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Head and Neck Cancer

Daughter undergoing tests
Most of you know me and my story as caregiver to my husband who is 6 months post treatment for Stage IV nasopharyngeal tumor. My 25 year old daughter, who lives in Anchorage is now undergoing tests for a large mass on one side of her neck under the ear. So far they have done an ultrasound to try and determine if it is…
Biopsy Done
Well, he actually did the biopsy today. He believes that it most likely is cancer but doesn't think it has advanced. I'm going for the cat scans next week and I'll see him right after that for the results of the biopsy and the scans. He talked about removing the tumor and a lymph node as a precaution and that should do it.…
Second opinion's matter with Doctors and even Meds...
Going to combine two different things. Goint to the best place for treatment does really matter. Where I live the doctors and Hospital is conciddered having a very good Oncology department, just top notch. First that could not be any farther from the truth. Now I do like our hospital and have been there for many things,…
Surgery cancelled!
My Mandibulectomy was supposed to hace been January 20th, but I got the flu, then pneumonia, so they rescheduled for February 8th. Then we got a call that plastics couldn't make that date nor the 15th. Surgery was scheduled for the 29th. Seemed a long way off, but I figured I could get back in shape, get some things in the…
Day to day living
Man somedays are just so hard to hold it all together when dealing with family, living, doctors, drugs and who knoews what else comes in our life everyday But don’t let it get to you, find something to keep focus on, as for me it is prayer and talking to my Lord everyday. Just don't know where i would be with out my Lord…
Agent Orange - Tonsil Cancer - Vietnam Veterans
My husband was recently diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the Tonsil, base of the tongue and spread to lymph nodes - in checking information about the possibility of Agent Orange being a cause of this as he does not fit the common risk factors of drinking and smoking I have found that if you contact Mary Burr…
Montana Veterans with Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Hi all. I've written before, but now I reaching out for help. I've been asked to address a Congretional like panel that will be put together in Billings, MT, to address Veterans Issues in our State, and mainly those of the families, and of Agent Orange and Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Cancer in general. My feeling is that…
adjusting to change
Had staples removed from neck with no problem. PEG finally removed without hassle of any type of swallow test or verification. What I am dealing with now is that, although I do basically have taste back, my saliva output/creation is so drastically diminished that I have to wash everything down with some liquid, which in…
Introduction
I'm oldvamps wife, we are thrilled to find such a wonderful support system here. It's hard to understand head and neck cancers, they aren't like other cancers. I lost my dad to bone cancer in 98, my sister to lung cancer in 14 and step dad to cancer and old age in 15, then oldvamp was diagnosed 5 1/2 months after my step…
Tongue Cancer?
Hello to all and thanks in advance for any comments. Around the holidays, I noticed what I thought was a canker sore. I finally went to my doctor Feb 4th and he referred me to an oral surgeon whom I saw on the 9th. He said it looked like a tumor and referred to to another doctor for a biopsy and I'm going on the 17th.…
Salivary Glands
Like all of you, swallowing is a major problem for me. With little-to-no saliva, trying to eat breads or crackers or meat is almost impossible because the salivary enzymes that start the digestion process are missing. Biotene products, and the like, don't work on this part of the eating dilemma, they last to hydrate the…
Two Part, Esophageal Spasms and Eye Probs Post Rads/Chemo
Hi all. I have a two part question. First, has anyone dealt with Esophageal Spasms post radiation...I had Stage 4 SCC tongue with METS to Carotid including 2 lymph nodes. Max treatment. Overdosed on cisplatin last treatment. Now have these Wicked spasms (PAIN!!!) from throat down to mid sternum on occ. Thought it was a…
Husband had ENT visit today
And so far so good. ENT (his surgeon) said that husband is healing better than to be expected. Tongue looks great, mucositis is almost gone, neck looks great and feels fine, not taking any meds right now. My husband went back to work completely full time on February 1st. He is down to one or two tube feedings a day, with…
ENT visit
Nice to hear doctor say "you are getting better". Last recurrance was 2 years ago so scans will be every 6 mos not every 3 months (original cancer was 5 years ago). Original fistula now closed to interior of mouth. One still exists next to it but he feels that goes to old bone. Will address it when I have breast surgery…
Vocal Cord Cancer
