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Scan tomorrow...
and you would think that with no problems encountered with the last three doctor's visits that I'd be a bit less anxious about the results. My last scan was in March and I was supremely confident that it would be clear, quite shocked to hear bad news from the RO and the subsequent referral to a specialist and a 2nd…
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Massage therapy
Question: I had a neck dissection six weeks ago and was able to go home without any pain meds (I know, I've been blessed). However, I've noticed a tightening or a knot in my right shoulder and shoulder blade tension lately. Do any of you know what the thoughts are regarding massage therapy? Is it okay? I heard that it…
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Has this happened to anyone
I had a fever yesterday and left work early. I noticed my neck was all red and hot exactly where the treatment area was mapped out.last night the fever broke and i am feeling better todday. my neck and partial chest is still red and very sore, much similar to when you over work a group of muscles and feel it the next…
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My mom finally received her treatment schedule.
Hi All: My mom finally received her treatment schedule after 2 months of the run around. She will have radiation every day and chemo once a week. They gave her three choices for inducing the chemo and she chose an injection via the vein. Also, the doctor prescribed her Zofran for nausea. He said the Enmed was too strong.…
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extrascapular involvement on my lumph node- damn!
Finally heard back from the surgeon last night who had said following surgery the 1 lymph node that was + for SCC popped right out and was encapsulated. He did have the pathologist look carefully around it an they found extrascapular involvement so now I have to have rad/chemo for sure. Anyone else have this on the path…
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Exercise/Healthy eating
I have been reading some posts and can't help but throw some thoughts out there about exercise. I think as cancer survivors depending on what cancer we battled determines what we are capable of accomplishing. However exercising is not for everyone. I think a healthy lifestyle is as important if not more so than exercise…
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Not Important in the Scheme of Things
Hi All, My brother lost a band of about 1 1/2 inches of hair along the bottom of his hairline. Of all things, my sister-in-law says that this is bothering him (he has a beautiful head of hair). Can anyone share with me if this will ever grow back? We met a survivor who had the same diagnosis as my brother and is a year out…
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Which radiation treatment is best for SCC tongue base tumors and lymph nodes in neck?
Hello again, I just had my surgery 2 weeks ago as am awaiting MD recommendation for the plan of care but imagine it will possibly be rad/chemo. We have IMRT, and TOMO nearby (within 1 hour) where I live. Any experiences with TOMO or IMRT or Proton therapy? I am T-1 N-1 M-0 and HPV16 +. Newbee on this site.
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Met NED Yesterday at MDA!!!!
Friends, After getting the scan on Monday (whoa...my first!!! -- not as bad as my imagination made it!!) and then waiting on the ENT for three hours on Tuesday...he handed me the report and there he was --- NED!!! Jumped up and did a happy dance right there!! Then gave my wife a big ole sloppy kiss! So now enjoying the new…
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PET UPTAKE 2 1/2 Months after Biopsy! Cancer or not?
Hello, I had a small BOT biopsy 2 1/2 months ago and just had a PET scan that showed BOT uptake of 4.1. I have not been diagnosed with BOT, we're exploring as my doctor said. I have had pain in BOT for 8 months now and had 3 CT's, Tonsillectomy and 2 small biopsies. Should I be concerned with the 4.1 uptake. The…
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Newly diagnosed SCC tongue base T-1N-1 HPV16+
Hello survivors, I recently had surgery (sept 4) a partial glossectomy (TORS) and a left neck dissection. My surgeon at Vanderbilt meticuously collected slides of tissue from either side of the tumor, below it and several other places and found no evidence of cancer in any margins any where else on the tongue. He removed…
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Whoa! Before and after cancer.
The top xray is from 12/18/12 and it's when the oral surgeon said "Girl...you have a pretty big tumor in your jaw", and that was the first I knew of it... The bottom is from this morning right before he pulled the broken top molar 9/18/13 with my metal plate. Today was the first day I saw how it looks in there. Amazing!
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Base of tongue Cancer-Tongue Pain
Good morning, Did anyone have any tongue pain prior to getting diagnosed with BOT cancer? It seems most of you had other symptoms or enlarged lymph nodes, so just curious to see if anyone had tongue pain at the base of any kind. Thank you, Wellington
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First day rad
My first day at rad today. I was apprehensive early this morning not knowing what to expect, that included the hospital transport. I needn't have worried, the transport turned up on time, I was the first pick up 8.30 then we picked up another head and neck patient, followed by a terminal stomach cancer patient. I was in…
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Coborns recheck today
Well I go back in this morning to my first medical oncologist. The Drs. at the University of Mn. were so accommedating in helping facillitate this for me. Some family members are confused on my choices....I giggle and say welcome to the party guys ! Please excuse my spelling and wording as some days it's harder to…
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Oral Surgeon this morning **UPDATE**
On my way to see the oral surgeon. I have a tooth (back top molar) that has broken 4 times. Everyone (ENT, RAD ONC, dentist, etc..) want it extracted. It's on the opposite side of my surgeries and treatment. He's going to see if I can open my mouth enough to get the darn thing out. Silly as it sounds...I'm terrified. I am…
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Recovery ~ a straight line or setbacks?
