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Head and Neck Cancer

Archives for August 2014

Looks like I'm going to have to stop Therapy.---UPDATE
The Eributux is just kicking my butt. I'm pretty sure that I'd now be rated as class 3 on the 1-4 rash scale. No matter what we try (lotions, coconut oil-actually works better than any lotion, antibiotics and even prednisone) the spread continues and the itching is driving me to distraction. We actually did't infuse this…
Cancer stinks!
We usually say cancer sucks but it can stink, literally. Not many use a foul smell as the symtom to get to the doctor but might help someone someday. Before I was diagnosed, a number of months went by where my family constantly complained about my bad breath. I tried every possible remedy to no avail. When finally seeing…
Happy Day
Just saying, it's the weekend and it's Sunday. Some people are at home having nice little family days, some will be going to church, or for a walk, and some (like me) are at work (I've snuck off to the back office on the work computer HA)... In America it's very early in the morning, but it's 08:45 here :) Just wanted to…
Update again 9/2/14
UPDATE 9/2/14 : DOCTOR REPORTED THE NEW SPOT WAS INDEED A TUMOR AND A BLOODY ONE. HE SAID THAT HE STOPPED THE BLEEDING. NOW I HAVE A NEW DISAGREEMENT WITH ANOTHER SISTER. SHE SAYS WE SHOULD NOT TELL MOM WHAT THE DOCTOR SAID, LET THE DOC TELL HER ON MONDAY AT THE APPOINTMENT. i SAY WE SHOULD TELL HER BECAUSE SHE HAS THE…
Newbie - SCC stage 3 tonsil
I was diagnosed late in July after 7 months of trying to convince my family doctor and then an ENT that something was wrong with me. I even told both I thought I had cancer because I had an earache, swollen tonsil and half my tongue was numb and enlarged. I was told I had allergies then that I didn't, I was told to stay…
Free flap surgery
Has anyone had a mandiblectomy with free flap where they used tissue from the thigh instead of the fibula bone? When I went back for surgery follow up they told me I had fluid I'm my thigh by the incision. They said it would go away by itself but not how long. How long does it take for fluid to be absorbed? It seems like…
Dr, Oz and Coconut Oil
I thought this was very interesting, Doctor Oz talking about the good in Coconut Oil http://www.coconutresearchcenter.org/dr-oz-talks-about-coconut-oil.htm Coconut Research Center http://www.coconutresearchcenter.org/ Tim Hondo
Reflections
Today my husband and I celebrate 52 years of marriage (we have been together since I was a junior in high school -- he is older than me and mother tried to talk me out of marrying him straight out of high school. But you know back then that is what we did) and during this time we have been thru many trying times. But by…
Thyroid meds needed 3 years after radiation?
Has anyone who had squamous cell cancer of the upper esophageus (near trachea) and had 6 weeks of radiation end up having to take thyroid medication? Most doctors I asked disregarded a connection between radiation and eventual thyroid trouble but my common sense just won't let it go. Has any one here had this problem? Am I…
2 Years ago.....tomorrow
August 30 2012, is the day I got the phone call saying you have Stage 4 cancer. A life changing moment. I am not one to get upset or afraid real easily, but I'll tell you, that chilled me to the bone, as I am sure you can all relate. Of course I jumped on the internet to learn all I could about SCC, Staging, 5 year…
Inspire
My great niece was an intern for St. Jude Hospital this summer. Her sorority does fundraising for the hospital. She ends her messages with: For the children. I was thinking of ending mine with: For the survivors. This was on the wall at the doctor's office today and I felt it was more of an inspiration. You are Stronger…
Salivary Gland Transfer...
Have any of you heard of this or discussed this with your doctor at some point? I was talking to someone earlier this week that had relatively the same cancer diagnosis as myself, Stage 3 SCC BOT HPV+ with some lymph node involvement. His was three years ago. He said they did a SGT (submandibular gland transfer) before his…
Newbie..SCC of nasal cavity
Hello to all.. New to this site. Glad I found this site. I have been diagnosed with Stage 3.. SCC of the nasal cavity with invasion into the ethmoid sinus. Tumor size of a large lemon/tennis ball. Been told this is a rare cancer. Does anyone know anything about this type of cancer? Thanks so much!
Newly diagnosed
WEll I got the news that nobody wants to hear...it was confirmed that I have squamous cell cancer in tonsils after a biopsy results came back. Doctor said it was stage iV which is very overwhelming to hear. I feel like I have read way too much on the internet, but I am very glad I stumbled upon this site. The support…
Skiffin Update..
I got the PICC line out about a week ago... Started eating and drinking again, what I can. But at least I'm maintaining my weight.. The eating was rough at first, stomach aches and pains and progressive nausea..., but that has decreased. I figure maybe it was just the four months of not eating and drinking that I had to…
help please, 3 weeks since treatment finished
