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Rang that Bell 8/16
I rang that bell 2 days ago! While waiting to go in an Aunt and her niece walked in (the Aunt rang the bell last week). They came back just to see me ring the bell!! I was so touched! My husband and our middle daughter were there when I went into treatment and when I walked out our oldest daughter was there as well!! She…
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Cholesterol Concern Week 6 of treatments
I'm not sure if anyone can provide advice, but I just need to vent. I've read most of the posts on here and have followed much of the advice so I am very thankful for those who share their experiences and suggestions. Definitely get more helpful information here than from oncologists! I'm the caretaker for my husband,…
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6 month NED
Well almost 7 months actually. Husband has his scans on Moday, and the doctor called with the results this morning. Nothing abnormal anywhere. So very happy!! We have been doing well. Husband and I went on vacation at the end of July and had a great time. Kids getting ready to go back to school next week. And husband is…
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Rang the bell!
Today I finally rang that bell. I can't believe those seven weeks just flew by. Everyone says it gets harder bef it gets better and that has certainly been true. I've been vomiting mucus all weekend and today and it's hard to keep anything inside my stomach. I've been keeping up with the mucinex and doing salt and soda…
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1 year NED
Got my 1 year NED Friday and wanted to let everyone know. I don't post much but I read the forum pretty regular. To the people just starting there journey, it's rough but well worth the fight when your through with your treatment. I love and feel for you all! May God bless you and keep you! I didn't want cancer or the…
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Oral Cancer :(
Hello, my boyfriend was just diagnoised with the adenoid cystic carcinoma cancer located in his mouth specifically in the hard palate section. They advised us that he would need to under go surgery to remove it,, this would mean removing his hard palate , his full upper teeth and that they would reconstruct it with his…
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Hi Everyone!
Just checking in with a little update. (Tongue SCC Stage I). Almost 5 months post surgery. I have moved to New Hampshire and no receive care at Dartmouth. I love that everything is there. Lab, pharmacy. all doctors. I quit smoking three months ago. I had a follow up with the surgeon recommended by my surgeon at Yale. They…
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Found New Help for Saliva
Hello All, My new fantastic Dentist who is very knowledged in new treatments and cancer, had me try a product that has come out and for me, it is fantastic! It is called "NeutraSal", a supersaturated Calicum Phosphate Rinse. Within 2 days I experienced a better result in helping my dry mouth. The best I have tried. You are…
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Pneumonia up-date 10-26-16
Just got back from Honduras last week and down with Pneumonia this week, man that sucks. But I started feeling bad the last few weeks down there, it is not because of the weather or anything but because not being able to swallow the mucus, so it goes right in to the lungs. I don’t know if any of you remember Denny but…
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diagnosis
hi i went to a ENT doc may 20, they did a scope up nose into throat , the nurse said it doesnt look like cancer .... i went back to see the doctor a week later he did the same , he said it looks like cancer , so we scheduled a biopsy june 15 , all tests came back negative , so we scheduled another biopsy july 7 he said he…
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The end of week 2
I thought I would check with a progress report on hubby's progress to date. He is getting 8 chemo visits...doctors but him on Erbitux and is at day 10 on radiation. So far absolutley no ill effects at all. He was encouraged to eat and to actually put a bit of weight on which he has been doing becuase he doesn't want tubes.…
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5 more and done!
Next Tuesday I'll be ringing that bell loud and clear after 7 weeks of rads. I have totally lost my voice and now using liquid pain medication in addition to the magic mouthwash and gabapetin. A lot of mucus...have vomited a few times because of it. I am still swallowing and haven't had to use my peg tube yet. The skin…
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Meeting Mr. NED
Just a note folks.... 3.5 years out - NED. Despite lingering side effects (definitely a PITA but all part of the "new normal") I'm functioning at 90+% pre cancer in terms of saliva, swallowing, eating, taste etc. Rad Onc couldn't have been more pleased. next poke, scope and prod in Feb. 2017. Keep up the good fight!…
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Carotid Stenosis from Intense Radiation
Has anyone been diagnosed with carotid stenosis due to the intense radiation for nasal pharyngeal cancer? My husband had the 33 radiation doses, 3 chemo doses of cisplatian and one adjuvant of cisplatain and 5FU. Durung last chemo he started displaying coordination issues walking- dizzy, strange feeling and not steady…
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Chemo starts tomorrow...Any tips or tricks to share?
