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Head and Neck Cancer

Archives for May 2017

Recurrence Squamous Cell Carcinoma?
My first post, Hi everybody. I had stage 4 Squamous Cell Carcinoma and was treated with Surgery,Chemo and Radiation. I have been clear since January 2015 until very recently. I have Developed a sore red lump on roof of my mouth and awaiting biopsy. If this truely is the evil monster coming back what can I expect as far as…
Side effects of half head rads
anyone just have one side of head done? My husband is scheduled for it but at age 70 he now feels he wants to do nothing and just have a better quality of life for his remains years. I'd like to be able to share others experiences. Hopefully with just one side effected the long term side effects have been tolerable.
Facial pain and gamma knife radiosurgery
I am one year out of my adnoid cystic carcinoma (a salivary gland cancer) treatment. I had surgury and 30 doses of radiation. About 2-3 months after the raidiation had finished, I developed this facial pain. It has been their ever since and seemed to became stronger and more frequent at times. At one year checkup, the MRI…
5 months post last treatment
Hi my name is Dennis and im new to this forum.I have been reading all I can and finally decided to try to write.Im almost 5 months post treatment and still depend on my feeding tube.I have no saliva glands working yet and I have not been able to get much down.I probbaly need to let people know that my tumor was in my left…
Dysphagia following TORS and neck dissection. Is it forever?
Was diagnosed with Squamous Cell Carcinoma with occult primary. Surgeon explained that performing TORS procedure combined with neck dissection could help locate the primary and provide pathology details on the cancer and to what extent radiation treatment would be needed, if at all. Good news - the TORS procedure did allow…
Rads away from home
For those of you who had your treatment away from your home base, what did you do about follow up once you were home and needed help with side effects?
Gall bladder removed
Finished my cancer treatments last August and had my peg pulled on Nov. 2016. Have been clean but about 7 weeks ago had what turned out to be a gall bladder attack and then another 4 weeks later. After an ultrasound and HIBA scan, turns out my gall bladder was toast. Has it removed laproscopically 2 weeks ago and surgeon…
Travel Insurance Denied
Although I love traveling with Overseas Adventure Travel, they use a company called Tripmate.com for travel insurance. Tripmate is a truly evil company, I purchased their cancel for any reason trip insurance via the Overseas Adventure Travel website. Then when I was diagnosed with throat cancer a month after purchasing the…
Hello mucositis!
Well. That didn't take long. 3 chemos and 13 rads in and my mouth is killing me! Mainly back of throat. Gargling with baking soda & salt solution, biotene rinse and oragel rinse. Only helps for a few minutes it seems. I managed to suck down a spoon of honey and that brought some relief too. Anything else I can try? Keith
I WISH...
I have been coming here since my husband was diagnosed with SCC on the base of his tongue back in October. I got wonderful advice, and feel like I have made so many friends along the way, yet don't know anyone personally. I WISH we had a huge home on the water so that we could invite everyone on here to come and spend some…
Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Hello everyone. My husband Phil was diagnosed with Squamous Cell Carcinoma in early October 2015. He had surgery that November to remove what we could, then Chemo and radiation. He lost his fight June 15, 2016. He was a Viet Nam Vet and served In Country. I applied with the VA and have given them all they have asked for,…
Five month official verdict
Monday will be five full months since completion of 35 rad/7 carbol-taxol, and today I had a routine visit with my rad oncol. Yes, I am recovering, but I still have red, tender, and swollen areas in my throat/tongue on the side where the turmor was. Rad oncol thought probably two more months on that (which is also what he…
Week 6 post radiation. Tried solid food today.
First up a small meat ball. Then at teatime a carrot and sausage with gravy. Hoping this is the beginning of a return to some kind of normalcy.
Clear PET, but new issue
My husband fought the battle and in mid April was told he is all clear. BUT yesterday his throat became sore which was alarming. He can now swallow only very soft items. No pills will go down. Has anyone else had a similar experience? I'm not sure if he has an old fashioned sore throat or if things are changing due to…
A little concerned
