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Head and Neck Cancer

Archives for November 2012

PICC line to be or not to be
Well David had his PICC kind inserted early Tuesday morning and every afternoon since they have had to redress it because he keeps bleeding. I'm not talking about a trickle here a trickle there but soaking through the dressing and his shirt. Today the chemo ONC came in and said if they can't get the bleeding to stop this…
Financial assistance???
I have been out of work since May 23, 2012. I used up all my FMLA and am now struggling to pay my bills and rent. Even close to being evicted because I have no money. I've been reading thru here and have read a couple of things about social security and some sort of allowment they have for people with head and neck cancer.…
Trismus (Lockjaw)
Hi everyone I'm new here and have soooo many questions. A little bit about my situation... Had surgery on May 24, 2012 to remove the tumor on my inner cheek, right neck dissection to remove lymph nodes and skin graft from my right thigh. 30 treatments of radiation and 3 treatments of Cisplatin. (Awful stuff.) My question…
Hi All...Just Catching Up
While I haven't posted much lately , I do look at the site, see old familiar names and new . I've been busy since I went back to work full time. Travel for work takes me to northern AZ weekly, I have a 100 mile buried fiber optic project going on , so that keeps me rather busy. I'm in MD right now, flew in yesterday , will…
Jaw reconstruction at Moffitt or MD Anderson Orlando
I live in Florida, have stage 4 of mandible and floor of mouth. Wondering about anyones experiences with jaw reconstruction at Moffitt or MD Anderson Orlando. Thanks
Checking In
Hi all: No, I haven't forgotten y'all (would never do that!) It's such a balancing act working these days after not having worked for a while! Work is fine but busy, busy, busy. I still marvel at how Charlie did retail for 26 years and absolutely loved it! I've now decided that when the day comes for us to be reunited I…
pet results in....should I ask prognosis, staging scares me
Hi all, My husband and I actually felt relieved by the PET results as we were hoping there were no other lurking cancers than in his neck (that's enough already). Found out he has scc level 2 lymph node measuring 3.5 x 2.2. The report states that primary is probably same side tonsils as those are enlarged. Also stated no…
Tomorrow is my last treatment, then on to recovery, recieved a very sad phone call a few minutes ago
Well tomorrow is my last day of treatment, and doing relatively well, but just received a phone call from my oldest sister. She told me she was just diagnosed with stage 3 SCC with a primary tumor on the tonsil, with lymph node involvment on the same side, where as mine was same except stage 4 because of node involvement…
Blood work results
OK so most everyone knows David was unable to do chemo today. I got a copy of his blood work from today. There was more wrong than right. Low RBC/Hemoglobin/Hemocrit/Platelet County/Chloride/CO2/GFR High WBC/MCH/MCHC/Metamyelocyte/Myelocyte/Reactive Lymp/Monocyte/Plasma Cell/NRBC/Abs. Plasma Cell/Glucose…
Well...there goes my thyroid!
I just had my first blood work and physical since the end of treatment. Treatment ended about 28 weeks ago. This was all supposed to be routine and to get a baseline after the completion of treatment. I have been tired since finishing rads and erbitux but just assumed it was to be expected and I still believe it is very…
Mandibular Sarcoma
I am re-posting a reply I submitted the other day. I am wondering if anyone else has experience with this diagnosis? It is less than 3% of all head and neck cancers. Here's the post: My husband had mandibular sarcoma that was diagnosed in December 2011. Total shock to us, as he has never smoked or chewed tobacco. Little…
Acupuncture
Hi All, I haven't posted as much lately, just being busy with life and some light treatment. One of the last posts I made was about how well Acupuncture works. Most of the responses were positive so I gave it a go. Didn't help at all. The problem I have is when my Dr. did my rt neck dissection he disturbed my scapular…
Atelectasis
Hello everyone...I rarely post but have been a "long time lurker" and follow along with many of you! My husband was dx in 2010 with stage 4 base of tongue scc and was treated with chemo, rads followed by neck dissection. todate all of his follow ups have been positive, however on the last 2 ct they have noted "bands of…
more delays
I took David for chemo today and they are postponing again until the 29th. His bloodwork was not good and his PICC is continuing to bleed. They are giving him IV fluids/minerals and shots of B12 and vitamin K. They want IV fluids 7 days a week at home and keep an eye on the PICC. They said they may need to change his…
teeth protection
Hi to everyone. I'm new here and eager for all info you can give as well as the opportunity to share and vent. My 26 year old son (physically disabled) was diagnosed with stage IVb SCC (base of tongue, floor of mouth and bilateral lymph nodes). He's at number 28 of 35 rads and has had 4 cisplatin chemos. The situation has…
