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Head and Neck Cancer

Archives for December 2013

Can NPC cancer spread to feeding tube site?
Hi everyone. Just a curious question. Can the cancer at the H & N metastasis to the PEG site? Anyone has experienced or know of such? What are the sign and symptom for the spread? Thanks. PM
Transoral Endoscoic Surgery for Tonsil Cancer
Does anyone have experience with this type of surgery? John Hopkins is advocating surgery for early stage cancers of small size. Website says: Many patients with smaller tumors in the mouth, throat and voice box may be candidates for tumor removal through the mouth (transoral). This is a minimally invasive technique that…
Introduction from Switzerland
Hi, my name is David Jellison (hence, DaveJay). My wife and I moved from Denver, Colorado to Geneva, Switzerland about a year ago, in connection with my work with Siemens. Just as my current high-pressure project came to an end, I caught up with some administrivia, and finally got that physical the Swiss Social Security…
Fever
Soooo, for close to two weeks I have been running a pretty consistant fever in the evenings in the temperature range of 99.1 - 99.6. Most of the time I don't even realize it... but sometimes I can tell and I check my temp and sure enough... I ask my onc when I saw him Friday and he didn't seem to be concerned about it.…
All I can say about this article is, WOW who knew!
http://health.usnews.com/health-news/hospital-of-tomorrow/articles/2013/10/30/top-hospitals-opt-out-of-obamacare
Need "back to work" advice
2013-12-30 I have been reading posts on this site obsessively since christmas anticipating the journey ahead. To say I've been impressed with your collective wisdom and courage would be a severe understatement! Now , I need your specific opinion on this: i begin IMRT rads (60 gys to primary, reduced level to bilateral…
Where to go for a second opinion
My surgeon reviewed the CT scans from today, and is leaning towards not operable. But, he will be conferring with a neurosurgeon tomorrow. I do want to get a second opinion - its not something that I ahve done before. What places would you recommend going to? - the cancer is in the neck, and I guess creeping down the…
Cancer spread to port site
My husband was 4th stage Squamous Cell Carcinoma on base of the tongue. He had 35 radiation treatments and 7 chemo treatments. He also got MIRSA from all the burned skin on his neck. The cancer in his neck was gone, but months later a tumor grew in the port site in his chest. On Oct. 30, 2013 that was removed. This is the…
Deformed bottom lip
has anyone got a deformed lip from neck dissection. After my op my lip drooped to the left really ugly and the muscle on the right side was drawn down making a line pulling my cheek down, when I talk or smile the left side of my mouth pulls down and I talk out of the side of my mouth. The right side of my bottom lip is so…
Chime in - if you wish
My husband has sme serious back issues now. Spinal Stenosis, lumbar fracture and a bulging disc. He was fine before cancer treatment, after that he has had a slew of health problems. The latest is the back. I am blaming the chemotherapy drugs for the bone deterioration. Here is a list of health problems from the past 3…
needing to vent a bit
Hello everyone, Well I'll have to see my primary in the a.m. Having alot of issues with pain in the right lung. (the one I had resected last Dec.) Also waking up from a deep sleep with major pain behind my left eye. Can we say Damn on site here ? Damn, damn, damn. Well that's how I feel right now. I was being such a smarty…
Update since finishing rads
Hello all, Finished radiation therapy and now just taking it day by day. Neck burn: switched from Alra MD wanted me to use to Calendula and it seems to be more soothing. Must be allergic to something in the Alra. G-tube: still irritating the H___ out of me, waking me up and pain under left rib, hard to get comfortable and…
Preparing for Cancer Treatmet
Its been 10 days since I was diagnosed with SCC HPV+ of the left tonsil, possible cance in one lymph node on the same side. Was told after the biopsy that it was stage I but if its in the lymph node I guess that would change. I have seen the Oncologist, will see the Radiation Specialist this week and together with my ENT…
Been a long time, it seems...
Hi All! Been a few years. I had the cancer on my left tonsil in 2011. Did the feeding tube, 35 rad... Then in May 2013, during the night had a horrendous coughing spell. I thought it was due to allergies/whatnot. But 2 lumps formed on my neck..had bi-opsy. Cancer. My PET from 2011 was completely clear, I mentioned this on…
Question about swelling/edema
Hello! I finished my chemo/rad in August and got a good petscan in November. Little by little I'm doing a little better. The ENT had me order a smaller trace and it feels better, especially on the outside of my neck. The other one was rubbing the skin raw and was real swollen above it (edema). Some of that has gone down.…
Safe to have baby after treatment?
Hello everyone. Need your personal advice or experienced opinion. Is it safe to start having baby after recovering from chemo and radiation therapy for head and neck cancer? Would the treatment affect the health of the fetus due to genetic change or damage from treatments? I am 40 y/o male and 1 month out of treatment.…
