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Head and Neck Cancer

head and neck radiation/chemo recovery
I am almost six weeks out from finishing my treatment. I have a patch of muscositis under my tounge that seems like it will be gone soon. I would hope that when it goes there will be nothing preventing me from eating. Its almost as if the mouth pain and not being able to eat is at least as bad as having cancer hanging over…
Seed implants
When my husband got diagnosed they mentioned seed implants after the treatments are over. Have any of you had the experience of having the seed implants or know of someone who has? Is there a time period that they're active? Any personal experience good or bad would be greatly appreciated.
memory
tried to post earlier but didnt go thru. my question is : is it " normal " for chemo to effect your memory pretty bad ? mine is shot to hell and i dont know if its age ( 75 ) or the chemo. i,m 4.5 yrs out from tonsal cancer. just thought i would get some input.
Eating after treatment
My husband finished radiation and chemo treatment 3 weeks ago For hypopharynx cancer. He lost his ability to eat before the treatment and depends on a Peg. He is hoping to resume eating soon but so far cannot manage to get any food down; wondering how long others had to wait or any suggestions. Thanks in advance
recently diagnosed mucoepidermoid carcinoma
Hello. I have recently been diagnosed with mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the parotid gland. The pathologist said it looks like intermediate grade, but the doctors would like to treat it as high grade because it is affecting at least one lymph node and has invaded my facial nerve on that side. They are planning to fully…
Scan results
In February, I had another mandibulectomy here in STL to remove the fibula put in my jaw back in 2011. Have been dealing with fistula in cheek since last Sept. Several weeks ago a new hole popped up next to the fistula in a former surgical scar. The next day, I thought I saw a small piece of bone peeking out. The next day…
Lack of Taste
Ok my mom has just started radiation this week and chemo started last week. Already she said she has thick mucas and no taste. Everything tastes like cardboard and she was struggling to even eat dinner last night. They are hitting her with 66 gray of radiation whatever that means (we didn't even know this until yesterday…
HBO TREATMENTS
Well here I am again with questions I thought I would never have to ask, much the same way when I was DX with BOT in 2012. I went to the dentist and looks like I will need some teeth pulled and likely 20 and then 10 HBO treatments. Thus my questions. I posted years ago and have since responded to many about the fear of the…
fit radiation mask today
So, I went and fitted mask today with no problems.9 snaps, cut-outs, the whole bit. They said when treatment starts I should be off the table within 15 minutes. 1st session on 10 Aug I believe, with 1st chemo on Tuesday the 4th. Now I am already starting to deal with constipation . Irrigated the PEG once today but was told…
PEG help
My husband had his PEG inserted earlier today and seems to be in quite a bit of pain. I'm sure this is completely normal but since the doctor didnt have the decency to come find me after the procedure I'm coming to you professionals. Did any of you suffer the day of your PEG insertion and is there anything to help ease…
it all begins; update
Thank you to everyone for your support and information. I am not very good at keeping up with things like this and socialization in genera, but I want everyone to know how appreciative I am of what I have found in this community. That being said, an update is in order. Finally, I go in at 6am to have my PEG tube done. On…
Voice challenges
Greetings survivors! This is kelly & I hope everyone is hanging in there! I'm 18-months + post-treatment & I'm doing extremely well except my voice is getting very very hoarse. I was wondering if anyone knew of anything I can do to strengthen & nurture my vocal cords? I'm a public speaker and September is going to be busy.…
Haunted
Haunted may not be the proper word but lately I feel cancer is always around me effecting friends and co-workers sort of like look I’m over here. Some of you may remember I said I worked with a guy who has esophageal cancer and another guy whose wife had cervical cancer. Well my co-workers wife past away and he retired…
Esophageal Stricture from Radiation
I'm 3 months post last radiation & Erbitux treatment for throat cancer, tongue and larynx and 3 swollen lymph nodes. Pet scan came back negative last week so that's a real positive. My problem is that I haven't been able to eat anything, even soft foods like oatmeal or mashed potatoes for the past six weeks. A swallow…
My Husband
My husband lost his battle this morning. He fought hard for 5 years. I am so thankful that it was peaceful and he is now at peace. Now the changes begin for me as I had him for 55 years for which I am thankful. Sharon
How does the Diagnosing work?
