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Head and Neck Cancer

Archives for October 2016

What can I expect this time?
Some of you know my story. I am really worried about second round rads with chemo. Especially when I will be alone in a hotel for a number of weeks. I had rads over the summer without chemo and it was pretty debilitating. Can I do this alone? I know the answer is subjective but I want to know what to expect.
Newbie
Hi everyone! I'm Shannon from the Tampa area. I was diagnosed with SCC, lateral tongue, on Wednesday. I haven't had scans or been staged yet. It is all so new. My consultation at Moffitt is Nov. 9th. Until then, I am trying to read as much as I can. I have a fabulous support system. My boyfriend and Mom are going to be…
Peg-tube nutrition and Medicare
During recent hospital stay, nutritionist recommended Two-Cal canned nutrition product for my husband. They referred us to home health care management which husband does not qualify for at this time. Long story short, after finding out this is an 'institution only' product used by hospital and nursing homes, I contacted…
New member - late stage - starting Keytruda
Hello all. Look forward to sharing. As my login indicates, I am the caregiver of this family. Husband diagnosed advanced throat tumor about 5 years ago. Maxed out Erbitux and radiation, finally going into remission. He has been on peg-tube since about half way through the radiation. Diagnosed late stage 4 with return of…
Balance problems and radiation
so far I've had 3 rad treatments on my head near my ear. Yesterday I have started having problems with balance. I am going to ask the rad techs and my onc. Has anyone had similar trouble? i had a cancerous tumor of the perotid gland, the balance issues that I had related to the cancer were almost gone. I believe that the…
Still tired after 14 mounts
It has been 14 months after radition and some days still very tired,Monday rode 18 miles on bike ,ok, Tuesday walked 2.5 miles 100% spent. I just got my blood work bqck, everything normal. I don't understand ,if blood work is ok , why still tired? Thanks for any insight.
Has anyone heard or tried "thunder god vine"
This is a plant that is grown in China. It has been used there since 1975 to treat cancer and other ailments. Even though I am doing radiation & Chemo it will not hurt to take this along with it. Please let me know if you have tried it and any effects on H&N cancer. Thanks Mehrdad
Surgery after radiation
I finished my radiation treatments about five years ago and have been dealing with the side effects just fine; however, a months ago the lump in my neck began growing back. Because of where the lump is, it is causing me alot of pain. I will be going in soon for a biopsy of the lump to ensure it is benign, but my doctor is…
Neck swelling/ Difficulty breathing after radiation.
Hello. My name is Violet and im here for my dad ..im so sorry to be here:/ My dad is 61 and recently ( 8 weeks ago) completed 60gy/8 weeks of radiation/, and his epiglottis was removed due to SCC. He did not receive chemo. His neck started to swell 2 weeks ago, but by midday the swellig was always gone.The docs said its…
Update on New Treament
Good morning all, Got back from ProCure Proton Therapy in NJ yesterday. Beautiful facility with super nice people. New doctor is prescribing chemo along with the radiation. This place is 100 miles from home so I've decided to stay in a local hotel for convenience. I have to admit, I'm a bit nervous this time for the…
ROLLCALL 2016- UPDATED OCTOBER 25, 2016"CLOSED"
ROLL CALL 2016 Updated October 25, 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 Enroll…
Hyperbaric treatments and insurance
Hi all, On recommendation from my dentist and treatment team I had all my teeth extracted back in February before commencing treatment. I am now almost six months out of treatment and doing well. My new normal is not here yet, taste buds are still out of wack, dry mouth is still almost 100% and the no teeth thing is…
What happens if I have Fever during treatment
Hello all, On Thursday 10/20, before the did my chemo the took all the vitals, as they usually do. My temp on 11 tries was between 99.9 and 101.4, so the NP decided to to a fever work up, which included taking blood from both arms, a chest X-ray and an EKG. They did not find anything in X-ray or EKG, so they went ahead…
positive PET scan but negative MRI--TWICE
Following surgery and radiation for throat cancer, I had a PET with a bright spot (4.6 SUV) but the MRI did not pick up any mass. Now, 4 months later, the PET is showing the bright spot at 6.1 SUV but the MRI still shows nothing. What is going on? What should my plan be to find out if this is a cancer spot? The spot is…
sliva glands
