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Head and Neck Cancer

Archives for November 2012

nerve damage (formerly titled: 'paraneoplastic syndrome?')
My sweet 50yr old husband (Nelson)has had more than his share of difficulties during and following treatment. The last two months have seen him in the hospital 4 times with presumed medication reactions, uncontrolled coughing, and then a blood clot with a side of cellulitis from a peripheral IV. Thankfully, the clot is…
Bon Voyage,
I didn't really want to post this because I've read a lot of posts today of my "family" not doing to good or going through hard times with treatment or bad side effeects from treatment but I just wanted to let you know I go on my cruise in the morning and I am taking a little piece of each and everyone of you with me. So I…
Small Lymph Node
My husband has been cancer free, from hpv stage 4 tonsil cancer now for 19 months. I have a question, the other day I was rubbing the bottom half of his neck, and felt a small lymph node, the size of maybe the tip of my finger. His neck hurts him all the time, but now I felt this. He never had any type of surgery just…
8 weeks post chemo/rad
Hey everybody! My dad is 8, on Wed he will be 9 weeks post treatment. His weight is stabile, he is trying really hard to eat and drink. It still hurts when he swallows, his tongue is coated white and hurts on the base when the tumour was. It hurts only when he swallows. But he can eat a variety of foods and drinks 2…
Another KTeacher update from her sister on Facebook....
Saturday was good. She was peppy in the morning and ate some breakfast. She took a few walks up and down the hall, which was great. She ate some lunch. Don visited all day and kept her company and assisted with her drinking and constant moistening her lips. The nurses and doctors came by constantly, which is good. After…
so many variables
I am so worried about my husband. The doctors are doing a lot of blood work watching for signs the hypercalcemia is coming back. Our chemo dr. told us on Monday that it will come back. David wasn't thrilled to here that. They had put him on a new anti-nausea regimen and it was working great until David started having…
Sinus and nasal passage cancer - joint pain after completion of treatments
Background: Finished 3 chemo, and 35 radiation sessions. Remainder of tumour was removed a couple of months ago, and they're waiting for me to be cancer free for 3 or 4 months before inserting tubes in to my bottom tear ducts which were melted shut. In the last month, I have been hit with joint pain. If there's a joint,…
I'm just beside myself
My husband was diagnosed 3 weeks ago with rhumatoid arthritis, I know this seems way off our topics, but his rhumatolagist put him on a drug she says is used for cancer..methotrexate...she said it may cause mouth sores and losing hair. This is the end of the second week, he takes 3 once a week. I'm very concerned because,…
How do you keep food down with PEG?
Hi Everyone, Well last week was the PEG insert. He is being fed via gravity bag. Does meds by syringe. Does his flushing of water before and after. First couple days was able to hold down the food (called 2.0) and now he throws up everytime. Also can't hold his meds down with syringe. Do we know why this could be? He's…
Today is the beginning of a new outlook !
Hey everyone ! I wanted to thank you each personally for the responses I received on the news from yesterday. I took Ditto's advice and grieved enough to throw it to the back of the bus and out the back door ! I'm going to visit with family today and maybe out to the casino. Got some great info for my team on types of…
Lucky or Fooling myself?
Just finished my 8th of 35 rad Tx. I have stage IVa SCC, Lateral Tongue, Floor of Mouth, Mandible and Lymph Nodes. Some of the stories here scare the crap out of me. The "Lump" on the floor of my mouth has all but disappeared, my lymph nodes swelled up like Walnuts after the 1st Tx, but now are almost normal. The only…
The good, the bad, the ugly or rants from a survivor
The good: was having scans be NED on 10/29/12. The bad: woke up on 11/1/12 and my hearing was gone, it has been declining since my rhabdomyasarcoma cancer in 1978 and have worn hearing aids for past 20 years so went to ENT and had tests done pretty much deaf(damn ears ain't functioning). Doc says probably from all the…
Laser Nerve Stimulation and HBO
It’s about time I give you a report on how things are going with the treatment. The Laser Nerve Stimulation was working great for about the first 10 treatments, but after that it seamed to start going the other way. I now have feeling in some of my teeth and lower jar but lost motor function in the under lining of the face…
Results back sooner....dang !
Hello guys and gals, It was almost this time a year ago last time I got crappy news. MRI/CT was good news in the H/N area I'm still considered stable disease. (meaning they cannot tell me if the dx is microscopic...but can tell me it's not growing) I recieved this news on Tuesday...but didn't want to share it til the…
He Ate Out!!
Hubby and I ate out together today for the first time in six months. Following suggestions from some on this board, we hit the buffet at Golden Corral. He tried a little bit of lots of stuff. He was surprised at how good some things were. His favs were the roast and fried chicken -- yes, FRIED CHICKEN!! It was moist and he…