Colonoscopy done, check. Hernia surgery done, check! ;) :)
Hello All ... For those that sent the pm's. Thank you. I thouht I would just post a thread for an update. Boy oh boy have the last two days given me some good comedic material to write about one day. May I share just a little? Okay, since you all said yes :) My colonoscopy was yesterday. My hernia surgery today. I'm doing…
SURGERY COMPLETE AND NOW HOME
Hi All. I am KTeacher's sister. I am reporting to you on her surgery, which occured last Thursday, and her recovery from same. The oncologist removed her eye and much tissue surrounding the eye and orbit area. He followed the optic nerve back as far as he could. Reconstruction surgery went great. The microvascular plastic…
Anybody else on a PEG permanently?
My diagnosis: no food or drink by mouth - ever - no chance of recovery of swallowing (nerve damage). I've been on Jevity 1.5 for about 6 months and am doing really well. I can do pretty much everything else I want. Questions: Who else is on PEG permanently? What are your attitudes, worries, etc about never eating again? I…
Long 3 week trip
Hi all, have not been around for a while, was locked up in a hospital bed. I had a small piece of my lung removed at Hershey, all was good until I got Atrial Fibrilation, I was kept another 3 days. The left the catheter in with instructions to have my urologist get it out. I left the hospital. When I met with my urologist…
Collection of fluids
Hi everyone I need your help, I taken my hubby to hospital as his right cheeck was swallen n apparently he has an infection apparently a collection of fluid(puss). Surgery is risky n he is under care of doctors has any one had this happen to them and if so please help me.
HPV Status
Just wanted to say that I never thought how saying that HPV postive status has a better prognosis could affect and be hurtful to some on this site. I realize now that it could be a discouraging comment if you arent' hpv positive. We are all in this together no matter the status and I am sorry to have ever offended anyone.…
Had lung biopsy today
What a way to start a day at 6:30 in the morning. Got to wear the "**** Gown" and this time when they gave me Demarol I didn't dance to the bathroom showing y butt like I literally did the last time. They had me under twilight which I really like bacause sometimes you can awaken and see what they are doing before they…
Blood transfusion
Wow, two posts in two days...thanks for being here, everyone! Anyway, my husband will be having a blood transfusion in the morning. He has been off of chemo (reminder, he has lung mets and was on a study) since the second week of September. Taken off the study because of blood counts. Two different doctors (our new…
New diagnoses with not enough info
Hi, My husband had a cervical lymph node that showed squamous cells via FNA. I still can't catch my breath and feel like the earth just disappeared under my feet. He has swollen left tonsil on the side of the lymph node and a cough.....but that is all. His bloodwork is perfect. I am petrified to find out what the primary…
For those of you that had Erbitux
Just had my third round of Induction today and was advised that concurrent with the RADS I'm going to get Erbitux. They also told me to expect an acne type rash just about everywhere. So, to you folks that have lived through it, what am I going to need to cope with this? I'm working really hard not to buy tomorrow's…
PICC line tomorrow
Well we go in tomorrow at 8:30 for a PICC line for David. The doctor's continue to worry about his nutrition and hydration. We had a doctor's appointment with the radiation oncologist and David had lost 8 pounds since we saw the doctor last Monday. They were not pleased to say the least. David is doing better with the Two…
Clean PET
Jim finished treatment August 2010 for inoperable advanced hypopharyngeal cancer: today he was told he had a completely clean PET scan last week! Talk about Thanksgiving! We definitely are!
How to say goodbye to your doctor...
Hi all, Briefly, to catch up, my husband is being for treated for lung mets from his tonsil cancer - incurable. Been going to the same oncologist since initial diagnosis February 2011. Since day one, we have not been crazy about his personality. Now that things have gone "south" and we had a second opinion, we MUCH prefer…
Specks - Crappie - Sac-a-Lait ~ Florida Style
Here's a few from Saturday, 10NOV2012... ~ The Before ~ The After They can mess up a skillet real good.... Thrown on a plate with a big scoop of Cheese Grits, and it's a meal hard to beat. Caught these in Lake Kissimmee 10NOV2012... It won't be long until some of you are in the having your taste and saliva again... Here is…
Last week of treatment
Well, like many have said the treatment bus ride has been rough, but seemed to go by fairly quickly. I think the long train ride back to "normal" will take more time, god knows I am not a patient man. I am down to 5 radiation treatments left and even though I know I will survive them I am not looking forward to the week.…

Head and Neck Cancer

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