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Head and Neck Cancer

Archives for August 2018

Abscess in Neck
My husband has a neck abscess. He kept complaining about bad tasting stuff being secreted out of his upper jaw/cheekbone. Then his temperature started going up; his incision and drain site looked red and puffy. I wasn't taking chances, so took pictures of his neck and sent by text to the doctor's assistant. They had us…
Feelings and Depression
It's not something we talk about. In fact, as a former EMT, depression is something people who are going to kill themselves never ever talk about. They smile, and when they are done, people say "he/she was always so happy" We are very good at hiding what we really feel. So, I'm going to start it, First, there's the "why…
Pet/CT scan FEAR
Hi H&N members: We'll i'm still plugging away. Treatment over with and my ENT did scope me. He found an elevated tissue where my tumor was on base of my tongue. He said it is still the cancer or just swollen tissue from radiation. So I have to have a pet CT scan. I have Severe claustrophobia and anxiety. I took the test…
just finished week #4 of 7
Have right tonsil cancer with 4 lynph nodes same side level 1 &2. Stage was 4a under old staging and now stage 1 under the new staging for my HPV positive. Things are going very well so far. The primary was the tonsil and it basically melted away after the fist 6 rads. The tonsil filled the whole right side of my throat…
The C: Section Chronicles - Reflections - 18 months on
Hi everybody, I've been down in the dumps the past few months so hadn't been around to catch up with people on this board. It's been 18 months since I had my last radiation, and so far the oncologist has given me the all clear. To recap; I've had sepsis twice in the past two years, and throat cancer inbetween. The first…
Saliva back
One year post radiation of pure hell and I just got saliva back. Doctor said it wouldn't happen. I did have faith and stuck with it. Taste not back but I am eating and I feel it coming. Those of you in similar situations keep the faith and pray. You have nothing to lose. Best wishes to all and good luck.
Stinging on scalp and face
I finished treatment (immunotherapy and radiation in March. For the past 3 weeks weeks every time I get hot or sweat I start to sting and itch on my scalp, face and neck. Has anyone else experienced this? Thank you Blessings of healing for all Orchid
Personality changes
Has anyone experienced big changes in your personality? I know there is chemo brain but how has that affected you and did it end? My bf had 40 rads and 3 Cisplatins. He had an emergency tracheostomy and feeding tube. I know a ton of changes has come his way and I know he is trying to figure out a way to maneuver through…
Home Again - TORS surgery complete
I'm so glad to be home, friends! I thought I'd get on here while we were at the hospital ... but of course that was not of importance at the time. He had the TORS surgery, took out part of his tongue, a muscle that controls tongue movement, and part of his paryngeal wall. Then the regular surgery to take out the affected…
Osteoradionecrosis
I am starting radiation treatments this week, 35 total plus chemo. I am concerned about what I read about bone death due to RT, called Osteoradionecrosis. A friend of mine just developed this after five (5) years after her last RT session. Does anyone know the statistics on having this reaction after RT?
Checking in
hello all. I don’t know what made me think to check in, but here I am. Almost 6 years from my last treatment. Glad to see some of the people that were here for me during my ordeal Are still here. As a survivor we all know our inner feelings. It is easy to say you have to fight. For me it was the toughest fight I ever…
Recurrent pa
I completed radiation treatment for suproglottis cancer one year ago and so far so good except the other side of my throat where the cancer was not has become painful. My oncologist scoped and didn't see anything abnormal. My ENT wants to biopsy. My question to long term survivors is: Is this from irritation? I do try to…
Last treatment was June 15
Hello all my last day of treatment was June 15....7 weeks of radiation to the left side five days a week and Cisplatin once a week for those 7 weeks. I faired pretty well during treatments although scared to death most of it. Doctors kept saying I’m doing well, no pain throughout just lost taste of all foods. But throat…
Head & Neck SCC, 3rd Recurrence. Any success stories with Immunotherapy?
I have been desperately browsing and searching to find useful information online, but only have been bumping into scary statistics. I found Inspire, Cancer Compass and CSN websites and decided to sign up on all three in hope to get more information. Our story. In 2010 my hubby was diagnosed with SCC after removal of a lump…
Dad has Tongue Cancer - Need to understand
Hi to all, My dad was diagnosed in March with Stage 4b Tongue cancer. I don't know all of the numbers, but he had a 4.6cm x 2.7cm tumor in his tongue (OPSCC). He had the other lymph node involved on the other side. PET scan revealed something in the liver, which turned out to be the same cancer, albeit only about 2.3cm. He…
