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Head and Neck Cancer

Devastated and confused
I'm a 62 yr old female and was recently diagnosed with tongue cancer. I will be having a total glossectomy Sept 5, followed by radiation. My drs have said it's likely I will have a trach and feeding tube the rest of my life. I'm devastated because at this point in our lives my husband and I thought we would be selecting an…
Update: Husband’s NavDx Test Result Pre-Treatment
Hi Again, I posted a few weeks ago we went down to NW-Chicago for a second opinion on my husband’s Stage I base of tongue (left side 1.2 cm on PET 7/19) and 2 involved left lymph nodes so all on left. HPV+ 16 from biopsy. The only reason we made the 2 hr one way drive down was to find out more about their Proton radiation…
start treatment
Getting ready to start radiation and chemo . Got fitted for the mask yesterday. My how things have changed since 2014. Back then they did not cover your face but left eyes ,nose and mouth out. I am worried I will have a panic attack. My neice says that is what Zanex is for. I will talk to the Dr.about it. I thought I read…
Dysphasia after TORS and Neck Dissection
It’s been a month after TORS and neck dissection and I have a sore jaw, mucus, feels like there is a string in my throat constantly, food gets stuck in throat, etc. Anyone else have these symptoms? Does it get better or is this my new norm? I haven’t started radiation yet and can’t eat a hot dog. My jaw gets too sore and…
Burn Relief?
Hello, my father has completed 19 of 33 rad treatments. He started getting some burns earlier this week that have progressively gotten worse. The doctor prescribed a burn cream but, unfortunately, that made things worse likely due to a sulfa allergy. He was prescribed another cream to try and will be doing some Domeboro…
Radiation damage to bones of jaw
Hi all, I was diagnosed and treated for right tonsil SCC p16 positive in 2016. Now my jaw bones started dying which is called osteonecrosis. As a result my two teeth became loose and my bone and whole cheek get infected. Now I am on antibiotics, and also precribed with Vitamin E, pentoxiphyline, clondronate and…
TORS and Neck Dissection without any Radiation and/or Chemo
T2N1M0 - still waiting on pathology but my surgeon told me one of the reasons he was recommending TORS and neck dissection versus chemo and radiation was there may be a chance if just completing this with the surgery. I have been scouring this discussion board and haven’t seen anyone that has done this tratent alone.…
Mskcc 30gy then 40gy
Anyone gone through the lower dose radiation at MSKCC? 30gy first over both sides of neck + 40gy to tumors. So the tumors still get 70gy, but the side effects on other side is greatly reduced as they say. Anyone gone through this along with chemo? If so, what’s the success rate?
Tumor size differs between MRI, CT and PET
My p16 scc tonsil tumor shows in different sizes in different scans. CT showed its 3.7cm. PET showed its 3cm and the recent MRI shows it’s 2.7cm. Anyone experienced this? Which one of these is more accurate?
Standard therapy vs de-escalated therapy vs Clinical trial
Friends, I have been recently diagnosed with SCC tonsil (right) with p16 positive. There are multiple enlarged lymph nodes on the same side with largest being 3.7cm seems to be a conglomerate of 2 nodes. Recent CT also showed enlargement in left tonsil and few lymph nodes on left as well. They lit up in Pet too, but my…
Our Journey to NW in Chicago on Tuesday
Here's what we found out Tuesday at Northwestern in Chicago. Saw all 3 tumor board drs: Surgical, Hem/Onc and Rad Onc last. Very impressed by all 3. No surgery in hubbie's future per both our local hospital in Milwaukee and there. Told us even though it's small (1.4 cm) base of tongue with 2 lymph nodes on same side, the…
TEP
Hi, my name is Roger. I have had 2 battles with throat cancer, The first in 2014 and I had 35 radiation and 2 chemo treatments. The cancer returned last year and I had a total laryngectomy on Nov.22,2022.Things have went very well but I get frustrated communicating. I use an electrolarynx and a small white board primarily.…
Recurrence or new incidence
I was 8 years out from treatment and was considered cured from bot cancer when another tumor was found in my neck 2 years ago. I have been on Keytruda for 2 years. The tumor has not grown but has also not gone away. I have lymph node involvement. Everything is what they call stable. It looks like I will get radiation and…
Radiation and Chemotherapy Mucositis
Dr. Anurag Singh is a Professor of Oncology and Director of Radiation Research, the Department of Radiation Medicine at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. His areas of expertise are breast cancer, head and neck cancer, lung cancer, ... Anurag Singh, MD, has one important message. When you see one of his patients…
City of Hope Scientists Develop Targeted Chemotherapy
For those that like to know what is being developed in the future for cancer treatment. The City of Hope-developed investigational small molecule selectively disrupts DNA replication and repair in cancer cells, leaving healthy cells unaffected, a new study reports. Take Care, May God Bless & Watch Over You Russ
