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Head and Neck Cancer

Archives for November 2016

Drinking Alcohol after treatment
I am a two-year survivor of stage III tonsil cancer positive for the HPV virus. I met with the head and neck surgeon last weeks and he told me that declared me cured but also told me that I should remain cautious and continue with yearly scans and regular visits for a long time. When I asked him if there is anything I…
-Suction Machine
Hi Fellow H & N Cancer Patients and Co. Patients. One thing we didn't learn or hear about until after we really could have used it was a SUCTION MACHINE! During our last visit with the Radiation Oncologist Nurse Coordinator she asked my husband what was his worst complaint at that point. He told her that the mucous is so…
Checking in after 4 months.
Hi everyone. Had my 3 month check up last month. They didn't give me a pet scan which I would of preferred but I had an MRI. They said it looked " good" and to not be scared that the report said" can't rule out residual tumor" . Oh okay. They will scan me again in 6 months. So I'm like soooo am I NED ? They said until…
Tongue biopsy...
I had a tongue biopsy on October 26, 2016. It's now Nov 27, 2016 and my tongue still burns and hurts. The biopsy was a fairly large excision of a "lesion" and hurt like hades! It apparently let thrush loose in my mouth and OMG! Felt like my mouth was filled with embers! Biopsy came back moderate dyspepsia something or…
Tongue biopsy...
I had a tongue biopsy on October 26, 2016. It's now Nov 27, 2016 and my tongue still burns and hurts. The biopsy was a fairly large excision of a "lesion" and hurt like hades! It apparently let thrush loose in my mouth and OMG! Felt like my mouth was filled with embers! Biopsy came back moderate dyspepsia something or…
Neupogen to treat low white blood cell count
Has any one had Neutropena/LOW blood cell count late in treatment...Have 6 rads to go...1 chemo and hubby is in hospital with extremely low white cell count! They're not giving him anything except IV Antibiotice. I want them to use Nupogen or something else to rebuild the white cell count, but the hospital staff quite…
neutrophils
My husband has Squamous cell carcinoma, base of tongue, 4 lymph nodes, right tonsil, he has gone through 9 weeks of Two types chemo (Abraxine and Cisplatin) and then he has completed 29 of 35 radiation treatments and 2 of three more planned cisplatins. On Thanksgiving Day he was to go to the Cancer Care Clinic for fluids.…
how long for throat to heal
Hello folks I had 6 wks of radiation for sqamous cell carcinoma in situ. I was very fortunate to have caught it very early stage 1. I'm just curious how long others have found for the throat to be back to normal if that's possible. I can eat some things others i pay for eating later. I have trouble sleeping because of a…
Double tonsillectomy for single enlarged tonsil waiting for results! Help please!
Hi all, not been diagnosed with anything. Waiting on biopsy results post tonsillectomy a week ago today. Presented at my gp in early October with flu like symptoms and severe sore throat which i thought was something I picked up from my wife who has the same and lost her voice for a week. i was sent away with cold…
Been a while.............Happy Thanksgiving
Hi Friends Fighters and Survivors It has been a while since I visited and I could sit here and make excuses but they are a dime a dozen and I have 20 cents worth. It has been 8 years since I was diagnosed with throat cancer and it pissed me off that I had to deal with the nightmare during my favorite holiday. (Turkey…
Weird bump and growths that are new
HI everyone, I'm amazed at all the new posts since I first started coming here! It's been a long time. Short intro....my hubby just over a year out from treatment for stage 4 tonsil cancer HPV+. He had chemoradiation with cisplatin. Up to now things have been going great. He's maintained his weight, and although he's still…
Please advise: mouth cancer
Hi there, A few days back I met with an accident and suffered few injuries and lost 4 teeth. After a few days, I called in a doctor to fix my teeth. I decided to try partial denture or dental implant to fix it. While he checked my teeth he discovered some discolor in my mouth and he recommended to take Oral brush biopsy to…
I'm new here
I'm new here. Was diagnosed with SCC in March of this year. Tumor was on the right side of my tongue. In May I went through a partial glossectomy (partial tongue replacement), right neck disection, tracheostomy, feeding tube placement and a skin graft of my right forearm with removal of the radial artery for the tongue…
Optivo
I'm sure some, if not all of you know that the FDA approved Optivo for H&N. I didn't see an article on the board so i thought I'd post. They are in the process of commercializing it (pricing it out) and should be available in early December. Here's one article on it.…
My new adventures...round 2
