Please remember that these discussion boards are a public forum, which means open to the public (i.e. non-CSN members) and the content can be found via internet search engines. Members are strongly advised not to share personal identifiers such as real names, email address, telephone number, street address, etc. This information can be used to identify you and link you to the content you provide. Other areas of CSN are restricted to members only and cannot be found by search engines.

Head and Neck Cancer

Winter around the orner
I have got through the last three years without a cough or cold. Two weeks ago I got a chest infection and I cancelled my throat dilation. I got better, now today I'm aching in bone joints in my hands, my head, my teeth, my eyes my nose is alternating between stuffed up and runny., I have a temperature of 38.1. I don't…
Proton Radiation for base of tongue HPV+ at Scripps in San Diego, CA
Hello all...it's my first post on here but I wanted to post because I thought our experience might be helpful to others and I have gained a lot of support and information on here as well. If you are reading this then I assume your life has been touched by cancer either as a patient or loved one and I'm sorry for that but…
now this
After all of this, during the past 36 hours my throat has gotten to point I cannot speak, or just barely audible.. Except for the discomfort maybe not all that bad. I naver have been exactly a chatty socialite, as you guys can probably tell. More hoarse than when I initially visited the ENT and was diagnosed in July.
new from England, 2yrs post op and having problem
Hi new here from England, two years post op( Oct 13) for stage 3 SCC left tongue,partial glossectomy, reconst from leg, neck dissection, 35 rads and have peg fitted. Have got through many effects and always exercise for tight neck. Really thought i was "on my way". For the past four months have had a feeling of pressure on…
burning sore throat
I have been cancer free for 4 years. Last month I posted on the board that I had just started having a burning sore throat. Several helpful people suggested that it might be caused by acid reflux. I have been taking Prilosec now for about three weeks, but I still have the sore throat and now ear pain (probably…
back...with more paranoia
So, I finished my treatment one week ago and things are calming down,.. still my taste has eveaporated again. No pain or anything residual from the treatment to speak of but one week out I am noticing the same issue that had me seek treatment in the first place. Scratchy, itchy throat, coughing caused by that constant…
Kritter up date 10-06-15
Hi everyone, I got an e-mail from Keitter yesterday that was not so good, She is down hurting trying to deal with the bad news the doctors gave her. They told her she had at best 12 months to live. Please keep praying for her, because the doctors don’t have the last word, the last word is with God up above. There is a…
NED
On May 12th I was diagnosed with stage 4 right tonsil cancer with multiple node mets. May 27th I started 35 treatments of radiation with 5 treatments of Erbitux. Today, the 7th day of October, my Follow-up PET Scan shows no evidence of any remaining disease. Hmmm, the 7th, seems a familiar number to me. On the 7th day God…
Clinical trial
My husband Mike was diagnosed with Hypopharangial cancer (which had matastisized to several lymph nodes in the right side of his neck) the first of April. We choose to go with a clinical trial taking place at the University of North Carolina Cancer Hospital instead of traditional treatment. He receives weekly chemo…
throat cysts
I have been trying to tell my drs that it looked like something inside of my throat was looking wierd, so I made an appt with my fabulous ENT. Seems that I have a cyst on the left side of my throat and will have to have it removed. They will take skin from my wrist and graft it over the hole after they see if there is…
Check ups
For those that have been around the board for a while, you will know gthat I had larynx cancer stage 3 in 2009, had chemo and radiation and in 2014 ENT said no need to see him anymore as it was considered cured. Good. In 2012 a small nodule was found on my lung during a physical nuclear stress test. The nodule was very…
Planned Outage on 10/9
There will be a planned CSN outage on 10/9/15 from 5am-8am EST while the site undergoes some maintenance. We apologize for the inconvenience. Rowan CSN Support Team
Survivor Support Group in Richmond (Henrico) Virginia
I am the wife of a very recent (May) head and neck cancer survivor. What I learned very quickly was that my husband had a lot of post-treatment-cancer questions that I could not answer. In short, I understand that I can't understand. Of course, I investigated cancer survivor support groups here in our hometown, Richmond,…
Another Member Meet Up
It's always fun to hear about people in this group who get to meet each other in person. On a gorgeous fall day in Wisconsin, Sonja K and Mrs BD met for breakfast and good conversation. We have a lot in common, and a few ideas on which we are polar opposites. We both agreed though, the CSN group helped us get through a…
CAT scan confusion
My husband had the last of his 35 radiation treatments on 9/2. He has an appointment to have his first follow up CAT scan on 9/30. A friend who was receiving treatment at the same time as he was and has the same doctor was told to get his CAT scan 6-8 weeks after his last treatment. Do you guys know what the general rule…
