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Head and Neck Cancer

Archives for September 2016

Six Weeks post treatment update
I've been pretty absent from the forums during my recovery, but I'm trying to catch up with everyone now. Looks like some new folks have joined the club since I last logged on. I'm a little over six weeks past my last radiation. The first few weeks of recovery were the roughest in terms of mucus, nausea, and finding it…
I'm so tired...
I was diagnosed with stage 4 head & throat cancer about 20 months ago & have been through chemo and radiation treatments and many surgeries... I've started seriously dropping weight & today I have almost lost 20 lbs in the past 2 weeks... I also started having dizzy spells again which I had gotten over... I have decided…
13 month post treatment CT, two small pulmonary nodules
I'm 53 non smoker. March, 2015, I was diagnosed with Stage IV HPV 16+ squamous cell tumor on left tonsil and one lymph node under left jawbone. I had TORS to remove tumor, tonsil and clear margins, then a neck dissection to remove 40 lymph nodes that were all cancer free. I then had 28 tomotherapy radition treatments.…
Infusion port clot
When I was in treatment I had an infusion port (Port Cath) that, once rads were complete, caused a clot in my right jugular. I spent two weeks on self injecting Lovenox, and then 3 more months on Warfrin to resolve the clot which was successful - though my medical oncologist had originally said that I might need to be on…
Lymph nodes in my neck are painfull
went to my ent on Monday to get the results of my pet scan . Results where negative for the primary , only showed the secondary in the lymph nodes I'm the left side of my neck. So exploratory operation to have a closer look at the base of my tongue and other areas was put on the waiting list. Tuesday a got a call that I…
Late Onset Cervicoscapular Muscular Atrophy--Anyone heard of it?
About two years ago, my left shoulder (the side that got radiated) started to get noticeably weaker and is now sagging about 3 inches lower than my right shoulder. I have limited range of motion when the trapezius muscle needs to be involved--pulling a t-shirt or polo shirt over my head hurts like hell. I did some…
Help with mucous patch
My husband is really struggling with the mucous. Making him throw up, nauseous, spitting up blood. He is considering the patch to dry him up. Any advice on the patch?
My 1st Erbitux went well, but I am not well.
I had my first Erbitux treatment forf 2 hours on Thursday 9/22 late PM. I have only a few minor side effetcs, but they are making making life miserable to me. On thursday night woke up several times due to a horriblle headache & queasy stomach. Finally around 4 AM, I took 1000 mg of tylenol & it reduced the horriblle…
HBOT and claustrophobic
Hello, I am 3years post treatment for stage 4 throat cancer and now I have a bad tooth they want to pull but the oral surgeons are insiting on HBOT. The problem is after the radiation treatments I will not get in a confined space. Is it mandatory to have this therapy?
Cigarrte Smoking question
Hello, This question is intended for people who are currently smoking or were smoking until they were diagnosed with H&N Cancer. I am a smoker who used to smoke 10 cigarretes per day until mid August when my diagnosis of H&N cancer. Since then I have cut 1 cigarrete every week, now I am down to 5 cigarretes per day and I…
Ending week #2 of rads & chemo. Already have grade 2 sores.
Week #2 ends tomorrow. Tomorrow I will be able to say "10 treatments down, 22 to go." It could be the addition of once-weekly chemo, which I am told magnifies the radiation side effects, but I have already developed grade 2 mouth sores on the target site (upper gums, left side, back). Today my rad. onc. confirmed it when…
Tooth Issue Bone & Gum Pocket
I'm looking for some advice and wonder if anyone can help? I am 2 years post treatment. Prior to treatment, I was advised to have a wisdom tooth removed on the radiation side which I did. About a month ago, my dentist advised me that I needed a crown on the last, back molar just in front of where I had the wisdom tooth…
PET SCAN AND CT
My husband has H & N cancer, right base of tongue, right tonsil, 4 lymph nodes on right, and hyoidal bone (right side)...He is in a trial . He is only 6 weeks into the 16 weeks of treatment and the study calls for a PET and CT after the 6th week of chemo. I do not know what to expect. I'm so nervous. His tumor has clearly…
SCC lession on nasal septum
Sep 22, 2016 - 5:21 am Squamous cell carcinoma lession on nasal septum Hello, I am new to this site and would like any input on my case. In April my PCP referred me to an ENT dr for a lession that I found in my nose. I went to the ENT and was told I needed to have it taken out and biopsied and he was almost positive that…
Change in Mental status
I am the caregiver for my 70 year old husband. Been through 33 radiation and 3 chemo cisplatin in April. Had one adjuvant cisplatin 5FU July 25. Had complication of acute renal failure in April that resolved. On Prozac for depression. Still has bouts of nausea vomiting due to mucus or some unknown. Has been treated for…
