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Head and Neck Cancer

Archives for July 2015

Tonsil biopsy
Hi, I have a biopsy scheduled for late August for what the ent thinks is a regrown left tonsil but isn't quite positive. I was wondering if you could share your experience with having one? Everything that happened during and after? This will be an office procedure. Thanks.
Treatment Plans
Question for people. My mom and I went to her appointment two weeks ago and got things set up for her. They told us she would be going through 30 treatments with 7 chemo treatments which seemed pretty normal. They listed the amount of radiation as 60 gray to her neck and 54 to some other surrounding areas which all seemed…
Lack of Taste
Ok my mom has just started radiation this week and chemo started last week. Already she said she has thick mucas and no taste. Everything tastes like cardboard and she was struggling to even eat dinner last night. They are hitting her with 66 gray of radiation whatever that means (we didn't even know this until yesterday…
fit radiation mask today
So, I went and fitted mask today with no problems.9 snaps, cut-outs, the whole bit. They said when treatment starts I should be off the table within 15 minutes. 1st session on 10 Aug I believe, with 1st chemo on Tuesday the 4th. Now I am already starting to deal with constipation . Irrigated the PEG once today but was told…
Radiation coming soon
Hello. I am new to this site. My name is Jess, I am 27, and a week before I turned 26, I was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue. I underwent my first surgery on May 8th, 2014. I was declared cancer free in September. In December, I began having pain on my tongue again and after the holidays, I went trough…
HBO TREATMENTS
Well here I am again with questions I thought I would never have to ask, much the same way when I was DX with BOT in 2012. I went to the dentist and looks like I will need some teeth pulled and likely 20 and then 10 HBO treatments. Thus my questions. I posted years ago and have since responded to many about the fear of the…
Recovery from radiation/chemo
I finished 33 radiation treatments and chemo. five weeks ago. I am still on liquids and my mouth is sore although not as bad as it was. I am wondering about when I would enjoy eating again. You are really a social outcast when you don't eat and everything smells so good. Did you feel great when you could eat again?
Voice challenges
Greetings survivors! This is kelly & I hope everyone is hanging in there! I'm 18-months + post-treatment & I'm doing extremely well except my voice is getting very very hoarse. I was wondering if anyone knew of anything I can do to strengthen & nurture my vocal cords? I'm a public speaker and September is going to be busy.…
it all begins; update
Thank you to everyone for your support and information. I am not very good at keeping up with things like this and socialization in genera, but I want everyone to know how appreciative I am of what I have found in this community. That being said, an update is in order. Finally, I go in at 6am to have my PEG tube done. On…
PEG help
My husband had his PEG inserted earlier today and seems to be in quite a bit of pain. I'm sure this is completely normal but since the doctor didnt have the decency to come find me after the procedure I'm coming to you professionals. Did any of you suffer the day of your PEG insertion and is there anything to help ease…
Haunted
Haunted may not be the proper word but lately I feel cancer is always around me effecting friends and co-workers sort of like look I’m over here. Some of you may remember I said I worked with a guy who has esophageal cancer and another guy whose wife had cervical cancer. Well my co-workers wife past away and he retired…
Teeth issues
Hi, my dad is 4 years post treatment for stage 4a tonsil with chemo and radiation. He has had root canals and shaved some teeth down (so as not to pull them) but tonight his bottom front tooth just fell out. The dentist we saw here on Staten Island did not recommend the oxygen chamber. What can I do for this? how can I…
How does the Diagnosing work?
Hi! I'm 23 years old. I have NOT been diagnosed with cancer or anything. But I'm a mother of some wonderful little girls so I need to know things in as much advance as possible! If any one could help me it would be greatly appreciated! heres the story.. almost 2weeks ago I awoke with my normal slight sore throat. I…
Clinical trial
My husband Mike was diagnosed with Hypopharangial cancer (which had matastisized to several lymph nodes in the right side of his neck) the first of April. We choose to go with a clinical trial taking place at the University of North Carolina Cancer Hospital instead of traditional treatment. He receives weekly chemo…
Need support and prayers
Hi all, Dima woke up with chest pain and difficulty breathing. We are in ten emergency room. The first doctor said she thought it was pericarditis and that I could be caused by the chemo. That was around 8am. The cardiologist came and said something we could not understand but that sounded like it wasn't that. He left…