Tinnitus
hello, any advice on dealing with Tinnitus? I dont think its radiation related. Had it for years but seems to be worse now. both ears. I dont drink alcohol anymore (heard reducing that might help). Can be quite annoying at times. thanks!
VMAT vs. Proton Radiation for BOT Cancer
Hi All, Starting this journey with my husband and I've been doing a ton of researching on this board for us/him. He was diagnosed with Stage I c2TN1MO HPV+ 16. Primary is about 1.2 cm at the base of his tongue. 2 affected lymph nodes on the same (left) side. He had a lymph node swell that he noticed end of April. Saw his…
pathology report positive for HPV and cancer but NavDx negative for both
Hello, new to this board but have found it very helpful in trying to stay positive. Long post--my apologies! I was diagnosed in April of this year with HPV-16 stage 2 throat cancer -removed a mass during a tonsillectomy and pathology report came back as positive for HPV and stage 2 at 2.4 cm. Throat radiation of 7 weeks is…
Fasting and Cancer.. check it out
I have gotten a few questions about a link I posted that covered research showing fasting 24 hrs prior to and after chemo with platinum-based chemos (i.e. Cisplatin, etc.) has some positive effects. Here is another link to an interesting take on fasting and cancer... turns out, this is a two-part series on YouTube that I…
6-Month Post Scan and 1 Year Anniversary Update
Almost a year ago I felt something odd on the side of my neck and went to the doctor. That eventually resulted in a diagnosis of stage 3 base of tongue SCC with a fairly large tumor. Through much research on this forum and other sights I proceeded with no neck dissections, no tumor surgery, no pain meds, no feeding tube…
Healios question- amount of water
Hello, I just received an order of healios and it says to take 1 scoop of it with 25ml to 100ml of water. To those that drink Healios, how much water do you use? The bottle has 25ml, 50, 75, 100 and even 125. Will 25ml of water benefit me more with 1 scoop than if I diluted it with 100ml? I am probably overthinking it as I…
Got COVID and Did Not Feel Sick? Here's Why
Here is a video for your consideration. It is a bit technical for me but you may find the information in it interesting. Got COVID and Did Not Feel Sick? Here's Why. Dr.Been---Researchers from the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) have revealed a potential HLA gene (HLA B15:01) that helps create polyfunctional…
Off Topic
When did this start happening? "Your comment will appear after it is approved." Is someone censoring the boards now?
Cramping from head to toe
I had BOT 4 years ago and side affects still persist. What I notice lately is my whole body getting cramps..arms, legs, feet, chest and head. My oncologist didn't seem to worried. My Primary care doctor had me try magnesium, electrolyte drinks, potassium, eat 5 bananas a week. etc. When I get the most cramping is in bed…
Suggestions please
need suggestions to put on weight 13 EGD procedures and esophagus is still about the size of a drinking straw i drink 10-16 bottles of Ensure per day mixed with milk,chocolate syrup,bananas,,instant breakfast and peanut butter work for me is about 3-5 hours per day and then I’m exhausted I honestly don’t want to purée food…
PET Scan
Just a quick update. My condition has been generally stable and I am doing pretty good. I have leftover issues from treatment as we all do like dry mouth, neuropathy, diminished swallowing, some stiffness from radiation, and some of what happens with me like a rough morning getting started and a day every now and then just…
A Cancer Story-Short Video-A Heart Warmer And A Heart Breaker
Please take a look at this you won't be sorry. FOX5 Surprise Squad - Waitress with Dying Husband Gets $12,000 Tip! Most people would move mountains and part the sea for the people they love, the ones closest to them. For waitress and mother of four Jessica, that person is her husband, Robert, who was seriously ill with…
HPV throat cancer - website for treatment and recovery. "My Throat Cancer Story - 2015"
Hello Everyone, I just finished my HPV throat cancer treatment 8 months ago and recently created a website that discusses all the things that I did to help with treatment and recovery. "My Throat Cancer Story - 2015". DryMouthThroat.com I will be adding more to this website over the next few months. Robert
Cancer Survivors Inspire
This short video is not of H&N cancer survivors but cancer survivors just the same and I believe our journeys are very similar with similar modes of treatments and the same physical and emotional load and challenges involved in cancer treatment and survival. I hope you get some inspiration from this and a connection and…
Treatment for Oropharyngeal Cancer: Investigating Ways to Do Less Harm
Please check out this article. More information for us. From The National Cancer Institute. Take Care, God Bless-Russ UPDATE (February 28, 2022): This story has been updated to reflect new information, including new data from two clinical trials.

Head and Neck Cancer

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