. He also said I was…
Even though it is raining outside I think today is going to be a good day.
Well it appears as if the bolus feeding goes well today, David will get to come home from the hospital today. I came home a couple hours ago to get some things for him to have for the ride home and low and behold there were two letters from Wells Fargo. It appears there is some miscommunication there as the letters we…
Taste Buds Coming On-Line
Eaters, non eaters and want to be eaters, I went to a huge buffet today and I am here to report some success. I had a large plate of main courses which included lasagna, mac-n-cheese, pepperoni pizza, shrimp, scallops, white fish, roast beef, stir fry, fried rice, pot stickers, spicy chicken, mashed potatoes, scalloped…
Bear hunting
Port in today, went well, infection around peg clearing up, chemo tomorrow. Looks like the battle has begun.......one salvo of cisplatin into the enemy's broadside........ I coming after this cancer loaded for bear. Jim
Tomorrow (Tuesday) is Day One of Induction
Well, after a bit of a panic, tomorrow is the day to start induction. For those of you that haven't seen the blog (jcortney.blogspot.com) my surgeon that inserted my port on Friday called on Saturday morning and said "I had a hard time getting the port in and I'm not convinced that it's in the proper spot. So, I don't want…
looking for summer harley blogspot... north Carolina girl?
hi one of our members had a blog about her husband I believe his name was earl he had H&N cancer and it spread to his lung. Does any one have the URL to the blog? i think it was NC girl?
ELECTRONIC VOICEBOXES?
CAN ANYONE TELL ME ABOUT ELECTRONIC VOICE BOXES? I HAVE HAD MY TRACHE FOR TWO YEARS NOW AND I WANT TO GET RID OF IT
UPDATE: I do have a hernia - still waiting on chest x-ray results
Hey all... For those that saw my most "Question on Pheumonia" .... I did go get a chest x-ray today and tested for "whooping cough" (doc said it is going around our town) and she did confirm I do have a hernia. Drat! :) Just wanted to update you all on that....it will be a day or two on the X-ray results,,,,keep me tucked…
Thought to be HPV + ....now it's negative??
Due to not being a smoker and heavy drinker, original ENT and U of M Hospital(ENT also)assumed HPV. Now we just got a call that it's negative for HPV from original ENT??? UofM (ENT)is going to order another test. They say this can change the treatment plan now. We understood the HPV having good prognosis. We realize most…
ENT appointment this morning.....and I learned something new :)
Got the scope and mirrors, and all looks really good....I do have swollen glands in my throat, the ones that you'd feel if you had tonsillitus....like under the chin and back towards your throat. As I mentioned a while ago, these buggers itch like there is no tomorrow...and I mean DEEP itch like a bee sting can itch. I can…
Deported
Well, it's official everyone: I've been "deported"! Do I have to put this on my resume and/or job applications?! :) ! Everything went well and it only took about 30 minutes. I can honestly say that I'm not going to miss my plastic little friend. It did however, save me from a lot of arm sticks. Have a good evening and I…
Standard Chemo or Protocol (Cetuximab=Erbitax)?
Loved one Dx Stage IV, SCC BOT with 2 lymph nodes involved to neck (left side for both tongue and nodes). No surgery planned. Tx is Chemo/Rad. We are getting prepared for our October 8th treatment date. Must make a decision by this Friday (Sept 28th) as to what Chemo we'd like to do. Need some input and experience here…
Saliva or Mucus
We have all said there are no dumb questions, so I hope this still stands. I hear folks describe getting back a percentage of their saliva, obviously I know what saliva is but maybe its chemo brain but how will we know its saliva coming back versus this crazy mucus we all deal with. Right now my mouth at nite and sometimes…
One day at a time
Well I am having to learn this quick. David is still in the hospital since he is having difficulty tolerating the tube feeds and using the bathroom. This morning at 6:30 the resident came in and was talking to him and said he may go home in a day or two. Then she asked if he has his neck surgery scheduled. You ought to…
WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
Most of you know I got my first post treatment scan last week and it was clean as a whistle. My treatment consisted of 3( rads with a weekly dose of Cisplatin. I missed the last two doses of chemo due to low blood count. Doc has asked me to decide whether I want to take the last two doses just for peace of mind. He said he…
Question on Phenumonia
Hey all... My wife and two of the kids several weeks ago developed a cough and had runny noses, the usual "kids just started school and brought home the germs first week" thingy. Anyway, my wife prohectically (joke of course) said to me "I'm concerned you will get a bug". Well, sure nuff, I got what I thought was the "bug"…
PET/CT
Well the time has come and I won't lie, I'm a little nervous. I was 13 weeks finished on Friday and it's time for my scans. I go tomorrow at 7:00am. I don't see my surgeon until next Friday and my rad onc until the following week so I'll have to wait at least a week to get my results....so nerve wracking!! I know right now…
New "Bling"
Trying to post a new pic..not sure if it worked
Questions regarding mucus -- please help
In the last two weeks my husband's mucus has increased greatly as to where he can't sleep lying down. This is both in his lungs and mouth. He had a laryngectomy in March 2011 and then in April 2012 they found a tumor at the cervical of the esphogus (rare spot and due to location considered head and neck). He underwent…
Neanderthal medicine
Does it amaze you all as much as it does me, that in this age of incredible medical discoveries, microscopic surgeries, lasers, robots, medication, gene therapy etc, that treatment for cancer is like beating your body with a huge club, until nothing would want to live in it? How and who would have ever expected a toxic…
surgery and radiation
Unable to sleep and wondering this....my husband had a 12 hour surgery which included a very extensive transoral laser surgery to remove tumor at BOT and a selective right neck dissection. I know that surgery causes scarring at BOT am am wondering will that cause more problems swallowing post rad/chemo because I know that…
Back to work tomorrow!!!!
Hi, my name is Helen and I haven't posted before but have frequently looked in for advice and inspiration over the past months. I am in England; far in miles but still part of this family! I was diagnosed in November 2011 with Olfactory Neuroblastoma- bit of a bombshell for a 46 yr old fit and healthy mum of children aged…
Doctor called said new spot on latest ct scan
Hi all. I havent posted much on here but put my email address out there and have correspondence with some of you who had questions about your upcoming jaw replacement surgery. I had mine june 2011. All my ct scans every 3 months since surgery have been clear until last friday. My surgeon at md anderson says i have a new…
Still in schock
I am new to this site. My husband has stage 4 BOT HPV 16 SCC with mets to 3 lymph nodes on the right and none on the left. He will be starting chemo and rads later this week or early next week. I have read so much on this site and am so nervous about the outcome of it all. Because he had all negative nodes on the left side…
Shaved
I shaved my head today! It isn't a big deal to me, because I have been mostly bald on top for years. No combover for me. But I won this round, I took my hair off because I chose to, not due to side effects from treatment, and it is empowering to me. I am gearing up for battle and I am going to be high speed low drag.…

Head and Neck Cancer

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