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Head and Neck Cancer

Archives for November 2014

Salagen (for dry mouth)...
When I saw my ENT last week and complained about the dry-mouth he prescribed 'Salagen' which is used specifically to stimulate saliva secretion in patients that have undergone rads for head and neck cancers among other afflictions. I'm picking it up this week. Has anyone here ever used this medication or knows of someone…
Out of hospital
After 4 weeks in hospital I'm home. I had a blocked bowel and was dehydrated. I was vomiting internally as my throats blocked and the stomach contents had no where to go. A bag was put on my PEG tube and my stomach drained. It was left on for 10 days. A formula was made for me and I fed through through a vein. I lost 4…
What are the x-rays for?
my dad just finished week two of 30 radiation trearments at MSKCC. he is HPV+ SCC BOT. He said he is getting an X-ray once a week but he's not sure hat they are for. Can you detect cancer on an X-ray? What else would the weekly x-Ray be foR? Thanks for your help in advance.....
To Worry or Not - NOT (PET SCAN CAME BACK CLEAR!!)
Had my PET scan this morning. Had it at the hospital where I hard my laryngectomy in January. Anyway, just like every one else, I want my results NOW. But, of course, the doctor is not working today. The radialogist came to talk to me afterwards - first time that happened - should I worry or not? He asked if I had any…
Lack of urination
My first post - but i have read a ton of posts looking for this info.... My husband just finished treatment - 3 Cisplatin / 35 rad for stage IV, HPV positive, primary location not found (occult? - that doesn't seem like the correct word - I am a little weary) Radiation was pretty widespread because of not knowing the…
Happy Thanksgiving Day...
...and on this day I went for a PET scan and it came back clean and I welcomed my new friend NED to the house. The side-effects from the rads get me down at times but the news today was most welcome. Ironically on this day of thanks I am given new hope for the future...
2 year scan check in
i hope all the boys and girls who helped me get through the worst experience of my life are doing well and enjoy this thanksgiving holiday today. Those of you in the midst of your battle keep up the fight. I just wanted to say I went for my 2 year scan last week with much anxiety and the results were good- the letters we…
My Old friend Pneumonia
Had another fight with a little Pneumonia for the last 3 or 4 weeks, did not know what was going one. I would feel good during day and sick at night, running high fever and then freezing. I had to go out of town on a 3 day job but had to come back home because I was feeling so bad. Caretaker Wife made me go see the family…
Prayers needed
I found out two days ago my Mama cancer is back. She had half of a lung removed along with lymph nodes in 2011. Now she has lmph nodes from the removal area up into her neck, or how ever you say it. She is 76 Years old, and I wish I could be with her again, but I have to worry about me this time. Oh and she has asked for…
Hi to all.
Hi to all, Been kind of quiet for a few days fighting these crazy radiation and chemo effects. I have been reading the posts and to some of you my heart is so sad for what you are dealing with and with others, I am so happy you are finally NED.Or at least finished with these horrid treatments and on the way to healing. And…
NED
I am so happy to see the reports of NED these past few days. I want to add my hubby’s NED report of his 1-year PET this past week (epiglottis with 2 lymph nodes; 38 rads and 8 cisplatin; no surgery). We had the scanxiety, as he has been having a bit of difficulty swallowing and choking, which were part of his original…
Effects of Radiation Long Term
I'm a nine year survivor of tonsil cancer and have a new problem as a result of radiation treatment. I had a cold back in the spring and had to have a tube placed in my right ear. It was full of fluid and would not re-absorb. The past two weeks I have had a sore throat and once agained noticed my right ear feeling stopped…
Surgery after chemo rad
Hello all my warriors, How are you guys doing,Its been long time i was away from this foroum,as i was with my father during his surgery. Yes my father underwent surgery after Chemo and 35Radiations for T3N2Mo.The surgery underwent fine.It was Total Laryngectomy and partial pharyngectomy with Radical neck dissection.The…
Parted ways with peg tube today.
Hi, Just parted ways with my peg tube an hour ago. It feels so weird not having anything dangling in front of me hahaha. I was weighed first and then bought in to Dietician. I had unfortunately lost another 2 kgs and thought they will definitely not remove it today. But the dietician asked if I used it anymore and I…
Pet Scan Results
We are so excited !!!! we just talked to the Dr..... Fridays Pet Scan was Clear!!!!!!!!!!thank you God!
Me an' NED at 6
