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Head and Neck Cancer

Archives for November 2013

Chemo and vein pain
Any of you guys get sore veins where they IV'd you for chemo? Man, the IV I had on Tuesday now has that vein sore from top to bottom in my arm. God bless, Jamie
Biotene Gum
Anyone use Biotene sugar free gum or other chewing gums recommended by their docs - other than the use of the gum to help stimulate saliva has anyone been informed bhy their docs or their help teams that chewing is a good exercise for jaw movement and swallowing - just wondering - I am going to pose this question to my…
Constipation
How did you guys manage it? God bless, Jamie
4 Years
Today it is 4 years I was told I had cancer. Kenedy's assination seems like yesterday, being told I had cancer feels like hours ago. I can still remember sitting in the doctor's parking lot thinking how am I going to tell my wife and kids. With Thanksgiving a few days away will I see the next? Four years later I sit here…
post fibula free flap
Hi everyone! My story is much like everyone else's here..glad to be a survivor...original cancer was tongue..squamous cell hemiglissectomy with unilateral neck dissection done in 2002 with radiation to follow. Did fine until November of 2012 when we discovered osteoradionecrosis set in and basically ate up lower jaw…
What to expect when treatment completed
I have finished my third and final bout of chemo 5 days ago. I will complete my radiation in 4 days. My question is; I am very tired and weak...can barely lift my arms, legs or move about. What can I expect in regard to the body response to the completion of the treatment? Am I going to get weaker still or how long before…
Feeding tube and vomiting
Hi. I've been using the feeding tube and pumpled 400 ml wihtin 2 1\2 hour of Boost VHC. Stomach felt OK but when lied down to go sleep, start to feel nauseaed. Had to get up then had a phlegm of sticky milky texture of the Boost in the back of the throat. Tried to gurgled it out and end up vomiting. Any suggestion on how…
Update, All is Well.
Hi, just wanted to check in with an update and good positive news. Ruben completed treatment in June, (tonsillectomy, G-tube placemnt, 35 rads, 3 concurrent chemo's) and was declared NED approx. 6 weeks later. Progress has been slow, but pretty much steady. Stamina is low, but improving; he's starting to eat with the help…
So we are heading up back to Mayo
for our first post rad and chemo pet scan...we have it on Monday....I like most everyone here am a little anxious and scared...My throat still hurts and feel swollen...my wife tells me it is just the post rad scaring and I am hoping and praying she is correct...but the question I want to ask...is does the mucus and spit up…
Don't read if offended by prayer!
I feel like the Lord would like for me to say a prayer over this forum and if you are a Christian or not, you can read it and believe in it with me. The Bibile says, "Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, if…
When did you guys start getting a sore throat?
I am finishing my third week and still no sore throat - trust me, I'm not complaining. I can still eat whatever I want as long as I can tolerate the taste. When did you guys begin to suffer from a sore throat? God Bless, Jamie
Bugging you all for advice again :(
I have another question for you experts My husband turned around pretty quickly since the last time I posted with questions. He has gotten back almost all of his taste,the stringy thick mucus went away, he still has little to no saliva yet and throat is still pretty sore But he began eating and had gotten down to no tube…
Tobegolden
I am fearfull for Rick, he has not been here for a long while, I know he was having a real rough time. Anyone know anything? Denis
TO ALL OF THE NEWBIES
i am not much of a regular here anymore, but lurk around. I am typing this as I'm getting my chemo. Although I am on pallattive care, and have been battling the beast since July of 2010, find solace and encouragement that YOU CAN DO THIS!! Your new family here at CSN will get you through your journey, just as others here…
RON IS NED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NED NED NED NED ron is ned finally oh thank God and thankyou all who gave us advice and support!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! time to restart life. God Bless you ALL thankyou from the bottom of my heart for all your support and prayers. Janet
update since failed gastrostomy tube
I read my last post from the hospital when I was on Percocet and it was embarassing. I will try not to write when under the influence of narcotics. I was released from the hospital Wed. am so I went to my XRT treatment and was seen by my radiation oncologist afterwards. She examined my mouth thoroughly and said "you are…
