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Head and Neck Cancer

Archives for June 2016

My radiation journey - Week 7
Today is my last radiation treatment. Nearly 7 long weeks, I am so ready to put this behind me. Thank you all for the advice and consolation. Me and my couch are having a wonderful relationship right now. This was pretty rough. I will post my recovery process for those behind me.
is MRI enough to detect tumors in the neck or base of tongue?
I had a MRI of the neck yesterday. Can someone tell me if this is enough to detect tumors in the neck o base of tongue? Thank you! !
Peg Tube is gone
I've had my tube for 6 months. So, after getting the all clear after my PET scan it was time for it to go. We had a love/hate relationship. Got the tube removed yesterday and it is remarkable how fast the hole begins to heal.Took all of 5 seconds to remove, but Doc was instructing an intern on how to do it. "This time pull…
Did anyone else have a crooked smile after mouth surgery?
I had very noticable damage after my partial glossectomy...my smile was very crooked. Half of my upper lip (the tumor side) was significantly higher than the other half. It was really hard to apply lipstick. From what I learned through Googling, apparently the lingual nerve can sustain serious damage during surgery. When I…
Day 1 of week 5
I started having pain in my ear and throat by the second week. Third week there was a bit of nausea and fatigue. Also loss of taste buds, but not all or for everything. Sores felt worse the end of week two. I think week 4 was better. I can taste cucumbers. Chicken is tasteless, same for potatoes, but I'm enjoying yucca…
Cheapest places to buy ScandiShakes
I know several members going into recovery...and actively in recovery...are maintaing weight with Scandi. An excellent product to be sure, but it is spendy. A case of 24 would last me about a week (three per day) and I used it for many months, so it really is $$$. I found Amazon to be expensive. Family OTC has a better…
Some laughs at my compromised speech mistakes...
Sometimes I feel a bit embarrased about my less than perfect speech post-rads (and the knowledge that it's not really going to improve much beyond my 90% recoup...but then something happens to make me laugh about that. And two funny things definitely happened recently. While I was eating lunch last week (and I always get…
Week one done
Hi Everyone ,Shirley here with my week one report. So I've been pretty tired but it comes and goes. My tongue feels raw like i burnt it and i just today got a metallic taste behind my lower front teeth. Slight pain in the throat. Skin is doing okay as i have been slathering it with the cream i have after rads and before…
ROLL CALL 2016 - UPDATED June 27, 2016 (CLOSED)
ROLL CALL 2016 Updated June 27, 2016 All H&N members are welcome! Roll Call is dedicated to the memory of HAWVET (JOHNNY) who’s curiosity to know and to share a little bit about members of the Head and Neck Forum inspired him to start and run this thread (2008 thru 2014). Thank You. First off, please feel free to Enroll…
Ride for Roswell
What a difference a year makes! Last year I had to ride alone because my husband was in treatment for Stage 4 Nasopharyngeal cancer. This year we did 20 miles and crossed the finish together. The whole event consisted of over 7200 riders and volunteers and raised 4.5 million for Roswell Park Cancer Institute - a…
Super quick and soothing watermelon salad
I've been eating this lately and thought I would pass it along. And don't like to cook, so If I tell you it's done in under five minutes, you gotta believe it. Very cooling and soothing for your throat and it's goes down well since it's mostly liquid. Buy some watermelon (spears or cubed or even a half melon, if you like…
Starting treatment today-nervous!
Hi everyone, Quick intro: I am a 42 year old who was recently diagnosed with HPV+ stage III SCC. The tumor site sits between my tonsils and I have two affected lymph nodes. Today I start the standard seven weeks of radiation and tomorrow I go in for my first of three infusions of cisplatin. I live on Vashon Island, which…
Is anyone else having trouble uploading pictures?
I know how to do it...my request just keeps getting denied. I tried resizing to make it smaller. barbara
Aloha!
Aloha, I was diagnosed in late May with T2N2bM0 squamous cell carcinoma of the left supraglottic larynx, Stage iVa. After diagnosis, I had PET scan which showed up negative. My excellent ENT in Honolulu (I visited 3 and consulted with a 4th) told me that he did not think that surgery of my larynx was a good option due to…
Intro
Hello, new to the forum. diagnosed in March SCC of the tongue, Stage IVA, 4 positive left lymph, PET cleared the rest of the body. In April underwent a hemiglossectomy, with a free flap reconstructed from a thigh graph, also had a tracheotomy, right and left neck dissection to remove positive nodes and the right was…
