-
Day to day living
Man somedays are just so hard to hold it all together when dealing with family, living, doctors, drugs and who knoews what else comes in our life everyday But don’t let it get to you, find something to keep focus on, as for me it is prayer and talking to my Lord everyday. Just don't know where i would be with out my Lord…
-
1/2 way there
I read these boards often, but rarely comment as I am going through what most are asking or commenting about. Today is day 20 of 35 rads and round 6 of 7 erbitux treatments. So far, I have begun losing taste, had some issues with rash due to erbitux, and some raw skin issues around neck. I did have a peg put in just in…
-
Biopsy?
I had just assumed that the oral surgeon is sending me on to the head and neck cancer specialist for the actual biopsy but I honestly don't know what to expect at the visit coming up on Wednesday. So if anyone has been through this, what was your experience on the first visit. Is he going to biopsy, cut the tumor (on my…
-
very sore jaw
Has anyone experienced problems with their jaw? I mean where the joint is by the ear? I'm having terrible pain on my left side up near my ear at the joint when opening and closing. This just started last Friday. Its on the opposite side of my surgery. I finished the radiation treatments clear back last September so find it…
-
Radiation and tube feeding
My husband is finishing his second round of chemo. During his first round he has Cisplatum and it did a great job of shrinking the tumor on the side of his neck. However, his kidney functionwent downhill and he ended up in the hospital for 5 days. His oncologist changed to Carboplatum, whic seems to be doing ok. They are…
-
Side effect of radiotherapy of neck
My dad was diagnosed with T1b Glottic in Mar'15. He under went 33 sessions radiotherapy and was NED till Nov'15, next check up is due in Feb'16. Recently we had gone for his routine heart check up as his bP was high whereas he was having low BP before. His ECG was fine but there was some issue in ECHO so he was recommended…
-
Surgery cancelled!
My Mandibulectomy was supposed to hace been January 20th, but I got the flu, then pneumonia, so they rescheduled for February 8th. Then we got a call that plastics couldn't make that date nor the 15th. Surgery was scheduled for the 29th. Seemed a long way off, but I figured I could get back in shape, get some things in the…
-
Tongue Cancer?
Hello to all and thanks in advance for any comments. Around the holidays, I noticed what I thought was a canker sore. I finally went to my doctor Feb 4th and he referred me to an oral surgeon whom I saw on the 9th. He said it looked like a tumor and referred to to another doctor for a biopsy and I'm going on the 17th.…
-
adjusting to change
Had staples removed from neck with no problem. PEG finally removed without hassle of any type of swallow test or verification. What I am dealing with now is that, although I do basically have taste back, my saliva output/creation is so drastically diminished that I have to wash everything down with some liquid, which in…
-
Introduction
I'm oldvamps wife, we are thrilled to find such a wonderful support system here. It's hard to understand head and neck cancers, they aren't like other cancers. I lost my dad to bone cancer in 98, my sister to lung cancer in 14 and step dad to cancer and old age in 15, then oldvamp was diagnosed 5 1/2 months after my step…
-
Well.....THAT'S over...
Finished rads today....gotta say I'm in a hell of a lot better shape this time, than the first time around. Partly (I'm sure) is due to having 10 less treatments than the first time...and the fact that they were aimed below saliva glands and taste buds, but above anything that could make a person feel funky. I am NOT…
-
Salivary Disfunction
Like all of you, swallowing is a major problem for me. With little-to-no saliva, trying to eat breads or crackers or meat is almost impossible because the salivary enzymes that start the digestion process are missing. Biotene products, and the like, don't work on this part of the eating dilemma, they last to hydrate the…
-
Salivary Glands
Like all of you, swallowing is a major problem for me. With little-to-no saliva, trying to eat breads or crackers or meat is almost impossible because the salivary enzymes that start the digestion process are missing. Biotene products, and the like, don't work on this part of the eating dilemma, they last to hydrate the…
-
Husband had ENT visit today
And so far so good. ENT (his surgeon) said that husband is healing better than to be expected. Tongue looks great, mucositis is almost gone, neck looks great and feels fine, not taking any meds right now. My husband went back to work completely full time on February 1st. He is down to one or two tube feedings a day, with…
-
Vocal Cord Cancer
I was diagnosed with Stage I vocal cord cancer mid-2015. I had surgery to remove the nodule (squamous cell), and then 28 radiation treatments to the throat area to make sure there were no remaining cells. I am 7 months post radiation and cancer free. However, I am still having difficulty with my voice. There was a lot of…
-
It feels just like I'm going through radiation again...Help!