Unremarkable
Greetings everyone! I'm sorry I haven't dropped in more frequently. I'm 3 1/2 years post treatment. The results of my CT scans showed to be 'unremarkable' ths week. I love 'unremarkable'. He's NED's brother! Anyway, I thought I'd drop by and share the news with my old firends. The treatment is tough, but it is worth it!…
Update
Hello my fellow Warriors and Warriorettes, It's been a while since I posted on the boards. I've popped in now and again to read a few posts and see how you all are doing but my time on the boards has been limited. This was self imposed as I needed to do so for my mental health. While my attitude is positive I found seeing…
Well, what do you know????
WE MADE IT!!! Just like you all said we would...Today was Pat's last day of radiation treatments. He's not feeling so hot, so here I am doing the "Happy Dance" and ringing every bell I can find all by myself...BUT, he's done and the healing starts now!!! Yeah, yee haw, giddy up, let's go!!!!! I know we still have tough…
PTSD
I have now officially been diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. I have suspected something like that for the past two years, fear, anger, feelings of insecurity. I have been on antidepressents prescribed by my doctor but things kept getting worse, two trips to the psychiatrist and he says I have a pretty chronic…
Shaving
How do you guys shave? I thought I saw something in the heaps of paperwork I got from the cancer center that I shouldn't shave with a razor any longer. But the thought of shaving with an electric on my already sensitive skin seem like an egyptian torture. God bless, Jamie
Boost, Resource, Ensure, etc.
I eat three meals a day. I was trying to supplement with the high calorie/protein drinks but have run into a problem. They seem to make me nauseated after I drink them. Which makes them harder and harder to get down knowing that they are going to make me feel puny. Anyone else have this problem and how did you supplement?…
HELP Husband's Recent PET Scan Results
My husband finished his treatments mid august, we found from the PET scan that basically it did nothing he had 6 weeks of eurbitux and 5 gammaknifes. The tumor has not gotten bigger but it didn't shrink either still the same. Also, the cancer showed up now in two of the lymph nodes what does this mean. Can they treat this…
Getting the port out
next Monday.....yup, after a year and 3 months, all the mechanical parts of treatment will be gone in less than a week. So....my big question..........does it hurt? I'm nervous, and I have no clue if this is going to be like getting my PEG removed, or if it's numb and there is nothing to feel. Once this thing is gone, my…
Peg tube failed
In hospital for observation due to failed gastrostony tube. Missed 2rad. Tx had laparoscopy placement Monday was in much pain from it and by 11am it had deflated & pulled out so went to er and resident surgeon put foley cath in as temp measure to keep holes open admitted to room at 3 am after they x ray and put iodine into…
Swallow Study was a success but....`
Fiance did modified barium swallow study two weeks ago and it went well. We were very scared his swallowing muscles would not work but they did....fluids went down the wrong way but only once the therapist was pleased. His throat was severely damaged by the radiation and there are some disfunctions at the moment but with…
NED
20 month CT skan./...BED!!! Feeling good! Ann
Moving!! Wrapping up a crazy year :)
We are officially moving! Our house sold in 21 days, and we found one that we just LOVE! It's ON the lake (you can have a dock, small boat, but no swimming), so it's not a party lake, but a relaxing lake. Our date is January 3rd. 2013 was tough...so I feel excited and BLESSED to start 2014 off in a new home. For those of…
Now looking at total laryngectomy
I haven't been on here much lately so I'll give a brief history. I am the caregiver for my husband, now age 52. July 2011 - He was first diagnosed with stage II throat cancer of the epiglottis. Went through the normal 6 weeks of radiation and 3 rounds of cisplatin. Follow up PET scans showed cancer free. Dec 2011 - A spot…
South Louisiana Food
Well, I'm starting to get bummed about food. I am born and raised in South Louisiana and food is life here - and now I'm starting to totally lose the taste of things. So, I have two questions: With my radiation for tonsil cancer, will I ever be able to eat spicy foods again? Crawfish? Gumbo? Hot sausage? How long into…

Head and Neck Cancer

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