Hello, My husband's chemo starts tomorrow. Cispaltin is the drug being used. Any tips, tricks, ideas to make the day easier? Thank you! MJG1
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recovery after squamous cell carcinoma stage 4
35 year old male. I had my surgery on 4/20/16. They removed most of my visible tongue and 2 of my lymph nodes. I developed an infection in my neck after the surgery so I was in the hospital for a month. I came out feeling ok for a while. But I needed to have a wound vac on my my neck for about a month and a half. They…
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Did anyone not have a neck dissection and just have neck rads instead?
Hi, everyone. I was wondering if anyone had surgery to remove their tumor, had no suspected lymph node involvement, and was not given a neck dissection? At my second opinion post-surgery, they were careful not to criticize the first surgeon for not doing a neck dissection. They said it wasn't necessary in every case.…
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Gout... SOAB!
So... one of the side effects I've had since treatment is gout. I had it happen several times in my feet (big toe) and let me tell ya... it hurts like a MOFO! I'm coming up on 3.5 years post treatment and all in all I'm doing great! I see my Radiation Oncologist this coming Tuesday for a scope, poke and prod and I expect…
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7 radiation treatments left!
Sorry I haven't posted or commented in awhile. I've been struggling with nausea. Pain is pretty much under control with gabapetin, liquid hydrocodone, and magic mouthwash. I can deal with the fatigue too. It is just this nausea - and having to cough up mucus because of the radiation treatments doesn’t help. I had my last…
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What to do if you get different treatment plans to consider?
Sorry for the long post. I need some feedback from you good folks on the forum. I had surgery on June 30 at JH. The surgeon has scheduled me for follow-up with him and a rad oncologist on August 23. It is 7 weeks post-op, which worries me, since they recommend you start rads at 6 weeks post-op. He mentioned on the phone…
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Waking up each morning , extremely dehydrated
Hi there , Its beem a very long while since I was here last. Been moving forward with my life It will be 2 years on monday since I finished my treatment. I initially lost 43 kgs and have put a fair bit back on now. My appetite is most certainly back and can eat most things now, I struggle a bit with chicken , some meats…
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Waking up each morning , extremely dehydrated
Hi there , Its beem a very long while since I was here last. Been moving forward with my life It will be 2 years on monday since I finished my treatment. I initially lost 43 kgs and have put a fair bit back on now. My appetite is most certainly back and can eat most things now, I struggle a bit with chicken , some meats…
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3 Weeks Post Treatment
Today marks my 3rd week post treatment. Things are progressing well. I credit both my intial good health and this site to my overall successes in handling my treatments. All 3 of my docs (ENT surgeon, radiology oncologist and medical oncologist) are amazed at how well I came through the treatments considering the total of…
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Blood tinged mucus?
End of my sixth week of rads and my throat is definitely more raw. This morning, after a painful coughing session, I hacked up mucus that had a small amount of blood in it. Is this normal? Kari
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7 weeks down and finished - some thoughts on what worked for me....
Just finished 33 radiation and 7 weekly chemo (cisplatin) today and am the proud new owner of a radiation mask, a lei and diploma given to me by the radiation staff. I wanted to share some of my prep work as the doctors both said that I was lucky enough to be in the top 1% for how well I have held up during the treatments.…
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Done and done
Last treatment was today. I rang the bell. I never thought this day would come. They didn't give me my mask though.I didn't care. Thank you all for being there with me. I will report on my post tx. Not looking forward to post effects but I am so glad for no more zappings. Journey forth.
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biopsy
hello to all i am a little confused , maybe you can help i have been told i have SCC . i have a lump at BOT 3.2 x 3.5 , the pain can get intense , after 2 biopsies nothing found, next was a FNA of lymph nodes in the neck . still nothing . i am scheduled for another biopsy this week , i started seeing a ENT 2 i/2 months ago…
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NED Times 3
Received Fantastic news today. Need to start at the beginning. The PET scan done at the end of January showed Lt tonsil/base of tongue w/ few flickers in Rt upper lung. 2 1/2 months out from HN SCC HPV+ treatment I starting to improve except for burning pain at the back and right side of tongue when eating. Went to my ENT…
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my husband was just diagnosed with stage 4A squamous cell - tonsils and left lymph node
hello everyone. my husband was recently diagnosed with metastatic squamous cell carcinoma. it is in his tonsils and left lymph node. the PET scan showed that the cancer has not spread. We live in the Boston, MA area and are going thru the Dana Farber Cancer Center. My husband is going to have surgery, chemo and radiation.…
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My radiation recovery - 1 month
Well, I'm happy to report it's been a whole month and 2 days since I completed treatment. It's gone quick but it hasn't been easy. The first 3 weeks were pretty tough. Vomiting issues due to mucositis and those Boost/Ensure shakes I was drinking to maintain my weight. I've lost maybe 5 lbs and still look and feel the same.…