Two Days From Surgery And Insurance Refuses
Just found out insurance is refusing to approve his treatment again. NEVER get an HMO. They're saying they approved the doctor and the hospital, not robotic surgery. We had a huge fight to get it to the teaching hospital. They KNEW we were asking for robotic surgery. It was the REASON we were able to get the referral ....…
Pain Meds other than Opiods
My husband and I are both concerned about opiod addiction. He called and asked for something this week because his neck and shoulder are hurting more and more, as well as a killer headache. They gave him oxycontin, which he's not wanting to take. Thus the question: ARE THERE GOOD PAIN MEDS OTHER THAN OPIODS? I figured…
very slow taste bud returns
I am 10 weeks post treatment and feeling good except for my taste buds not really coming back. I can discern tastes on nearly all foods but the taste remains awful, to the point I'm not really eating solid foods. I drink 2 shakes a day but am really getting sick of them as well. I have read and re-read the other taste bud…
Scarring of inside of throat
Wondering if anyone has had scarring inside your throat that affected your swallowing and what was done to alleviate it. Quick update...bf had Stage IV tonsil, had emergency tracheostomy and PEG, completed 3 Cisplatin and 40 rads. Passed 1st PET 6/12, had appliances removed 7/13. He's seeing PT for this issue and they gave…
False positive PET scan?
Anyone havee sai experience with a false positive PET scan? Had surgery for BOT cancer right side in December, followed up with 30 rad treatments ending in March. Went for a follow-up PET scan last week and rad onc called to say something ("at the low end of what we consider worrisome") basicallh in the exact same spot as…
Cancer in the Upper portion of the Esophagus
Hi All. I am wondering if anyone has had Cancer in the upper (cerival portion) of the esophagus? My mom was recently diagnosed with Cervical Esophageal Cancer. She is T2 or T3, N0 or N1, M0. They are not sure about the lymph because they cannot biopsy it due to location. did not light up like normal cancer would on PET.…
Where is the Answer???
The Trifecta-Surgery. Chemotherapy. Radiation. Pick one, pick two, or all three. Identical disease-staging etc. One treatment provider/board recommends one, two or three of the above, and another will recommend something different, most notably not surgery. Why surgery? Delays the known SCC killer-radiation and chemo. Why…
Have I got a story to tell.....
I have been pretty scarce on the forum for a while....but I gotta tell you guys what has happened in my life. First a little history, because I don’t recognize many names....course Matt is here....he kept me laughing for years. Ok...I was dx’d in 2012 with NPC....I had the regular 35 rad treatments, plus 3 Cisplatin…
Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma
Hello All, I was recently diagnosed with Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma and will be meeting with the Radiation Oncologist on Friday. I am curious about the differernt types of radiation and if anyone has any information on the most appropiate type for this cancer. Any suggestions and information would be most appreciated.…
SCC Back of Pharyngeal Wall - Break Jaw??
When we first went to oncologist (teaching hospital), the oncology intern told us that they would break my husband's jaw when they do the TORS robotic surgery. We did not think to ask the surgeon about it. My husband is concerned about it and wondering what to expect. He's hoping the intern was wrong. My husband insisted…
Sore throat when speaking... feeling worried.
Ho all. I am 5 weeks post treatment of my right tonsil SCC and multiple right lymph nodes, hpv positive. Finished 33 rads on july 6th last month. I am very scared as i feel sore throat and little pain on the right side while i speak. I dont know whethet it is caused by radiation or something else more serious. I am…
Strange Symptoms
This is a difficult one to describe and will most likely not end with knowledge. Trying to keep it short is hard too but I'll try. The year before I was diagnosed with tongue cancer (BOT MEC), several times a month I'd get a low grade fever. (99-100) At the time I assumed it was due to having a sinus infection and why my…
Charmit
Anyone heard from Charmit? If you are out there... just thinking about you and hope you are doing well! D
Question about newly diagnosed SSC HPV Stage II
My husbad was diagnosed with SSC HPV Stage II June 2018. We've been fighting with the insurance company since then. We are on a limited PPO -- who knew cancer was coming? We won the fight and he'll have robotic surgery August 16th to remove the cancer in his throat, as well as regular surgery to "strip" the lymph nodes,…
Recurrence of Base of tongue Cancer
Hello My Radiation Oncologist called me today and told me that my cancer has recurred based on result of PET CT scan I had yesterday. He asked me to sit tight, and he is putting a lot of efforts trying to reach a head and neck surgeon that he tursts for a biopsy. All of these Docs are in Stanford. He also told me my…

Head and Neck Cancer

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