Update from KTeacher's sister...
I saw it on Facebook....sounds like she did well: Hi all. Shirley here, Bev's sister. Bev and Don asked that I post an update on her surgery surgery: Reconstruction surgery went great. Stuffed a bunch of fat from her arm into the void made from the removal of the eye. Took a piece of skin from her arm and made a "flap…
My little brother
I first logged in to this site (different cancer) because my husband had a brain tumor. Within a week of his death (October 10th, my little brother (45 years old) was diagnosed with a tumor in his neck. I convinced him to go to MD Anderson. He has been there for the last few days and there has been good news and bad. The…
Tim 6003 CT Lung Scan back - but "odd" Any advice or opinion?
Okay all ....you all know me well enough to know by now I like it straight and simple with some stats and facts ...so here are my results today with my oncologist visit for a routine follow-up scan....... and I hope to hear some thouhts and feedback from you all. I had been asking for an eyes to thighs scan for the last…
PEG Tube
Told I can not eat the day I get my Pet tube in. Do any of you know when you can start eating again and if there are any restrictions. I have a men's breakfast the next day should I cancel?
Ring around the Collar
I am now about 12 weeks out since last RAD, just wondered if anyone has what I would describe as a feeling of a sunburn but nothing like right after rads, it seems to be just at the base of my neck and it goes all away aroung the neck. I notice it more when I turn my head and although its mild it feels like a sunburn. I…
Dry mouth
Just thought I would share what I have been using for dry mouth at night recently. Although I realize what works for one does not work for others. I originally tried the Biotene Spray and Mouthwash but found they both were limited in how long they worked, thus I continued waking up about ever hour to take a water…
Sorry, one more question
My husband had a selective right neck dissection in August 2012. Last night I just noticed that his right scapula protrudes much more then his left scapula. It is very obvious and I'm not sure if it is from nerve damage related to surgery or if it has something to do with the radiation he is currently receiving. We have 10…
My Tongue Cancer Survivor Story _ Thick Saliva / Dry Mouth Symptom
I am a Stage four Tongue Cancer Survivor. It has been over 7 years since Radiation treatment.(December, 2005 - January, 2006) I have thick Saliva (mostly in the daytime) and very dry mouth at night. Does anyone else have the thick saliva? It is a horrid side effect, one I can barely live with. Every time I drink anything,…
Ringing in ears
My husband just completed 19th radiation today and second Cisplatin last week. Now has ringing in the ears constantly and headaches periodically. Has anyone had similar experience or knowledge regarding this. We see the Drs tomorrow but am just wondering if this is common. Thanks to all of you and take care. Joan
Sugery scheduled
Surgery is scheduled for 7:15 tomorrow morning. (Pacific time) I will have my right eye removed and a partial neck dissection. Just want this cancer out. I appreciate your prayers and support. I expect it to be a 10 hour surgery. My sister will post as soon as she is able. I know from the last surgery that I will not be…
Neck muscle spasms
Hi All, It's been a while since I've posted. I finished radiation and chemo for nasopharyngial cancer in May of last year. It's been good so far with negative CTs and exams. I am truly grateful. Most of taste has returned and saliva is at about 70%. I can lick a stamp and envelop! Of late, however, I've noticed…
Question about taste changes
My significant other/spousal equivalent (:-)) is in week 3 of 7 of radiation and has 1 of 3 chemo cycles under his belt for tonsil cancer, stage 4A. He has dry mouth but is tolerating it well with biotene and some xylitol mints and a spray, caphosol. He also has a very sore throat which he is using the caphosol for, just…
need resources for financial help
I am desperate and don't know were else to turn too does anyone know an organization that can help with rent? My husband has not drawn a paycheck since April 2011 and we have been living on one income we are seriously behind in our rent and I have looked everyone for some assistance. we live in a two bedroom apartment for…
How long to get back taste and saliva?
Greetings all. It's been a while for me on the board. Sure glad to see almost everyone is doing so well. I have a question about the amount of time it takes to get back at least some taste and some saliva after treatmente ends. I am at 3 weeks and 2 days after radiation and 3 weeks after chemo. I had 33 rad treatments and…
New delays
We were supposed to start chemo today, but the chemo inc thought David was not healthy enough yet. She has postponed his first treatment until next Thursday. He was supposed to do radiation today, but the machine had a glitch. After freaking out about wearing the mask, then they told him they would have to start tomorrow.…

Head and Neck Cancer

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