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Head and Neck Cancer

Archives for August 2017

Jaw is closing more and more
Hey all, Hope all is well with everyone here. Many of you know my story. To keep it short, I'm finding my jaw is closing more and more every day. I've been to therapy for stretching exercises and I admit, I have not been consistent with it. For those with radiation to the neck area, are you experiencing this? I know…
And the results are in ...
Everything looks great! Scan was good ... all lymph nodes shrunk back down and the one that was the biggest is now only 1cm. The doctors can't even feel it. They said it's likely scar tissue. So, we got the "see you in three months for a scope and six months for a scan" ... they didn't actually say the words "NED", but…
Friday
Will be my last 6 month pet assuming all goes well. I'm 3 years out. For 2 months, constant mouth sores, and the side of my neck is always sore along with my throat, I'm not feeling optimistic. I have chills, fatigue, constantly sick. I can't go through this again and I have no support system, just my 11 year old son. Ssc…
Maintaining Weight on 500 Calories a Day
I'm ingesting through PEG tube between 500 and 800 calories a day and I'm maintaining my weight. Doctor doesn't know why. How can anyone not continue to lose weight on 500 calories a day? This has been going on for weeks. I have very small stool that I pass every other day. Don't know what to make of this.
Sudden Tumor Increase During Treatment
My brother-in-law is undergoing chemo/radiation treatments for HPV-related throat cancer. He just reached the halfway mark on Friday and his tumor had shrunk considerably and he was feeling pretty good considering. He woke up Monday am and the tumor had suddenly appeared to be larger than ever! Dr is going to increase both…
Week Five Update
SCC Stage III Base of Tongue HPV+, 47yr old male. No port, no PEG. Well, I've made it to week 5. I have 7 weeks of radiation and one more chemo to go. To date, I've lost 9 lbs (but I put on 20 extra, so I'm still 11 ahead of normal). I've yet to throw-up, but I do feel nauseas frequently. A week ago I thought I'd hit a…
SCARED TO SWALLOW
Did a load of laundry today. Also walked the dogs. Other than that, I slept on the sofa. Ten days out of treatment. Trying to take more sips of water but did choke a couple of times. Read somewhere that I should swallow sips of water at least 8 to 10 times a day as exercise for my throat. I had been doing only 2 or 3 times…
Bone damage due to radiation,second tumor,end stage cancer
Hello everyone. My sister underwent a partial glossectomy 9 months ago followed by 6 weeks of oral radiation, 4 months ago. None of her doctors believed her when she complained of ongoing,unusual pain and severe swallowing problems 3 months following radiation.Not one x-ray,CT or manual exam was peformed. 4 doctors told…
Biopsy Results - How accurate?
I started a thread a couple weeks ago about an ulcer on the inside mucosa of my mouth, labial mucosa. This ulcer was painless for the most part and worried me since I have used chewing tobacoo in the past. I also started having tingling sensation on that side of my face and even in my lips. With all that being said, I…
newly diagnosed and questions
Had a painless lump pop up on the left side of my neck that needle biopsy confimed was a cancerous lymph node and already had a tonsillectomy yesterday to get the ball rolling. Said chemo and radiation is to follow. UGH. First question, my pain is pretty bad right now from the operation but if I take any of the prescibed…
post treatment nerve pain knee/leg
Hello All, My husband is almost 9 months post treatment for Stage 4A Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the head and neck, specifically right base of tongue, right tonsil, and 4 lymph nodes. He has had a clean PET and 2 clean CT scans and we're VERY thankful. He was a part of a Study at Siteman Cancer Center in St. Louis, MO. Our…
Insurance won't cover suction machine - anyone recommend one?
Well, my insurance claims they will not cover a suction machine unless it's a part of in-home health care. Very few places around me carry them and one that would rent to me said I have to provide my medical information and diagnosis to them - no thank you. So, I'm going to just buy one. The medical supply places want…
Question for long term PEG users
Do you do anything special to prevent aspiration ? I'm always sitting or standing when I do a feeding and/or flush. I'm also sure not to lay down for at least an hour after a feeding and/or flush. Is there anything else I should or not be doing to avoid aspiration ? I had a g-tube for about a year with no problems. After…
Nasopharyngeal tumour radiotherapy effects
I have just joined CSN, my first post, I had NPC diagnosis recently, and have started radiotherapy for nasopharynx recently, here in London. this is Not the first time, because I had tonsil cancer SCC 7 years ago and went through the chemoradiation followed by neck dissection. This time no obvious symptoms but for last…
Am I A Wimp?