Hi! I'm 23 years old. I have NOT been diagnosed with cancer or anything. But I'm a mother of some wonderful little girls so I need to know things in as much advance as possible! If any one could help me it would be greatly appreciated! heres the story.. almost 2weeks ago I awoke with my normal slight sore throat. I…
A friend newly diagnosed
hello, i am new here but not new to cancer. I have had breast cancer 3 times. I know the cancer, surgery chemo radation drill with BC but not head and neck cancer. My frind has squamous cell cancre of her tongue.It grew at a rapid rate and they thought she would have 1/3 of her tongue removed but in 2 weeks it grew and she…
Xylimelts
My dry mouth has gotten worse, mostly at night. During the day I can drink water, coffee, and lots of liquid to keep things in check. At night, I tend to be a mouth breather and I wake up in pain due to the lack of saliva. I tried having water by my bed, but I can't swallow until I get up and spit, gag and spit some more.…
Need support and prayers
Hi all, Dima woke up with chest pain and difficulty breathing. We are in ten emergency room. The first doctor said she thought it was pericarditis and that I could be caused by the chemo. That was around 8am. The cardiologist came and said something we could not understand but that sounded like it wasn't that. He left…
Frustration, depression...and guilt...
Now at 11 months post tx and the taste and saliva issues still suck big time. Better than last summer I suppose, but barely... 90% of everything I eat and drink tastes like crap or not at all. Eating the same things over and over that I know have some semblance of a taste. Nothing has helped the saliva, have tried…
i have a question
i am 4.5 years out now and need to see if some of my issues are " normal " MY CANCER was right tonsal. the right side of my neck hurts most of the time as well as the top of my right ear, throat soar a lot of the time on the right side.my taste has never returned and my memory is shot to hell. i'm 75 yrs old and i wonder…
Worst day of my life
Hello all. So glad I found this site. My mom was diagnosed with adenoid cystic carcinoma 2 weeks ago Which has been misdiagnosed for months as bad sinus/allergies. Every since I received that phone call, I feel as if the air has been taken away from me. I can't rest, eat, or function properly. I stay strong while in the…
new to it all
Hello, everyone. I was just diagnosed with cancer in my neck. Details still sketchy but four biopsy samples of my left side neck all positive. I am now waiting to hear from VA about scheduling whatever is to come. They said I will need a trach tube and feeding tube for the duration of treatment but both will be removed…
Down in Paradise
I am down here in a tropical paradise once again; it is an herbal garden where no poison of any kind are used. In the morning I go out looking for what I want to eat for the day, fresh Mango, Papaya, Star Fruit, Pineapples, that is just a few. I am doing some new stuff making a Chaya drink with leaves right off the chaya…
When your boss just doesn't understand...
I have a rant to post. I am so frustrated! I am two years out from treatment, but we all know that there is a "new normal" that must be learned and dealt with. Well, I have chronic dry mouth. I drink water ALL day and need mints to help with spit production. It's just something that I deal with, accept and handle. Well, my…
Great news - port removed tomorrow there's HOPE!
Had my second, 6 month follow up and lung CT and bloodwork look good. Last treatment was Sept. 2012. That is less than half of the golden "5 year survival rate" but I'll take what I can get. Wishing the same for you- please HOPE!
First positive CT in 2 years..
Small victories. My CT this week showed everything stable and the large tumor in my lungs reduced by 20%. I would have loved to see some reduction in the most troublesome (for me, not the doc's) tumor on the bottom of my tongue, but for now, I'll take stable. So, 8 weeks from now another CT and we'll see what we see.…
Dropping In
Hi all - thought I would post an update as it has been a while. Had my two year scans / checks etc in March. Got the NED so happy about that. Unfortunately I lost my Father suddenly whilst he was was on a business trip in Sydney in March. So that has been a fairly sucky time but as they say, that's life. Certainly makes…
scared
My "team" (ENT, Surgeon, Tumor Board) has met and discussed my case and confirmed that i need to have to trach and gastr tubes placed before radiation and chemo. The trach has me scared to death because I have to be fully conscious while my throat is being sliced open and my airway invaded. Honestly I am not sure I can go…
A little confused
I had my first consult with my chemo and radiation docs. Im to have 30 treaments of rad, but they offered me 3 treatments of chemo and said it was optional. Thay said the chemo only offered 5% effectiveness. My iniatial reaction is to take the 5% and be happy. Im looking for other opinions and comments. See my profile for…

Head and Neck Cancer

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