Im 3 weeks from finishing treatment, and about 9 before PET scan, and i have a lumpy, temder lymph nodeon the left side, in the same place. Im so scared it hasnt gone away, what do I do?
Cold / Allergy Symptoms
Hi Everyone, my husband is just starting his third week of treatment. He's been doing really well, but a couple days ago we both came down with terrible allergy / cold symptom. When he said something to the doctor, they said it was all side effects of radiation. I have a hard time believing this since I have the same…
Port or no?
Hi everyone! Just curious what your thoughts are about having a port versus not having one? Needles don't bother me at all but from what I've read on here they are worth it and my Dr would like me to get one also but its my choice. Also, feeding tube thoughts? Dr says if I lose 10% of body weight its mandatory and they…
24 years old Nose Cancer
Hi guys, I'm currently 24 and is diagnosed with Stage 3 NasoPharyngeal Carcinoma. I'm at my 25th radiotherapy and 5th chemo session. The doctors expect me to finish 33 radio sessions with chemo once a week for 7 weeks and then a one month break. Currently im on Cisplatin. After one month, im due to go for 8 more chemo…
The C: Section Chronicles – My Cancer Adventure
Hi. I've been lurking here since finishing my throat radiation and chemo treatment about 4 weeks ago and would like to share my experience thus far. I'm not sure if it is allowable or not (mods remove if not please). The following is a diary I have been keeping since I was diagnosed with cancer. The C: Section Chronicles –…
Lymphedema in neck advice
My husband is 5 months post radiation/chemo for SCC on the base of his tongue. He has developed a "turkey neck" and has been seeing a Lymphedema Therapist. The therapist is now suggesting he get a Flexi touch pump to control his Lymphedema. We watched the video of a man putting it on, and it looks CRAZY, but if it works,…
Ultrasound
Did anyone have an ultrasound as part of the monitoring of a residual note post chemo/radiation?
Skin Post Radiation
My husband is 5 weeks post chemo radiation for SCC BOT cancer. On his chin he has recently developed some small blister/acne type lesions. No oozing yet but at least one of them seems to be developing what looks like a pocket of fluid or swelling under it. Did this happen to anyone? We don't see our medical team for a few…
Early in Treatment, symptoms are starting to creep in.
I have now completed 8 of 35 rads and 2 of 7 cisplatin treatments. I am starting to feel a few side effects like a slightly sore throat, fatigue, mouth is starting to dry and taste is starting to fade a little bit. None of those are not managable as of yet. So far so good there. One side effect of concern is all of a…
It's me...AGAIN!! Food for thought? But, really...I need ideas
So we are ending the 4th week of recovery and all is well. Terry is starting to look like himself again, his voice is almost back to normal and the gross, thick mucous is all but gone! The best part is some of his taste is already coming back. Salty foods have a taste, sweet; not so much. He still has his PEG in and I am…
Mom's 3 month Scan and Recovery Questions
Hello Everyone, I posted a while back about my Mom's journey. She is currently 3 months out and doing okay. She got her first pet scan this week and the results came back positive, still some inflammation from the radiation but her original laryngeal cancner (T3N1M0 HPV+) is gone as well as the lymph node that was…
What is Physiologic uptake in the neck?
I just had a PET scan and my reults says "Physiologic uptake in the neck". What is this?
ANYONE HERE WITH STAGE II SCC of tongue and node??
What type of treatment did you receive?
Bone Pain post treatment
CSN members having NPC. Do any of you have a reucrring numbing bone pain post treatment and supported by NED? this is driving me crazy and making me a little anxious. i am a SII NPC with 35 rounds rads and cisplatin. about 1.5 years out. A few months ago I started having a dull bone pain. PET scan shows NED. However, I can…
To work or not?
I had my surgery on 5/5 and feel great. Im back to doing everything I was before and I was wondering if you guys thought it would be unwise to return to work. I'm stage 4 SCC and will be doing rads and chemo soon but I would only be working 2 days a wise. I'm a manager at a hotel and will only be checking behind…
Stage 2 SCC of tongue with mets to lymph node
Met with Oncologist Dr. McGaw today for the results of the PET scan. He said that I would only need to be treated with Radiation and no Chemotherapy. I asked what stage I was in and he looked through his notes and said Stage 2. I questioned why only Radiation and he replied that he was surprised at that determination as…

Head and Neck Cancer

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