A friend newly diagnosed
hello, i am new here but not new to cancer. I have had breast cancer 3 times. I know the cancer, surgery chemo radation drill with BC but not head and neck cancer. My frind has squamous cell cancre of her tongue.It grew at a rapid rate and they thought she would have 1/3 of her tongue removed but in 2 weeks it grew and she…
My Husband
My husband lost his battle this morning. He fought hard for 5 years. I am so thankful that it was peaceful and he is now at peace. Now the changes begin for me as I had him for 55 years for which I am thankful. Sharon
Any regrets?
Sounds like a stupid question if you receive the news you wish to hear at the end of your treatment. Did/do any of you regret the decision for the course of treatment you ahave received. As I stated in my other post, my husband has just begun this hellish ride and has already commented that he thinks the cure is worse than…
Mom has Passed
Thank you all for the prayers for my mother. She called the EMTs this morning saying not able to breath. Took off life support two hours later. Please pray for my family during this difficult time. This is hard on me since I lost Jim 15 months ago to this crap too. Debbie
Drinking alcohol during early stages of treatment
My husband has recenthe begun chemo and radiation for his stage 4 base of tongue cancer. To date, he has received two days of cisplatin chemo and just finished his 7th of 35 radiation treatments. He wishes to have a few beers with dinner and all the data given to us by the doctors advise against alcohol while you are in…
IVa HP16 SCC
63 years old. Recently diagnosed with Stage IVa HPV16 Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma, unknown primary (Bob, pick-up on aisle IVa, SCC, heavy on the STD, all checkers to the front! ). Radiation and chemo (concurrent), heavy on the chemo (Cisplatin). Possibly feeding tube (nutritionist said eating will become…
Two years and three months NED
great report with scan coming back clear and scope with no problems. PA said I was out of the weeds and needed to go live life! WI'll see him again in year for the next three years! Not sure it has finally sank in but thankful for each new day! What are others impression when one reaches this milestone? Possible rate of…
Xylimelts
My dry mouth has gotten worse, mostly at night. During the day I can drink water, coffee, and lots of liquid to keep things in check. At night, I tend to be a mouth breather and I wake up in pain due to the lack of saliva. I tried having water by my bed, but I can't swallow until I get up and spit, gag and spit some more.…
I am volunteering again, but this time to the nursing schools.- Update 8/08/2015
I have given much thought and have decided to speak and volunteer at the colleges that teach nursing and pulmonology. We have two schools in town that train and teach nursing, RN and LVN. I will soon get the answer on speaking and volunteering to let then have experance with people who have laryngecyomy's. Most doctors and…
Tramadol and breathing
My mom has developed severe pain in her lower back. The oridinal PET in Feb 2015 showed some uptake in lower spine so I suspect it has pread in here back. They gave her Loritab but she couldn't stand or walk while taking it and it wore off in a couple hours. Now her PC has prescribed Tramodol which is helping some. I was…
confused..2 different treatment plans
52 year old woman with SCC right lingual tonsil and 2 neck lymph nodes. I also have several active areas in my chest which they say could be inflammation or cancer. Current plan is chemo/radiation for 7 weeks no surgery. 2nd opinion suggests 2 surgeries/hospitalizations followed by 6 weeks radiation-no chemo. I am told…
Follow up Question
Hi All, to Brief my huband history: he has stage 4 adenoid cystic carcinoma in left max spread to base of skull (T4N1X0). He was scheduled for 3 rounds of cisplatin and 35 rad treatments. He will have 3rd round of cisplatin tomorrow, 6 rad treatments left (however his radonc may give more depending on the scan result we…
Frustration, depression...and guilt...
Now at 11 months post tx and the taste and saliva issues still suck big time. Better than last summer I suppose, but barely... 90% of everything I eat and drink tastes like crap or not at all. Eating the same things over and over that I know have some semblance of a taste. Nothing has helped the saliva, have tried…
memory
tried to post earlier but didnt go thru. my question is : is it " normal " for chemo to effect your memory pretty bad ? mine is shot to hell and i dont know if its age ( 75 ) or the chemo. i,m 4.5 yrs out from tonsal cancer. just thought i would get some input.
i have a question
i am 4.5 years out now and need to see if some of my issues are " normal " MY CANCER was right tonsal. the right side of my neck hurts most of the time as well as the top of my right ear, throat soar a lot of the time on the right side.my taste has never returned and my memory is shot to hell. i'm 75 yrs old and i wonder…

Head and Neck Cancer

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