Ok fellow H&N folks, I am 8-9 months out of T1/N3/M0 stage 3/4 Tonsil SSC, +HPV Treatment. The standard 36 rads and 7 weeks of Cisplastin. My question is do any of you all feel wiped out still? Its seems like after a work week and then 2 days of race chasing on the weekends that I must sleep and recover for at minimium of…
Taste/DryMouth
Guys i'm losing hope here, i am approaching 7 weeks post-radiation and am 2 weeks post-chemo. (all done!) Taste buds, will i ever taste food again? So far i can taste the salt in the rinses that ive done yet i tried a french fry and nothing. Theres a taste to a strawberry-banana drink mix but i couldn't tell you it was…
Precancerous lesion
I hope someone can give me some hope. I October of 2016 I had two surgeries to remove precancerous lesion from my tongue. (did not get clear margins first time) i don't know (nor do doctors) why it still hurts. All the time. I have been to a dental surgeon and to an ENT. It has now been almost 11 months and everyday is…
What would you have wanted to know
I'm volunteeering in a support group for H&N cancer patients at my HMO. One of the things we are looking at doing is developing some sort of booklet giving people in, or headed in to, treatment a guide book for how to cope, what to expect. I have my own experience to draw on, but there are a significant number here that…
Scanxiety
My husband will have his first post treatment scan this coming Saturday. Everything seems fine ... he's healing well, eating well, no lumps or bumps. Just an occasional sore spot in his throat and a bout of thrush. However I'm getting really nervous about this scan. They only do a CT scan at this hospital unless they see…
Ear Throat Pain / Tingliness
Hi All - I apologize, as I am sure many get annoyed at the threads started for people freaking out about possible warning signs and not being diagnosed, but I wanted to get some feedback and see what you thought my next steps should be. I just returned from an ENT after suffering with one-sided ear and throat pain for the…
Please help im going crazy i beleive i have ORAL SCC but no one is picking it up
Can anyone here tell me if i am in the right place im going crazy i have signs in my mouth that look bad but oral surgeon, ENT , Dentist all said nothing is wrong :-( I would love to share some photos of what i see and if anyone else is going throuh this Thanks
4th Time Around
The cancer is back... so angry!
Stage 1 larynx cancer on right vocal cord progress. Not Happy
Hello All: Just joined this board tonight because I liked what I was reading about the same problems that I am experiencing after 42 radiation treatments for cancer on right vocal cord. I was diagnosed with cancer on Dec.6 2016, and two biopsys were performed via laryngoscopy. 1st one was inconclusive, second one was…
Full on laryngectomy with bi lateral lymph removely
Hi I had this radical surgery after recurrence from previous RT treatment, six weeks ago tomorrow. i am still very swollen lower face and neck with almost solid Edema in those areas. My mouth is equally swollen and swallowing even saliva is damn nigh impossible drs say it's a time thing but just wondering if anyone has…
Chemo Type 1 Diabetic PEG Tube
PEG Tube placement Wed Aug 2, Cisplatin Mon AM Aug 7, Rads 5 days a week, began vomiting Tues Aug 8, 1:30AM, PEG tube infected at placement site, began 2 tpes of antibiotics, hospitalized for acute kidney failure for 4 days, as of today (5 days out of hospital): able to eat small amounts of oatmeal, hamburger patties,…
In treatment looking for help
first time posting 2 weeks left. between the radiation and chemo I can't keep food down. I'm on meds but not helping. Anyone can recommend a food that taste normal? I can eat oat meal and some boost drinks. losing weight fast. anyone with ideas to get through last two weeks. And when will I start feeling better.
Tongue biopsy pain
I'm having a really bad day. I had my tongue biopsied on Monday and I've had the usual pain that one would expect but today seems to be particularly bad. I'm a chronic pain patient and therefore I take narcotics on a daily basis for the pain of the two diseases I have. My pain management doctor that prescribes my narcotics…
LAST RADIATION TREATMENT TODAY
THIRTY FIFTH AND FINAL TREATMENT TODAY My brother drove me to treatment today. Evelyn, Ann, and Carolyn met us there. I had my treatment and then I gave the techs gifts I brought for them. Some peace rock paintings that I did last year. They seemed to like them. Then we did the ringing of the bell ceremony. I was given a…
Ending week three - throat becoming an issue
47 year old male with SCC base of tongue stage III, HPV+. Just ending week three of daily radiation. Chemo is every three weeks and I get hit with the second round next week. I've actually been doing really well up to this point. I'm 20 pounds over my average weight, I work full-time, I eat normally and go out to eat…
Post Surgery/Clean PET - recommended radiation treatment?
Hi, Just to be clear, I am not asking about whether she should do radiation - she will, but what kind, and if anyone has a big problem with a somehwat short delay? My fiancee got oral cancer again (12 years after vanquishing it from her tongue the first time - this time in the mandible/tongue/part of throat) stage 4 and…

Head and Neck Cancer

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