Hi there, I haven't been here in a while. I have now had my radiation and chemo over 7 weeks. It now been 3 weeks since it finished. I have a peg and am still using this. How long before you are able to eat again or does it seem too long for me ? I have been on morphine which I have now weaned myself off , one side effect…
Another lump... does it ever end?
Remember the lump that everyone thought was a clip? (My neck is full of clips since the radical dissection). Then it wasn't a clip, the needle aspiration came back 'acellular'. But then my consultant wanted to repeat the needle biopsy mid-September, as he isn't satisfied that the needle actually took cells from the lump?…
Sore throat 5 months after radiation
I have a sore throat for 3 weeks. It has been 5 months since my last radiation treatment. ENT has put me on a 3 week regimen of antibiotics still no relief. Also I have a tickle in my throat that results in me coughing up a clear mucous. ENT says next thing is a CAT scan. has anyone else had this problem before? I had…
This is pretty cool....
There was an article in yesterday's paper that we will have "True Beam" radiation here at our local Medical Center. I guess it is super high tech, kind of like Cyber-knife (that's what the Oncologist told me when I was there yesterday).....In the beginning, they'll be using it for brain and lung cancer, but will be using…
TODAY IS CT DAY
Hi friends, and I hope you are all doing well. CT at 9am today. I have no reason to believe it won't go well as after 15 weekly treatments of Cisplatin, the mediastinal nodes are still just dead tissue after the Taxotere destroyed them. All of the damage to my body and the severe Pleural Leakage is almost healed. The small…
Saw the Oncologist today for
my periodic checkup....hadn't been there since to since last May, and my scan was July 1st. Not only do I look good (in her eyes), and feel good (in my estimate).....but FINALLY my blood counts have returned to normal!!! That took 2 years.....day after tomorrow will be my two year anniversary of finishing treatment!…
Surgery Prior to Radiation
Hello everyone, My ENT is wanting to perform a tonsillectomy and neck dissection on the same day and then start radiation treatment. How many of you had surgery prior to radiation and how long did you have to heal before the radiation could start? I of course want all of my treatment to start immediately but am worried…
Necrosis how to stop it
As my doctors were all trying to figure out what next to do about the Necrosis the hole was just getting bigger and bigger. My daughter was doing a little research about Oil pulling; I think Laralyn had a post about it last month. Coconut Oil Pulling and Raw Honey seams to be the cure for it, I even started using a little…
40 anniversary surprise
My children and I all planned a surprise for my Wife on our 40th anniversary. I told the Wife I wanted to spend our anniversary up on Toledo Bend just me and her. Well I could see that she did not really like the idea but she went along with it. We were down on the pear fishing when her brother and his wife just walked up…
healthcare issues/red tape
I know I've seen many issues posted here about insurance issues (red tape) and cost of medical care. I was on the accoi.org site (which is for ACC) and was given this information to share with other survivors of any type dx. The web site is Patient Avocate Foundation Welcomes You ! - PAF And their phone # is 1-800-532-5274…
checking in - 14 rads done so far
Dears, sorry i haven't been available much recently. To be honest I'm not enjoying this rad treatments at all ! And sorry for the long post! 14 sessions done, still have another 14. I have developed a reflux / gastritis problem in my stomach because of stress (that's what the Dr. told me) Haven't been eating for the past…
Road Trip
My husband and I went on our first road trip since cancer #2 struck in December/January. We went 3000 miles to visit friends and family in New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and Kansas (started in St. Louis). The new profile picture is from the mountains above Alburquerque. We took the tram up to over 10,000 feet. I was…
Just Sayin..
It's been long and hard battle..., hopefully the light at the end of the tunnel is near. I still have a ways to go, still seeping a little from the stomach, but no PICC line and what I can eat is a new venture as well... But I'm pushing forward. Oh and BTW, I had a little fun today.... ~John
HAd a PET CT after 12 days of radiation.
Hi All, My father had a PET CT yesterday after 13 days of completion of radiation.What my onocologist told id ,the primary tumor has almost shrinked (with SUV-3.2 from 10.6)and size almpst gone.But the size of lymph nodes has not shrinked.and one important point is 2 lymph nodes from left side has slightly increased in…
Mayo Clinic Rochester and Modified Radical Neck Dissection
I'm wondering how many of you received treatment at Mayo? My ENT already scheduled me for Wednesday with another ENT in Bismarck to consult about my modified radical neck dissection. I wanted to go to Mayo but was told that this was already scheduled so why change it now, the sooner I get in the better. But the health care…

Head and Neck Cancer

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