I was treated for cancer of the voice box almost 5 years ago and have done fine up until this fall. I've been to my ENT and Radiologist and then down to Florida for a month's vacation. My symptons have gotten worse each week, and I am so happy to be home again. I'm going for a Pet Scan and to see my Radiologist on…
-
Two Part, Esophageal Spasms and Eye Probs Post Rads/Chemo
Hi all. I have a two part question. First, has anyone dealt with Esophageal Spasms post radiation...I had Stage 4 SCC tongue with METS to Carotid including 2 lymph nodes. Max treatment. Overdosed on cisplatin last treatment. Now have these Wicked spasms (PAIN!!!) from throat down to mid sternum on occ. Thought it was a…
-
Recurrence - looking for next steps
hi all, i was first diagnosed in Spring 2015 with squamous cell carcinoma tongue cancer. My surgeon tried to operate but changed his mind due to size and location of tumor and so I spent the summer on chemo-radiation as we tried to shrink the cancer. While it did shrink some, the cancer came back and I had a sub-total…
-
side effects on radiation therapy for oral cancer
My FIL is under diagnosis and it looks like stage 1 oral cancer. He had a lump on lower lip which is under biopsy ( he used to smoke ) . would like to know what will be the side effects if he undergo radiation therapy for cancer cells around lips ? ( Doc says surgery will not help ) . Will radiation therapy around the the…
-
Just checking in and long term effect issue
Hello to all of the new members and the oldies but goodies. Past the 2 year mark Dec 27 2015 and have been great until the mouth problems returned. Not complaining as I can swallow, eat, talk etc and am gratefull for that! So far in the past 2 years have had 12 cavitites, canker sores when having dental work, developed…
-
Meeting Mr. NED!
I went this past Tuesday to Johns Hopkins to meet with my Rad Onc. Scope, poke and prod time. All is well! He was thrilled at the healing of my throat and the questionairre about eating puts me at about 90% back to normal. So NED again! I see my Med Onc and Speech Pathologist in a few weeks and I fully expect all will be…
-
ENT visit
Nice to hear doctor say "you are getting better". Last recurrance was 2 years ago so scans will be every 6 mos not every 3 months (original cancer was 5 years ago). Original fistula now closed to interior of mouth. One still exists next to it but he feels that goes to old bone. Will address it when I have breast surgery…
-
'Nother NED
Today I got the news that my PET scan results were okay. What is really awesome is that I was able to share the news with a fellow CSNer, SonjaK, at lunch today.
-
Selfie with Mrs.BD
Mrs.BD, on our next lunch date we need to remember to take a selfie! We are failing the "hip test".
-
cured
went to cancer doc on the 1st and he said dont come back you're cured. good times. Bill
-
another update
Chemo and radiation completed 29 Sept but later PET scan revealed "lit area" on left side lymph nodes. Decision made to undergo dissection which was completed on Jan 29th. Had follow-up today, Feb 4 with ENT who removed drainage tube, arranged removal of PEG tube and informed me that Pathology report found no evidence of…
-
Recurrence-ish
Hello everyone, I've been lurking for quite some time and have decided to post in search of advice/support/optimistic thoughts. I was diagnosed at 32 with OSCC on the left lateral tongue in August after eight months of misdiagnosis. Initially clinically stage I post MRI and CT. Received a partial glossectomy, free flap,…
-
Went Back to Work
Just want to say I went back to work two weeks ago. Wed will be 8 weeks since treatment ended. I am working 3 12hr shifts a week in Labor and Delivery. I dont know how I did it/do it but its OK. It helps me feel "normal" and I am so tired of being "sick" I realize I am blessed and will not complain alot about treatment…
-
Question about Sleep patterns
My husband has finished his first round of chemo. That went well with little nausia. He became dehydrated and went into kidney failure which led to being hospitalized. Of course there was also low white cell count. This is now being controlled. However, it has seemed to affected his slepping pattern. He has troubles…
-
HELP PLEASE AND ADVICE !!
I had tonsil cancer and was treated 2 years ago and last november had neck disection as a lump reoccured - then just 9 weeks later after the swelling of the neck went down we find a new lump slightly lower down on the neck - so 2nd reoccurance - this time they are telling me if its spread to lungs i have 6-9 months left…