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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…
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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…
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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…
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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.…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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,…
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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…
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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…
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cured
went to cancer doc on the 1st and he said dont come back you're cured. good times. Bill
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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".
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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
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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…
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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?
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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.…
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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.
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HELP PLEASE AND ADVICE !!
I had tonsil cancer and was treated 2 years ago and last november had neck disection as a lump reoccured - then just 9 weeks later after the swelling of the neck went down we find a new lump slightly lower down on the neck - so 2nd reoccurance - this time they are telling me if its spread to lungs i have 6-9 months left…
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A story that needs telling: Long but worth it.
A story that needs telling: I guess in a way this story is about unconditional love, hope, faith and even death. My story begins in 1978 when I was 27 years old. My Father whom I loved with all my heart was told he had Cancer. Yes that nasty word that can stop you right in your tracks. Now I loved my…
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It's a small thing...
but I would appreciate it if y'all would put me in your pocket for Friday. I am having MOHS surgery to remove a small basal cell carcinoma on my nose. I had a similar procedure once before and they had to go fairly deep and do a skin graft from my ear. I think this one is much more superficial. It seems so trivial compared…
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Confused about biopsy results
I had my first biopsy (gum) on November 18th. Got the results on November 25th. My oral surgeon said it was squamous cell carcinoma. Saw the path report which said aggressive squamous cell carcinoma. Then I go to MDA and they did a cheeck biopsy and results were dysplasia. They also did FNA of the lymph node (the swelling…
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Scared Once Again
I had toncil cancer and am 3 years post treatments. I just had a great check up that included a throat scope and was given a thumbs up, NED. I even gradulated to 6 months between check ups. Now I have a tender spot on the right side of my neck right under my jaw bone. I don't find any swollen lymph nodes. When I swollow, I…
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Husband just diagnosed
hi all, my husband was just diagnoased with squamous cell cancer found by needle biopsy of an enlarged lymph node in his neck. doc will do many more tests to get more details. I wondered what treatments you have found most successful. Any experience/helpful guidance you can share. We are very anxious. Just starting this…