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Head and Neck Cancer

Fistula
I was looking at the fistula postings and wondered, does radiation mean that all of your body is affected or only the places where it touched or went through. Say' if I had an op on other places on my body I may get a fistula? Another question with side affects has anyone had persistent coughs since rads. I finished rads…
What to eat after loss of taste buds
Hi, I am in week 4 of my radiation and chemo treatment. I lost my taste buds about 3 weeks ago, but can still swallow. The problem is everything I eat is horrible tasting-not flavorless- just horrible. I have tried so many foods only to toss them aside. What are some of the foods that you guys could tolerate? I really need…
Fistula
I recently saw posts from others that have had fistulas. Wondering where they were and how they were dealt with. I had one years ago when I had a parotidectomy, It was behind my ear and cured with an air sickness patch. The one I have now, under my chin, is larger and more serious. Some titanium from my jaw is actually…
Ding ding dinggg :) :)
Hello all, hope all is going well so far. I finished rads :) )) what a ride !! doctors said nothing can be said now in 2 months I'll be having an MRI and we'll see the result. I'm positive I kicked it in the *** :) lol headaches and fatigue are here. Tasting is horrible, spending my day on Ensure, apples, jam, and 1 type…
Husband starts treatment next week--primary is tonsil
I've been lurking around on this site since my husband's diagnosis on Aug. 11. It's been a great resource and even though I'm scared, I have a lot of hope as well. His started like much of your stories...found a lump on the right side of his neck in March. His primary doctor sent him for a CT right away and to an ENT. They…
Two Year Post Tx Scan
Have you met NED from Oklahoma? We have! Hubby's two year post-tx Pet scan came back clear as a bell. We are beyond relieved and happy. since I don't post like I used to, background is SCC left tonsil Stage 4 two node involvement. 35 rads over 7 weeks. Was supposed to have 3 cisplatin but too sick for the last chemo…
Mom's biopsy report
Good news. My mom's biopsy came back negative on the tumor for cancer but a-typical cells on the brushing. The bleeding was from a vein that the tumor is rubbing. Doctor says tumor needs to come out because it is blocking airway and the vein could rupture. He is talking with a surgeon. 1/3 of her lung will be removed. They…
Can radiotherapy around your head affect your memory?
I had 60gy of radiotherapy, 30 sessions over 6 weeks, 5 days a week. It was bilateral radiotherapy. They shielded my thyroid. The radiotherapy was down to my shoulders, and up as far as my cheeks, AND all around the back of my head, about halfway up my ears. I don't know, but I feel like somehow my memory isn't quite as…
CHEMO RELATED TINNITUS
I am back on Cisplatin, has anyone yet heard of any relief being developed for Chemo Related Tinnitus? My first time around in 2010, I was told there is not a cure. I am curious, as I see my Doc and or APN Tuesday regarding my current status of treatment. Update to last post regarding CT news. My scans were very good, and…
Another lump... does it ever end?
Remember the lump that everyone thought was a clip? (My neck is full of clips since the radical dissection). Then it wasn't a clip, the needle aspiration came back 'acellular'. But then my consultant wanted to repeat the needle biopsy mid-September, as he isn't satisfied that the needle actually took cells from the lump?…
Update from 8/29/14 post
Today went to the Radiologist.. He is a radiologist/oncologist.. And.. I am stage 4... not 3 like they first suspected.. the tumor is larger and more damage than originally thought..according to the PET scan.. he also found a lymph node in my neck that looks suspicious.. he wants a new MRI and another CT scan to over lay…
Complimentary therapy
I All, back at work Monday. Just had a week at a treatment / therapy centre. Lots of conventional gym work etc but also tried some complimentary such as Reiki. Given my cynicism was very impressed - relaxing and boosted energy. Hot stone massage good also. Any other recomendations. To be clear I am not advocating anything…
Newbie - SCC stage 3 tonsil
I was diagnosed late in July after 7 months of trying to convince my family doctor and then an ENT that something was wrong with me. I even told both I thought I had cancer because I had an earache, swollen tonsil and half my tongue was numb and enlarged. I was told I had allergies then that I didn't, I was told to stay…
This is pretty cool....
There was an article in yesterday's paper that we will have "True Beam" radiation here at our local Medical Center. I guess it is super high tech, kind of like Cyber-knife (that's what the Oncologist told me when I was there yesterday).....In the beginning, they'll be using it for brain and lung cancer, but will be using…
Robotic surgery at Wilmot