Well that nice little bit of white foamy saliva that I had for a few days, and that I posted on a couple days ago, has disappeared. I'm sure that since it showed up once it will show up again. But I have had dry mouth for the last few days and don't understand it. Nothing has changed; I'm still eating and drinking all the…
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Easy, peasy. . .
After IMRT, Cyberknife was easy, peasy. 5 days, 40 minutes each time, much quieter. Meds administered after--steroid and anti-nausea. Saturday was good, I had a pedi with my sister! Sunday was not so good, headache, pain. . . I know that I will have it tomorrow or Thursday because of the steroid. Shouldn't have sores in my…
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PET Results....
A scare and anxiety for a few hours, but ended well.... Got my report, and the MD writing the report didn't give me an all clear... He actually wrote; IMPRESSION There is a new small area of hypermetabolic activity within the infratonsillar region of the pharynx as described (another area of the report). This has an…
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Still Clean
UPDATE: Saw my ENT/Surgeon today at nearly 5 months post treatment. Scoped, poked and prodded. All looks great! No concerns. Next appointment in November. Off the narcs, still healing and coming along nicely. "T"
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Good news today
Just found out last Fridays CT Scan shows continued shrinkage of the tumors in my Lung and Mediastynum. Who says Friday the 13th is bad luck. I am also finished with my clinical trial, but will continue taking the Taxotere for as long as it works. Best Mike
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Determining that you're no longer HPV positive
I was asked a question not long ago, how will I know that I'm no longer HPV positive? I don't think that there is a test for males, in fact I think that there is only a test for the HPV DNA in harvested tissue, and I think it is usually cancer or pre-cancerous tissues that will exhibit it. Anyone know of a test that I…
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Just joined the Head & Neck Club with SCC/HPV pos in the tonsil
I had posted this in the previous thread and it was suggested I start a new one. Thank you's to John, Matt and Phrannie for the welcome and the suggestions. " I hate to say it but we've just joined this club too. We are at the beginning and I am on the internet just trying to find out alittle and get famliar with terms and…
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Kidneys
When I had the high dose cisplatin back in 2009 it did damage to my kidneys, my creatine levels were around 2 to 2.2 for the following years. Last year when I was hospitalized for my lung surgery, it was 1.9. Had it checked again in May it was down to 1.79. Had it checked again last Friday and it's now 1.62. Did anyone…
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Scans Tomorrow and Scared to Death
PET scan, and all docs tomorrow. I am scared to death. Please pray. Sandy
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BURP
Can youNew drink alcohol through a PEG, ...don't drink, but this bizarre thought ran through my head reading of your experiences with an alcoholic drink . I'm told with a PEG you only taste whats gone through the PEG when you 'burp'. This thought amused me 'B..U..R..P' umm that was nice ha ha. Anyone have amusing stories…
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Silver linings
With all the complaining that we cancer patients and survivors do (and much of it perfectly understable), do we sometimes overlook the positive things that can come from it? I have struggled with my weight all of my life, up and down the scale like a yoyo. At this rate with my compromised saliva I believe I may never be…
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White foam
I am almost 3 months out from treatment and suffering from dry mouth. However, in the last week I have noticed the production of small amounts of thick, white foam. I happens spontaneously when I haven't had anything to eat or drink for a while (unstimulated). I think this is the "ropey" stuff that people complain about.…
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Can use some advise Tongue & Neck Cancer IVa
My husband has a tumor at the base of his tongue & 4 tumors in his neck (left side). He started Chemo & Rad 2 weeks ago. I am doing my best to keep his spirits up but this is a difficult task. This morning he woke with a very sore mouth. If anyone has any suggestions please let me know. He has tried the special toothpaste…
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Is it normal to have surgery before radiation?
Hi. I'm new here. my brother was recently dx with stage 4 ssc of tongue and tonsils. He had a pet scan Friday and will get the results Monday. My understanding is that if the cancer has not spread, he will have a surgery to insert a feeding tube and then a few days later he will have a 12-15 hour surgery to remove the…