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Im a little confused.
I was diagnosied with stage 4a tonsil cancer with two lymph nodes locally. I did 7 cisplatin and 39 rads. The confusing part is I came out of it almost damage free. I did have a burn around my neck which lasted about a week. I have some thick mucus but not like some are talking about and my mouth is a little dry. However…
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Tube feeding required because of swallowing issues durning and after treatments
Many times folks going through treatments with radiation and chemo will experience swallowing issues and have to have a feeding tube placed. This helped me back in the early 90's when I went through my treatments allowing me to get needed nutrition. It is again assisting me now tgat the treatments I had way back when has…
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prognosis
If you are diagnosed with cancer its only natural that you would want to find out what is likely to happen to you. I also read many places to stay off the internet because you'll only be misinformed because every person is different and every cancer is different and looking on the internet will tend to make things look…
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To everyone fighting or received bad news, remember this. We will be your bridge.....
To all the ones fighting the beast please take the time to listen to this song. [Sorry about the add] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrcwRt6J32o Then remember you are not ever alone in this, you have the greatest support group I have ever known. This just might give this song a new meaning to you. It did for me. When your…
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appreciation
I want to thank everyone again for all the advice, support and information in this community. I am not good at responding to each comment but my appreciation is genuine and sincere. I am now in my last 2 weeks of radiation, with my last treatment and last chemo scheduled for Sept 29. So far, in comparison to some of the…
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Just joined today - but diagnosed Aug 2014 and now cancer-free!
Not sure why I never got around to joining early on - but I've been reading here the past year. All the details are in my about-me page - but in a nutshell - I was diagnosed at age 45 with SSC/Base of Tongue - HPV Neg - I had seven weeks of Cisplatin and radiation and ultimately a conservative neck dissection. I had a Peg…
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5 years Friday
Hi all: Thought I'd better check and see what's happening. This past Friday 8/21 was 5 years since Charlie passed away. It sure doesn't seem like that. I spent the day with the "boys" and I always reread all the cards; play the videos that were made, and listen to Steve (brother-in-law) and my parts we did at his service.…
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Olfactory neuroblastoma in the maxillary sinus - recent diagnosis
I was diagnosed with this cancer 11/25/08. The only sympton I experienced was that I had begun getting teeth pain in the upper left side for quite a few months. I was told to take a decongestant to aleviate the pain. The dentist just thought is was allergies causing sinus pressure to press on my teeth nerves. That worked…
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cisplatin and kidney dysfunction
Went for my second cisplatin chemo session for SCC of tonsil today (radiation concurrent) but was told that my kidney function had deteriorated since my first session a week ago. They hydrated me and said my MD would call tomorror with recommendation. Has anyone seen cisplatin cause dysfunction after only one session and…
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dry mouth
New on this forum, just signed up today. My treatments ended mid October last year for stage 4 base of tongue SCC. ( 35 Rad W/ Cisplatin Chemo). I still have minor swallowing difficulties at times and dry mouth. I do take pilocarpine and it seems to help a little. Can anyone out there tell me if your salivary glands come…
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UPDATE: Blood in Phlegm
Hi All, Hubby is almost one year post tx. One side effect of his treatment has been throat clearing... constant throat clearing. They said they burned his cilia off in his trachea with the IMRT and that's why he can't clear phlegm normally. Anyway, he was clearing it out tonight as usual but it had blood streaks in it!…
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My friend is in Denial!
Hi all, I'm so happy I discovered this resource. I'm here because of my best friend W, that I have known for over 40 years. She's a life long smoker, born of two smokers who both died of cancer. On a side note, my mother currently has cancer, but she is doing well. I joined this forum because I need support due to my…
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Where to get treatment?
I have a parotid gland tumor that is growing into my lymph nodes. Also some spots on my lungs. Had EBUS procedure on Friday and waiting for results. Drs. Say parotid gland is primary and want to do radiation and chemo but nothing will happen until pathology from EBUS comes back. The waiting is so Frustrating! how long…
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Wheat grass to help after chemo
My sister just told me that cancer survivor friends of hers said wheat grass is a great for helping flush through the chemo. Has anyone else tried this and had good, or not so good results? I am finding the chemo to take more out of me than the radiation; just had second chemo at midpoint of my 7 week radiation.
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lymphedema therapy
My insurance pays for lymphedema therapy but I have to miss work to go. It doesn't seem to be too effective plus I can do exercises by myself and I have a compression device. How long would you contunue to go to lymphedema therapy?