Hello fellow cancer survivors, So, here I am, in an extended stay hotel in beautiful Somerset NJ, beginning a second round of radiation, this time with chemo. I will be here mostly weekdays until early January, right through 3 major holidays. My goal is to drive the 100 miles back home for the weekends, depending on how I…
Hang in there
A year ago today I got a call from my Dr. w/ the biopsy results telling me I had stage 4 tonsil cancer at age 44. I have a family which included three children ages 13, 6 & 4 (at the time). It ruined our Thanksgiving to say the least. As all of you know, many horrible thoughts and concerns consumed our live when you were…
Another Newbie to group
Just diagnosed with SCC in a lymph node on the left side of the neck about two weeks ago. PET scan confirmed mass but found nothing else anywhere. ENT surgeon has removed tonsils (not so fun for a 63 yr old but am recovering ok). He also biopsied a couple of other places at the base of tounge and in the throat. No results…
New to the group!
Nov 18, 2016 - 4:16 pm Orburator during chemo and radiation hi everyone, I'm new here but have been trying to do research about how likely it will be that I can wear my orburator during the time frame I'm having the dual chemo and radiation over the next few months. I had my surgery about a month ago and obviously like…
When did your tongue stop burning?
After nearly 5 months post rad, I'm still dealing with a burning tongue. Is there an end in sight and what can I do to improve it? It's really affecting my appetite. Since my last surgery October 7th, I'm down nearly 20 lbs pre cancer. I can't seem to eat enough these days.
Post squamous cell carcinoma base of tonque questions
Hi Everyone, I was diagnosed last May with Stage 4 squamous cell carcinoma, started at base of tongue and spread to lympnodes on right side of neck, 2 large tumors that turned into one big one... I'm 44 never smoke, occasional beer drinker.. I had no pain or symptoms at first, until I felt the lympnodes which came on…
3 month check up - good news - I think??
Went in for my three month PET today and all my docs were thrilled. The tumor at the back of my throat is gone and two of the lymph nodes aren't showing any evidence of disease, either. There is one node (that I didn't know was affected) that has shrunk quite a bit, but only showing a partial treatment response. There was…
3 month post PET inconclusive / biopsy conclusive
For those of you who know my story, radiation and chemo treatments for Stage IV tonsil cancer ended on 7/15/16. My 3 month post treatment PET was performed on 10/14/16. The results showed a 4.6 SUV in an area where part of my tongue was removed. The docs could not conclusively determine whether this was radiated tissue or…
Great news today!
My husband has his 4th set of scans on Monday (his 42nd birthday!) since finishing treatment for stage 1 tongue cancer back in January. We got the results today, and NED again! His ENT wants to see him back in February, but we aren't going to scan again until next summer! He said the risk of more radiation from more scans…
3 month check up/1st pet scan results
I saw my Radiation Oncologist today. He said I am 100% cancer free, no residual, nothing, no evidence cancer was ever there....it is as good as it gets...you can't get a better report!! I don't have to see the Radiation Oncologist for 6 months!!! He also said there is no need for me to have any more pet scans! I see the…
Chefdaddy ?
Hondo Have you heard from or talked to Mike lately. Just wondering Dave
Interesting Article in Washington Post
Interesting information for new comers https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/shavi
Neck dissection discomfort - Found some help
I am only a couple of weeks out from a Supgraomohyoid Neck Dissection. I have numbness, weird twinges, nerves jumping around, and a sensation that I have a tight noose around my neck. I read the comments regarding massage being helpful. So I had an idea given that I didn't have a masseuse handy. I took a vibrator, and I…
Ding Ding - Ringing the Bell - NED
4 Nov - PET scan six months post treatment. My first scan. Prior to this my radiation oncologist and ENT limited the follow-ups to scoping. The tumor had responded well to treatment (32 hyperfractionated doses plus 3 Cisplatin). My original diagnosis was Stage 4A T2N1-2aM0 Moderately invasive squamous cell carinoma of the…
Anyone familiar with Proton Therapy and side effects of this treatment?
I am considering Proton Therapy. How bad are the side effects compared to IMRT radiation?
2 months post radiation return of major pain
Good evening everyone, My husband is 2 months post radiation. After his pain went away at about 3 weeks after treatment, he was totally pain free for 4 weeks, didn't even have to take a tylenol or advil. Last week, he started having major pain again, unlike treatment pain. This is near the surgery area. More muscular or…

Head and Neck Cancer

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