I was diagnosed with Stage I vocal cord cancer mid-2015. I had surgery to remove the nodule (squamous cell), and then 28 radiation treatments to the throat area to make sure there were no remaining cells. I am 7 months post radiation and cancer free. However, I am still having difficulty with my voice. There was a lot of…
A Little Concerned
Hi All, It's been awhile since I've posted anything related to my cancer. But today after doing some yardwork it felt like I had some food stuck on the top of my mouth. I figured that's what it is was because I had just finished lunch before working. When I looked in the mirror I saw a high raised white bump on the middle…
Base of Tounge
This is my first post on this forum. I really haven't reached out before this time as it seems be uncomfortable. At 53 years old and after several months of a mild sore throat and some ear pain, I was diagnosed with Stage 4 SCC cancer on the base of my tounge in early January 2015. I went to Wake Forest Baptist Medical…
Just checking in and long term effect issue
Hello to all of the new members and the oldies but goodies. Past the 2 year mark Dec 27 2015 and have been great until the mouth problems returned. Not complaining as I can swallow, eat, talk etc and am gratefull for that! So far in the past 2 years have had 12 cavitites, canker sores when having dental work, developed…
side effects on radiation therapy for oral cancer
My FIL is under diagnosis and it looks like stage 1 oral cancer. He had a lump on lower lip which is under biopsy ( he used to smoke ) . would like to know what will be the side effects if he undergo radiation therapy for cancer cells around lips ? ( Doc says surgery will not help ) . Will radiation therapy around the the…
Taking the good with the bad...
So, haven't been here for awhile. Coming up to the two year mark since initial diagnosis and a year and a half since the chemo and rads. Have had a total of 5 CT scans, 3 PET scans, 2 FNA biopsies and the original surgical biopsy in this two year span. After all of this I'm told that everything is clear as far as the…
Recurrence-ish
Hello everyone, I've been lurking for quite some time and have decided to post in search of advice/support/optimistic thoughts. I was diagnosed at 32 with OSCC on the left lateral tongue in August after eight months of misdiagnosis. Initially clinically stage I post MRI and CT. Received a partial glossectomy, free flap,…
Today is PET/ct date post neck dissection -Update
my boyfriend finished treatment for NPC at the end of Jan,2015. The 6 month PET showEd 2 hot spots in his right side neck. Had modified right neck dissection in early September and 6 nodes were cancerous. Today is his first post surgery scan. I am so nervous. Please keep us in your prayer. Update: We got in general good…
4 months out
Ok, so we're four months out now, but it seems longer. My hubby is off the tube and has been eating semi solid food every day for breakfast and supper. Mostly oatmeal, soups, potatoes, baked beans, pasta, etc., although we've been trying anything and everything just to experiment. I give him high calorie, high protein…
cured
went to cancer doc on the 1st and he said dont come back you're cured. good times. Bill
Selfie with Mrs.BD
Mrs.BD, on our next lunch date we need to remember to take a selfie! We are failing the "hip test".
I been waiting for Bev's sister....
to come here and tell all her friends that KTeacher passed away January 19th. I think it's ok for me to let you all know, because it was on Facebook. Wonderful lady....true inspiration....tough cookie....and supportive to so many of us, when we so badly need suport. She will be missed a lot! p
another update
Chemo and radiation completed 29 Sept but later PET scan revealed "lit area" on left side lymph nodes. Decision made to undergo dissection which was completed on Jan 29th. Had follow-up today, Feb 4 with ENT who removed drainage tube, arranged removal of PEG tube and informed me that Pathology report found no evidence of…
Mood Swings
Surgery in April, finished 6 chemos and 30 radiation treatments roughly 7 months ago. Surgeon last week said that he feels confident that my SCC will not return. So why do I have the mood swings that I have? I can go from happy to melancholy very quickly. Never had a problem with this before. Is it unusual?
Couple of questions
Its been almost 4 months since my treatment has ended and things are finally starting look like I might get back to something like a normal life. I have really been surprised how long it has taken to get even to this point, though from reading on here and listening to my doctors I am supposedly doing better than most.…
Mouth and Throat Mucositis - What Fluids are Less Painful?
How can I make fluids less painful to drink. Swallowing lidocaine makes me vomit and doesn't seem very effective. Maybe adding glycerin to water? Pure water is more painful to swallow than anything else. Some kind of tea maybe? Thank you.

Head and Neck Cancer

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