Hi.everyone.Have a question about the slivia glands.Mine haven't been to bad and didn't seem to to much of dry mouth as I was always sipping something.But now I was just fitted for dentures that were made for for my mouth.And the problem seems to be that my slivia glands are running like a nose in the middle of a cold.Has…
Insomnia
I am almost 2 months post surgery and I am having a very difficult time sleeping at night. I have prescription sleeping pills, they work but, I find myself waking up 30 minutes -1 hour later. I can be exhausted when I go to sleep. The same thing happens. Either wake up or have insomnia. Can anyone make a suggestion? i was…
What type of surgeon should do the biopsy?
My husband recently had an aspiration of his lymph nodes on the left side if his neck. The pathology report came back with carcinoma. A biopsy of the back tongue and sinus area etc needs to be performed. The surgical oncologist that was recommended has great qualifications but only 1 -1/2 years experience. A general…
Chronic Headache Post NPC treatment
Hi CSN, Has anyone experience chronic daily headaches after treatment? It's NOT painful that I need meds. Just slight/mild pain one of side of my head (temple). The strange ting is I've never had this before. It started occuring about 3 weeks ago. My last scan was before the headaches started, it was NED then. I'm about 12…
Calories and body temperature
My husband is one week post treatment (35 rads and 6 chemo's/cisplatin). He is doing about 2000-2500 calories of VHC Boost a day but continues to lose weight. How many calories did any of you need to consume to maintain weight. He isn't feeling any relief yet and also spikes fevers then they come back down. He presented…
First rad appoint next Tuesday
In late May I was diagnosed with squamous cell cancer below my left eat behind jaw bone. I've had 2 surgeries one for tumor removal the second to repair tissue damage. My shoulder and chest still hurt from the tissue grafts. I have an ear wick in my left ear to prevent the ear canal from closing up. Pain is an everyday…
Magic Mouth Wash
Hey, I just learned our insurance will not cover Magic Mouthwash. Did anyone else have this issue? We have United Healthcare.
I think something is wrong
I guess once you are told that you have cancer, you can never feel "safe" again. At least that's the way I look at it. At my last follow-up (7 months post surgery for tongue tumor removal) I pointed out something I felt on the roof of my mouth. It's kind of a rough patch. That's when he made the comment about smoking that…
3.5 years and counting...
Fellow warriors, its been awhile as the days and months roll by and I get caught up in my kids activities and the seeming normal activities of life. Then you look at the calendar and realize another milestone is upon you on this never ending journey. Not really brought about by another scan, another doctors visit or…
Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment
I started on a new journey today. I need to have two molars removed on my lower right. My doctor recommened 20 sessions before teeth extraction and 10 sessions after. There should be no gap between day 20 of treatment and teeth extraction and session number 21. Even though my radiation was completed in December 2003, I had…
Transfer of care to MDA
Hi, has anyone who is in remission (surveillance) time and tried to transfer care to MDA? I also had a few second opinions I wanted to get on the imaging and surveillance. So far I have been so far, unsuccessful. i'm not sure why. Have done a number of phone calls, many emails, etc - they don't seem to want to accept me.…
What did you use for the skin and neck burn during radiation?
Any suggestions of what did and did not work? Thanks, Margi Greene St. Charles, MO
Going down that road again
Just got my stitches out after a second neck dissection nearly 2 weeks ago. Cancer was contained to the one lymph node that lit up the PET scan. Doc says radiation, this time with chemo, may be recommended by the board. I know how tough rads are. But how much more difficult are they with chemo? I will most likely have…
Fluoride trays & gel
Hi all. I was using colgate gel Kam but it stained my teeth very badly, so now I need some ideas for a non staining gel. Has anyone tried the Ionite gel? my dentist said it's non staining.
Still not eating enough 6 months post last treatment
My husband had last radiation/chemo in April and an adjuvant chemo in July for nasopharyngeal cancer. He still is struggling eating. Eats very small amounts maybe twice a day and relying on shakes made of protein, Boost Plus and ice cream twice a day and plain Boost Plus once a day. He still has peg in but not using as…
Post Treatment Mouth Swish/Gargle
Good afternoon, husband is 4 weeks post treatment. All mouth sores are gone. Taste buds are slowly waking up. How long should he continue the salt/baking soda/water rinse? He's also still taking Glutamine to finish out this bottle of powder. Thanks as always.

Head and Neck Cancer

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