My journey so far
I was diagnosed with Stage IV Moderate differentiated invasive squamous cell carinoma of left base of tongue, left glossopharyngeal sulcus and left palattine tonsilla area on 16 Feb 16. I also had a swollen gland on the right side of my neck at the point of the jaw. This was surgically removed and biopsied as a Warthins…
Continue Strenuos exercise?
Found out 6-22-16 that I have cancer in my rt tonsil that has spread to 2 lymph nodes. Overwhelmed and trying to maintain a PMA. Gathering facts, getting 2nd and 3d opinions AND going for PET Scan Thursday which I am extremely nervous about. Part of me keeping sane is my daily work outs, P90X, which as some may know is…
Back home on the Bay Island
Sorry but it will not let me post
My radiation journey - Week 6
Week 6 has been terrible. The effects of all this has hit me hard, as expected. I have 4 treatments left, one neck and tongue, then 3 tongue booster treatments, which will wreak more havoc on my already blistered tongue. Eating solids is nearly impossible, even with the meds, which I started this week. Shakes are my…
Treatment far from home?
I live in Chicago suburbs, receiving treatment for recurrent SCC of the tongue. My tumor(s) have failed to respond to a Carboplatin/Abraxane regimen at the University of Chicago, and so far it looks as if my options there are palliative care or total glossectomy/reconstruction, neither with great survival rates. It's been…
feeling hopeless
Hi everyone my name is william and i have few questions for you guys. 1. It is possible to develop oral cancer through hpv and just months after a possible exposure? ? 2 can someone get medical treatment for cancer despite lack of insurance? ? Recently i visited two ent doctors and both told me that i have hypertrophy on…
Inner and outer lip sores
For those who might have had these from radiation during treatment, what did you use? I tried Aquaphor but it does not help. Is there something medicated to use for the lips? The side of my lip is cracking also and painful. I'm using my soda rinse religiously, and also the glutamine. Cancer sucks and so does the treatment!
"Best" hospital for Head/Neck?
I am very pleased with the care I've been receiving at University of Chicago Hospitals (live in Chicagoland suburbs), but my squamous cell tongue cancer has proven to be quite resistant to chemo (and is described by one doctor as "mean"), and I'm no longer a candidate for follow-on chemo/radiation. They are down to choices…
Looking for tongue reconstruction survivors
Hi. After 12 years of remission my tongue cancer returned with a vengeance in December - two tumors removed, one round of targeted brachy radiation, a new tumor appearing almost monthly. I "changed teams" to University of Chicago - much more satisfied with the doctors and staff there. I went through five weeks of…
Paresthesia of the tongue
I am new to this site as a result of my search for answers! I had a partial glossectomy on 4/20/16 and am so tired of the "pins and needles" feeling on my tongue. I am wondering if others have had this following surgery and how long it lasts?? It's really not that bad of a feeling but it's CONSTANT! I understand it's the…
Mucous, Mucous (and did I mention Mucous)
17th of 33 rads and my 4th of 6 Cisplatin infusions are on my calendar for tomorrow. That being said, the overal mucous development in my throat has reached epic levels. I seem to spit mucous all day long. I rinse with salt/baking soda solution about every hour. I swish/swallow aloe vera juice with L-Glutamine 3 times a…
Update on my freaking out
So last week, my husband was going to see his ENT about a suspicious spot at the back of his mouth. He is 5 months NED after stage 1 tongue cancer treatment. I was freaking out naturally. You all helped me calm down. He had the appointment, and the doc did not think it was cancer, but to be on the safe side, he decided to…
New Treatment for head and neck cancer
http://m.ndtv.com/health/australian-researchers-find-new-treatment-for-throat-cancer-1216466
when you are dropped from a drug trial
Good evening: This is my first post regarding drug trials. My husband, who had stage four metastatic head and neck cancer, joined a phase one drug trial involving Keytruda and incye 02436 at the University of Pennsylvania Abramson Center in February 2016. Within three weeks he was hospitalized and dropped 15-pounds during…
1st post treatment scan results
Hey everyone! Got the results of my first PET scan post treatment and my results were as good as could be expected. NED, yay! thanks board for all your help and support. i know it's only the first but it is a relief for now. Now to get this darn tube out, lol.

Head and Neck Cancer

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