I got the best Thanksgiving present I could hope for with a NED PET result last week. It was almost exactly 6 years ago that the ENT used the C-word for the first time, and it's been a long hard battle for me and my wife ever since. Truly, I would not be alive if it wasn't for her, some amazing doctors and nurses, and so…
Passed the 2 year mark- Tonsil Cancer
Hi All, Having passed the 2 year mark was a great relief!!! The best part if this whole experience is that I had my one salivary gland moved to below the center of my chin before the therapy. ....although I can only produce saliva on one side of my mouth.....the surgery was a blessing. Has any one else had the salivary…
What? I can't hear you.
Hey, I'm curious what you all are doing about hearing loss. I have lost probably 40% of my hearing and am so tired of catching half the conversation, but not as tired as I am of asking people to repeat themselves. Has anyone gotten hearing aids and was it a good idea? S
Hello fellow warriors
Just a quick visit to say HI. Today is 5 years since I was told I had throat cancer, something I wasn't very thankfull for a few days later on Thanksgiving but I didn't have a choice. This coming Thanksgiivng I will be thankfull for still being here and able to watch the Eagles kick the Cowboys azz on my favorite holiday.…
Surthriver Giving Thanks
It is close to Thanksgiving, and I have a lot (a lot, have you ever really thought about that term, I mean really, a lot, what is that....; what is a "lot" anyway?)to be thankful for. First and foremost, I am just happy to be here, and then, I am a surthriver, having been here 14 and change years past my final…
Still in hospital
still in hospital 3rd week. I've had endless tests, 4 ct scans, 5 X-rays, the diagnose has been so far dumping syndrome, now ruled out, now they say it's a blockage in the bowel. They've taken that seriously as I'm a PEG feeder and a completely blocked throat. I've had a bag attached to my feeding tube so nothing goes…
Expiration date
I know that we don't have an expiration date. I plan on enjoying my days. I have another recurrance in my Maxillary Sinus, scattered, not a well defined tumor. No surgery, no more radiation. I am looking into a trial medicine or a chemo combination to keep the monster at bay. It would be wonderful if it would shrink.…
2 Days Left !!
I only have 2 days left. One more Cisplatan and radiation tomorrow and then one last rad on Friday. Last week I was hospitalized for 2 days from dehydration and at the end of my rope. Mainly I have thrush, peeling neck skin (lizardish). I am without a feeding tube and have survived on Ensure. This last 7 weeks have been…
Hello old friends
Hi guys and gals. Thank you all for your prayers and I want to especially thank my dear friend Hondo. This man has basically kept me alive so many times with his never-ending words of encouragement and prayers when I didn't really feel like I had any reasons left to keep going. God definately has a sense of humor as I now…
Counts too low
Went for my 3rd and final chemo (one day of cisplatin & 5 days of 5FU) after finishing up 35 radiation treatments last week. My white blood cells count was 600. Extremely too low to do any chemo treatment. My treatment plan does not allow me to do any type of treatment to help with the counts. So they canceled the…
Dry Mouth / Throat
Three months out now from tx of 3 chemos and 35 rads and the dry mouth and throat seem to be getting worse. Have to drink water constantly and of course now have to go to the bathroom constantly. I wake up and it's not too bad but gets progressively worse as the day goes on. By late afternoon and early evening it's…
"Scanxiety"
Hi Folks, Tomorrow is yet another scope poke and prod. 19 months out and just about two years since my diagnosis. I'll be on the road at 6am and off to Baltimore. I don't anticipate anything negative as I feel pretty much the same as I have the last 6 months to a year but there's that nagging "scanxiety" digging away at…
Post Treatment Scan
Hubby's post treatment CT scan showed his cancerous node shrunk by 1/2 and they believe what's left of it is dead tumor. Originally they had said he had tumor wrapped around and invading his trachea, in his thyroid, and in various nodes. The doctor didn't see any of that on this CT... It really just addressed one para…
19 radiations done and 11 to go: why do I feel more anxious?
Hello I am very surprised about how I feel: rather than feeling released to get closer to the end of radiation, I am getting anxious about the possible side effects; I have been extremely lucky that so far the side effects have been minimal. During my radiologyst check up, he expressed his surprise on how well I am…
With sore throat comes a very croaky voice.
It has been approximately 13 weeks since treatment. I know I will still have this sore throat for a while longer. But sometimes my voice gets very very croaky and some days I can hardly talk, almost as if I have a bad cold. Is this normal ? I totally forgot to ask my drs this last week. They seem very happy with my…

Head and Neck Cancer

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