Treatment done, now for the healing! And waiting
I just had my last radiation tx today so no more abusing my body for a while. I feel much better than I expected for this point, though they say it can get worse over the next week. I don't eat anything these days, the PEG was a very smart thing to do, but I find myself craving the day I can taste again. Even all, those…
Can my throat eventually close up ?
Hi there, It's been a while since I was here. I came across a friend's message regarding throat can eventually close up if you have had radiation ? Is this true ? My last visit to Dr about 6 weeks ago he said my throat had narrowed but didn't say anything more. He was very happy with the results. I've not really had much…
Cisplatin and Vinorelbine
I have parotid cancer metastasis to lymph nodes and lungs. After meeting w 2 oncologists, I was surprised to hear that radiation would not be in my course of treatment after all. I'm getting a port put in next week and starting chemo. It's going to be cisplatin and vinorelbine. Does anyone have experience with this? Am…
My first post, Oropharyngeal Cancer
Hi, I have been following the forum for a couple months. I was diagnosed in July with Stage 4a, hpv+, with UNP. They did semi Radical (I think it's called) Neck dissection on Aug 5th to remove matted lymph nodes on the right side of my neck, along with about 5 or 6 different biopies in my throat and mouth during the…
Humidifiers
So, we are currently using a humidifier at night to help with the dryness in the nasopahryngeal area, and also to keep the mucus from getting super thick and draining down into the esophagus at night (sleeping in a recliner as well). But I think we have the world's noisiest humidifier! Unfortunately I am one of those…
Best Recipe book?
Ok, I'll confess...I am a cookbook junkie. I love looking through cookbooks (and quilting books, but that's another story). Lately I have been doing some reading in preparation for that wonderful day when my husband will be eating by mouth again. Right now he is dependent on the PEG tube. There are easy chew/easy swallow…
Castor Oil Packs
Hello, My husband started radiation today and his oncologist is suggesting Castor Oil packs on his neck at night. He is also using Miaderm. Has anyone else used the Castor Oil packs and any suggestions. I am a little confused about the process and haven't seen this talked a lot about on the posts. Thanks, Missy
stable disease????
What do you make of this? My cancer is a squamous cell skin cancer that invaded my facial/cranial nerves leaving me with left side facialy paralysis. I had chemo and 33 radiation treatments which I finished in mid July. I just had a follow up MRI and my Dr told me everything was stable. I glad there is no progression…
Just Diagnosed Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Neck with unknown primary
A loved one was just diagnosed with Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Neck with unknown primary. The path report states loose fragments of poorly differentiated malignant epithelial cells with enlarged hyperchromatic irregular nuclei and apoptosis are seen in a hemorragic background that includes few scattered atypical…
help with eating
I have only 6 rads to go and two chemo, but am able to eat things and swallow fine. I need help please making things palatable. I can taste all of the components of whatever i am eating but something is still missing that makes swallowing the food difficult. Is it just the lack of saltiness or sweetness? I try anything…
Ranting
My husband uses fentanyl patches as part of his pain management. It is very difficult to find these patches. Corporate drug stores explain either that their management has decided not to carry these patches or that they carry a minimal number. We've found some success at small owner-operated pharmacies but the script can…
Dry Eyes
No that's NOT a typo...dry mouth is common I know...but dry eyes? Anyone else have problems with this following chemoradiation or chemotherapy for head and neck? We just came back from the ophthomologist with artificial tears, an ointment and a spray because my husbands lacrimal glands are no longer working. We have a…
Has anyone taken cetuximab?
Hello, I'm Mark I had a tumor removed from the lower ride side of my tonge in June, followed by a neck dissection in July. Now I am about to start chemo and radiation treatments. As I only have one kidey and my numbers arean't that great, my doctors decided that the standard chemo drugs would be too hard on my kidney.…
biopsy results came back positive for cancer/recurrance
one year out after treatement for tonsil cancer stage 3 with 1 lymph node/ readiation, no chemo, my mom is facing recurrance in her tongue. it is on the side of her tongue not base, hopefully of course since we did not have any scans yet, her last pet scan was a at the beginning of June and it came up clear although she…
IMPT vs IMRT (rotating)
I recently began reading about IMPT vs IMRT. IMRT seems to be the conventional method for NPC treatment, but IMPT claims superior targeting therefore, less damage to adjacent organs. Has anyone had IMPT and good success stories? IMPT being new technology is only available in select locations. thanks for your input! If all…

Head and Neck Cancer

Discussion List

Discussion Boards