Needed to write, good news, boost needed, still leaning
Haven't been back to my lifeline for a little bit, just looking for a little boost from you all - sorry to ask, sorry to feel like whining - I have 15 rad and 2 chemo treatments to go - living on ensure and water, started supplementing water into my feeding tube, I feel light headed when I get up, so not enough water - I…
Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma
Hi there! I'm just wondering how many people on here have been diagnosed with ACC, what kind of treatment you've received, and how long you've lived with this diagnosis. My primary tumor was the submandibular gland in July and it was removed in August. I've got new growth in the parotid now and another near the middle of…
H&N Cancer, not Esophagus Cancer. Late, not early
Saw the surgeon today. He looked at the PET scan, and its not good. It is head/neck cancer and it extends into the esophagus. More tests are needed to see if is operable. That should be Monday. If it is, he will remove the esophagus, the voice box, and put in a trachea. If not operable, then chemo. Prob not radiation,…
Another Test
Was just going to ask is it normal for the diet doctor to be concerned about colon cancer now that we have gone through this,was in today everything looks good have my Ct scan scheduled for the 6th of jan. for the new lump found and the dietetionist wants me to have a colonostomy (parden the spelling) on the 11th of…
Plan in place???
Well, I thought I had a plan. Saw the new ONC yesterday and had two choices (drug combos) suggested by Mayo. I opted to lose hair and have acne in place of nausea, mouth sores and diarrhea. My decision was for Cetuximab (aka Erbitux) and Paclitaxel (aka Taxol). I just went to get the paperwork so I could tell you what I…
Mucus making me throw up
How do I stop that from happening?? I certainly HURTS to throw up stomach contents when your throat is in week 8 lol. Sucks, just threw up all in my freaking bathroom again. Had lots of mucus so I'm guessing that's the culprit. How do you stop it? Everything I get down my gullet for nurishment causes the inside of my…
Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma in a 10 year old
My 10 year old son was recently diagnosed with Mucoepidermoid carcinoma in the parotid gland. The cancer was found when he underwent surgery for the removal of a branchial cleft cyst, which turned out to be a tumor. We feel as though we are straddling two worlds here with treatment options. This is an adult cancer in a…
I'm taking care of the hair issue next week...
My hair is so think it's pretty much transparent. It's still coming out in handfuls. I can't pull it up or back because you can see my scalp if I do. I'm cutting it OFF next week. Short, almost buzzed. I'm going to try starting over since the docs don't understand WHY it's coming out so crazy. I'm looking forward to it…
Esophagus skin sloughing off...
How long does this happen? Also, I don't really have that sore of a throat anymore (maybe because I'm wearing a pain patch), but the food supplements (SPIZ, Carnation Essentials, Ensure, etc) all cause a thick mucousy situation that is hard to clear out. How long does that last? lol Thanks again guys and God bless, Jamie
Recurring Thrush post treatment
I was diagnosed with cancer in my right tonsil on April 1st 2013 it had metastasized to the lymph nodes on the right side of my neck. Although it was stage IV when it was found, after surgery to remove the tonsil, 7 chemo treatments and 35 radiation treatments ( finished June 11th), I've had 2 clean scans and am doing…
She Said "Yes :)
I wanted to share the good news with my H&N family. I asked Marcia to marry me and she said yes :) I did the "Christmas Story" proposal. Those of you familiar with the movie "A Christmas Story" know that it's the story of a little boy who wants a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas. He gets told by everyone including Santa…
Scans on Thursday
I have my CT and PET scan on Thursday. I went to the oncologist this morning that I used in 2007 (and have been seeing regularly). He schedued the scans - I should know by the end of the week where I stand. So, now I can enjoy Christmas, instead of waiting for a call. Except for the food part. I still can't eat. But, I did…
Merry Christmas - I miss you all!
This January will be my 2 year mark with clear and clean scans / checkups from my stage III throat cancer. There is no way I can express how much I love every day with my family. You spend many days going through treatments looking at the faces of your children, you spend many moments answering question from worried little…
So, I finished today!
Now for the dreaded week 8 and the recovery. I hope I can get back to work pretty quickly. I still have quite a bit of stamina. I never had a feeding tube but it makes eating a challenge at the moment because it hurts like heck to swollow anything. But, I'm sure I will overcome that. Thanks everyone for the support... I'm…

Head and Neck Cancer

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