Just diagnosed on May 6 with right tonsil cancer - T1 N2/3 - Surgery is scheduled May 28 at Strong Memorial in Rochester, NY. We have strong faith and are praying without ceasing. Will be reading everything on this site. Have no idea what to expect.
Have anybody experienced pain inside your ear during taking food aftre radiation
Hi All, My father had his last radiation on 7th august 2014.For last 15 days or some he is saying he is feeling little pain in his ear during taking food.the Medicine onocologist told it is the side effect of radiation. Please comment. Thanks & Regards
Surgery after radiation
If anyone had surgury after radiation please let me know the risks.
Looks like I'm going to have to stop Therapy.---UPDATE
The Eributux is just kicking my butt. I'm pretty sure that I'd now be rated as class 3 on the 1-4 rash scale. No matter what we try (lotions, coconut oil-actually works better than any lotion, antibiotics and even prednisone) the spread continues and the itching is driving me to distraction. We actually did't infuse this…
Update again 9/2/14
UPDATE 9/2/14 : DOCTOR REPORTED THE NEW SPOT WAS INDEED A TUMOR AND A BLOODY ONE. HE SAID THAT HE STOPPED THE BLEEDING. NOW I HAVE A NEW DISAGREEMENT WITH ANOTHER SISTER. SHE SAYS WE SHOULD NOT TELL MOM WHAT THE DOCTOR SAID, LET THE DOC TELL HER ON MONDAY AT THE APPOINTMENT. i SAY WE SHOULD TELL HER BECAUSE SHE HAS THE…
UPDATE FROM 8-27 POST
CT Scan from last week turned out good. My Dr. and I discussed being able to take up to a 4 week break from the Cisplatin if the CT result was favorable. I arrived Yesterday and the break was "A Go" until I showed him my right foot which I cut 8 days earlier and ends up the foot was full of Staph and Cellulitis. I took an…
Natural Way of Healing Cancer?
Hi everyone :) I have a question? Is there a natural way to cure cancer? Like taking herbal supplements? My mother and I are both taking xanthone supplements plus moringa.... we are taking it 1 cap, three times a day... hope it can lessen the tumor of my mother on her neck...according to her ENT friend, it is just…
Worried
Hi. For 1 month, I have swollen lymph nodes on my left neck under the jaw, they are not painful. I also noticed pimple like bumps on my left tonsils (bumps with white spots inside), it is not painful. Whenever I swallow there is something itchy inside my left ear and when I burp, a muscle on my back neck aches. I have…
just wondering
Hey guys..things seem to be moving right along so pretty lucky so far.My question is what do I get to look forward to as hoping on friday they pull the peg tube.Haven't used it in 2 months and have gained weight.He wanted to wait till after the pet scan and that came back all clear.So with any more luck it get pulled
Just Diagnosed
This is all brand new. I received my diagnosis today. I've suspected for 3 months that this was cancer. I was told it was a harmless Brachial Cleft Cyst but when the surgeon removed it the pathology said Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma. He pulled a piece of tonsil and the lymph node near the cyst/necrotic lymph node (?)…
* The Trilogy* machine
Has anyone been treated with * The Trilogy linear accelerator machine* ? On the hospital website ( which I am going to ) , I read they say there are only 32 in the US and the hospital I am going to has one of them to treat cancer. ( There may be more now, unsure when they built and updated the website.) This makes me feel…
PEG replaced
last night my PEG tube sprang a leak at the end towards the tummy. I managed to clip it off with the clip and phoned the nurse the next day, she looked at it and said she couldn't repair it and called the hospital. I have the PEG that has a washer type thingy inside the stomach and a triangle fastener on the outside. I…
HAd a PET CT after 12 days of radiation.
Hi All, My father had a PET CT yesterday after 13 days of completion of radiation.What my onocologist told id ,the primary tumor has almost shrinked (with SUV-3.2 from 10.6)and size almpst gone.But the size of lymph nodes has not shrinked.and one important point is 2 lymph nodes from left side has slightly increased in…
CT Scan of lungs results
below are the results from a ct i had done last friday, 8/29. i hoping someone can tell me what they mean. i have to say i'm just a little worried about a couple things. one being the mention of the coronary arteries. Pat, if you read this, I would greatly appreciate your expertise. i don't know if my doc will call me…
Happy Day
Just saying, it's the weekend and it's Sunday. Some people are at home having nice little family days, some will be going to church, or for a walk, and some (like me) are at work (I've snuck off to the back office on the work computer HA)... In America it's very early in the morning, but it's 08:45 here :) Just wanted to…
Skiffin Update..
I got the PICC line out about a week ago... Started eating and drinking again, what I can. But at least I'm maintaining my weight.. The eating was rough at first, stomach aches and pains and progressive nausea..., but that has decreased. I figure maybe it was just the four months of not eating and drinking that I had to…

Head and Neck Cancer

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