CT Scan of lungs
As the long timers here know, I was diagnosed with larynx cancer in 2009, doctors consider that cured now, I was then diagnosed with a very small lung nodule that was removed and turned out to be cancerous, that was in Summer 2012, yesterday had CT scan and all is still clear, it's great to get scanned at 8am and meet with…
done!
I had been posting weekly on hubby's journey, which was going well until week 5 when he developed the dreaded fever of more than 100.4. This resulted in a four day stay in the hospital and then a slight nose dive. I am not sure I would recommend being admitted to a teaching hospital again. There was a great deal of…
Skin issues long after treatment
hello everyone. It has been over 18 months since surgery (base of tongue and both sides of neck), radiation and chemo. I have an interesting issue with my skin still so long out. The skin above the surgery cuts seems ok but below the cut is sensitive, gets rashes etc. I have limited feel above the cut but full feeling…
1st PET Scan Post Treatment - not NED
Well, 75 days post treatment and my first PET scan shows activity in a lymph node on the opposite side of my neck, where I had my first surgery to remove a cancerous node. I also have Sarcoidosis. Doc says it's possible to be related to that. Either way, a biopsy tomorrow is in order. If it's cancer, back under the knife…
Intro and radiation time
Hi all. I'm a 47 yo male. I was diagnosed in early August via a FNA of a left 4.6cm node which revealed SCC (p16+). No visual of the primary was found via several (awake) scoping attempts. PET and MRI seem to indicate a small-ish primary on the left tonsil, but everyone across multiple teams at multiple hospitals had…
Alcohol
Today was my husband's last radiation. When he asked the doc when he could have a glass of sparkling wine to celebrate rad oncologist said 'when hell freezes over'. Is that a joke? I mean once his sores are healed? He's just a light drinker but does enjoy a beer on occasion. What are y'all's experiences with this topic? On…
Newly Diagnosed and Confused About Scans
Hi, all. This is my first post but I have been reading for the past week or so and I really appreciate the information and advice you all have been generous enough to share. I'll try to keep this brief. I have been diagnosed with SCC of the soft palate/throat. I had CT scans done, which the doctor said showed no spread to…
Caretaker Advice
My husband has 9 more rads and 1 chemo left! I have been able to work other than days off for appts with Doctors and the chemo infusion days. We have a supportive family and a daughter that is a nurse, so I feel that he has been well taken care of. However, based on the wonderful advice on this forum I am trying to plan…
ROLLCALL 2016 - UPDATED SEPTEMBER 18, 2016 CLOSED
ROLL CALL 2016 Updated September 18, 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 Form inspired him to start and run this thread (2008 thru 2014). Thank You. First off, please feel free to…
Mouth sore
I am 8 months post treatment. Have had 2 clear scans and one visual exam a few weeks ago. I still have issues with thrush. I have notices a small white mark at the back of my tongue where it meets my gum. Right in the corner. It almost looks like a crack in the corner of your mouth you get when you have thrush. It's white,…
Last Rad Tomorrow
My husbands last radiation treatment is tomorrow. He's managed but it sure hasn't been easy. His cancer was in his upper left cheek and jaw area. This past week his tongue is causing major pain. It does t look to be thrush as its only his tongue. Question is: normal pain or sores from radiation? Anything help besides pain…
Are my Oncologists Too relaxed?
Hello all: 1) I was diagnosed with Cancer at Base of Tongue stage 4b HPV+, on 8/22/16. My medical oncologist just stated that "I may want to see my dentist." on 8/22. I saw my Radiation Oncologist on 9/15/16 and he told me see your dentist ASAP and ask him to extract only those teeth that are hopeless. I asked him how…
White patches inside my mouth. Is it the Decadron?
Hello, good people! This morning, I found white patches on the left, upper side of my mouth (where the tumor was removed and where they are focusing the rads). This past week was my first week of rads, and I had my first chemo on Monday. They gave me 3 anti-nausea meds to take. Decadron was one of them. It's a steroid, so…
My Catch 22 and Advice ASAP
Thanks for all the great advice that other people on this group have given to me. The shorter version of it is that: 1) I have had CT scan, needle biopsy of lymph node, Pet CT scan (8/17), MRI and Biopsy at the base of the tongue (8/30/16) 2) Based on this my Medical & Rad ocologist have both said I am at stage 4b, even…
Catch 22 Need advice ASAP
Hello all, I have a dilema and will appreciate advice from anyone who has been in a similar situation: My swollen left neck lymph node appear on July 16, 2016, followed by the right on the 25th. I had a PET CT scan on 8/17/16 and was diagnosed with H&N cancer stage 4b HPV+, primary : base of tongue. Yesterday 9/15/16 I had…

Head and Neck Cancer

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