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Surgeon recommendation
My 39-year old husband has received a preliminary diagnosis of a carotid tumor and will receive the results and final diagnosis next week. I am looking for surgeon recommendations because I'd like to be prepared if his ENT wants to discuss scheduling surgery. I've seen mixed feedback about whether vascular surgeons, ENTs…
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T1b of glottic
Hello, My father was daignosed with T1b cancer of glottic. He was daignosed with biopsy of vocal cord in Mar'15. As per staging he was asked for radical radiotherapy for 6 1\2 week for 5 days a week with cobalt -60. He underwent radiotherapy with few diificulties like swallowing, skin rashes. After radiotherapy his voice…
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Any regrets?
Sounds like a stupid question if you receive the news you wish to hear at the end of your treatment. Did/do any of you regret the decision for the course of treatment you ahave received. As I stated in my other post, my husband has just begun this hellish ride and has already commented that he thinks the cure is worse than…
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What to expect with SCC excision on lateral tongue
I was recently diagnosed with SCC of the right lateral tongue. I was one of those rare cases in which lichen planus turns to cancer. I will be undergoing surgery next Friday at Moffitt Cancer Center. Although pain is not something that particularly bothers me, there seems to be a recurrent theme of "pain" in relation to…
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RayTodd ~ Update - Ray has passed
I'n sure a few of you remember Ray Todd, from Down Under... I have received word through FaceBook, that Ray is on his final journey before leaving earth. He is resting comfortably and preparing for his final bike ride. Please keep Ray and his family in your thoughts and prayers during this time. I will miss you ole man...…
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Squamous cell carcinoma of right tonsil
Found out that I have this just a few weeks ago. Still in the stages of setting things up as far as surgery and such. Said that I am a P16 positive. Apparantly that is a good thing according to them. Found a mass at the base of my tongue and apparrantly towards the right tonsil. Also a theyroid gland is a bit enlarged in…
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SCC tonsil
I was just diagnosed with SCC (HPV+) of the tonsil including 3 lymph nodes. I had the tonsil (clear margins) and nodes removed surgically, have met with a radiation onc and will meet with a medical onc next week. Though my surgeon thinks that rads only will be needed after surgery, the onc docs will I'm sure advise for…
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NED!
hello everyone, just wanted to share the good news. We saw the ENT and the oncologist this week and we hear the sweet words: no evidence of disease. It is amazing to think that 6 months have passed since Dmitri finished treatment. He is doing really well. Of course he deals with some issues but overall he is doing great.…
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Need break please
Spent great week at lake but when home got sick. Struggled five days and soon to be two weeks between Icu and step down. Cellulitis of breast. Not cancer related. Doing dry vac or maybe mastectomy to close.battling very low blood pressure and c diff. Just drained.
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New guy here, with a question.
Hello fellow travelers, I am in remission from nasopharyngeal carcinoma (ssc), since 9/12. Have had neck and tongue muscle spasms ever since then which ive pretty much learned to deal with, they still suck but ive learned to deal with them. Recently i've had a sore throat. Not your basic "sore throat" this is like having…
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New Article
Encouraging news on the PD-1 front. But, the FDA continues to have their head stuck up their collective butts. You still can't treat SCC in the lungs that started in the H&N. If it started in the lungs, your good to go. Crazy huh? Be safe and happy, Joe…
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A year ago
Today was the anniversary of the day we got the diagnosis. I can still remember what a scary, overwhelming and completely horrible day it was. All the unknowns, all the fears, all the worries, everything. The road to recovery was not easy for us. Dima's cancer was advanced and he ended up in the hospital after each of the…
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update and questions.
Okay, I am in 20th day of radiation now and just hit the no taste barrier. I can still swallow, with water, so I still eat some things but take 4 cans jevity a day. Just barely maintaining weight, but as long as they are good with it, so am I. I don't really have any sores in my mouth and still manage to swallow, so what…
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No more adjuvant
We've booked a bed in the hospital for the last 2 days and will be here at least through the weekend. We just couldn't manage the side effects of pain, dehydration, and vomiting at home. These side effects are from the 1st of 3 planned rounds of adjuvant chemotherapy with Cisplatin and 5FU. All along my husband has been on…
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Survivor Hope
Hi, I am the wife of a Head and Neck survivor. Just wanted to give all of you a little hope. Nine years ago today my husband was diagnosed with with stage 4 pharyngeal cancer. All I could find about it was that he would only live maybe 12 months. Well here we are 9 years later and he is still here. Treatment was tough but…