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

Radiation side effects 1 1/2 year after treatment.
Good day all . My treatment 1 1/2 years ago was surgery followed by 33 days of radiation and 3 doses of chemo. Of course had the usual side effects....difficulty eating / lack of saliva / loss of taste etc but after 1 1/2 yrs I felt I had largely recovered maybe back to 80% normal. Now though, a new wrinkle and I was…
Biotene products hard to find
For those of us who suffer from dry mouth from our cancer treatments, rely on saliva substitutes . I have been using the Biotene products for over twelve years. Now I can't find it and if I do, retailers are asking high prices for it. I just ordered a new gel product. Hoping this will work. I use it when I go to bed so my…
Have to get a molar pulled
I am a thirteen-year survivor of nasopharyngeal cancer. Through the years, I have spent thousands on my teeth. I had a molar that had a crown on it. It decided to come loose and fall off. Now I need to have the root pulled out. My dentist has put me on two meds. Pentoxifylline and vitamin E to ward off osteoradionecrosis.…
Radiation cause trismus
Hi all I am a 68 year old lady who had surgery this time last year, my ENT surgeon had to stop though as tumor that they think started on my left tonsil cT4 N1 HPV was big and wrapped around my carotid artery. So then underwent 7 weeks of radiation treatments 70 gy and 7 weeks of chemo Cisplatin. So far my scans have shown…
Tonsil Cancer
I have been diagnosed with Tonsil cancer and I was just wondering if there is anybody else out there that is dealing with the same type as I
Adenocarcinoma in a branchial cleft cyst
Age 57 Male. Recently had branchial cleft cyst removed. Pathologist found minute trace of adenocarcinoma in interior lining. No sign of abnormal cells in lymph nodes, exterior of cyst or the stump of the cyst. Has anyone had or heard of a similar situation?
Trismus (Lockjaw)
Hi everyone I'm new here and have soooo many questions. A little bit about my situation... Had surgery on May 24, 2012 to remove the tumor on my inner cheek, right neck dissection to remove lymph nodes and skin graft from my right thigh. 30 treatments of radiation and 3 treatments of Cisplatin. (Awful stuff.) My question…
Success of radiation only without any surgery after 2-3 years?
Hello, I have cancer (squamous cell carcinoma) of the larynx on my right vocal cord. I’m about to be treated with radiation. Has this worked for anyone on this forum with this type of cancer? In other words, have you been treated with radiation for this cancer and survived for 2-3 years without having any surgeries? Have…
no treatment throat cancer
My mom (80 yrs old) has been diagnosed with throat cancer and she is insisting on not having any treatment. She says she feels fine now and doesnt want radiation or chemo with all the bad side effects. Anyone know what she would or could go through if she left this type of cancer untreated?
Best hospitals for treatment
As I mentioned a few days ago my dad will be going to wake forest Baptist medical center in north Carolina. Seems from reading several posts that maybe several of you went to Mayo Clinic. Just wanting to get an idea of where some of you received your treatment. I certainly want to go to the BEST facility and doctors. Wake…
Tooth Extraction For H&N Patients Is Always A Major Risk Event
Anyone who has had head and Neck cancer and had radiation treatment in the head and neck area could be at risk for osteoradionecrosis (ORN), or bone death depending on where the radiation fields were and how strong the radiation was. Please be extremely aware of oral and dental care moving forward after treatment. It is…
Help, Has Anyone Had Base of Tongue Reconstruction?
I was diagnosed Feb 2010 with tumor on base of tongue with lymph node involvement: mucoepidermoid carcinoma. In March I had surgery to remove tumor and neck dissection to remove lymph nodes. The cancer had returned to base of my tongue and now I have to surgery to remove the affected area in which they will have to…
Jaw problems after extensive radiation treatment
My brother was diagnosed with Squamous cell carcinoma in 2000. He was treated at Sloan Kettering by means of chemo and radiation,he did not choose to have the radical neck dissection or surgery. The treatments itself was very grueling and very intense at times where he would get radiation treatments three times a day. He…
6 Months After Treatment/Tonsil and Lymph Node
Hi Friends, I had my 6 month checkup yesterday. Doctor looked at everything with the camera. She said that things are looking good. Still a little redness and mucus but she said that I a recovering nicely and no visible signs of recurrence. I wanted to share this news in hopes of offering a little encouragement to those…
Negative Pressure Wound Therapy for a small fistula located in the RND scar
Has anyone had experience with NPWT? I have a very small fistula that developed after an abscess formed and eventually erupted at the upper end of my Radical Neck Dissection scar. Augmentin took care of the infection but the fistula continues to leak now almost 7 weeks after eruption. I am hoping for a non-surgical…
Has anyone had eye pressure issues, post-tx?
Strangest thing, but over the course of the past 8 months the pressure behind my left eye, only, has been high. Now knowing that Rads damage blood vessels and takes years to manifest symptoms, and my getting 56Gys above the chin, I cannot help but wonder-especially since I got photon Rads from an older machine back in…
Finally an explanation of WHY the long term Rad damage
Went to the U of Iowa ENT Dr. on the 21st. He explained that the reason my larynx folds are coming together, blocking my air passage, is due to Rad damage on the the little blood vessels in otherwise okay soft tissue- eventually leading said tissue to die/turn into scar tissue over time. I said, "The same principle as…
2023 Roll Call??
I may have missed it but are we still doing an annual Roll Call?
Cramping and Kinks
I am 4 plus post and now I get these awful cramps in back of head, arms, thighs, feet, legs and back.My oncologist said this is another side affect. I talk to primary care and she said take magnesium but this didn't help much. She suggested vitamin B which I havent tried yet. Was wondering who else has these symptoms and…
TSH
IS elevated TSH normal with HEAD & NECK cancer. I am almost 4 years post and my TSH has risen from 5.7 to 7.2 in 2 weeks. TS4 free is normal. I know when i see my oncologist he always makes sure my Thyroid is checked... I have read that about 30% who have had this type of cancer and radiation that this is common side effect
Spicy food
I was wondering. About how long does it take before you can eat spicy food without it hurting. I stay away from it now, well i try it like once a week. I eat food without spices now because i can't take it. It kills my throat. So i was curious to see what others had to say. Thanks, James
Mask anxiety medication
Hello. Does anyone take anything during treatment mask anxiety/claustrophobia? What do you take and what dosage? My doctor prescribed .5 mg of Ativan and it’s not effective at all. A Psychiatrist friend said the starting effective dose of Ativan is 2 mg. I really wish my doc would give me something that works. Thanks
migraine-type headaches
Hi all. I finished my treatment about 12 years ago for Stage-4 oropharyngeal cancer (HPV16), and have few long-term side effects. Lucky boy, as my wife says. I had my treatment in Tokyo University Hospital, where they gave me 24/7 chemo (three types, second round cut short after anaphylactic shock), and then 35 doses of…
Possible throat cancer.
First of all I wanted to say that for all of you here who have been diagnosed with this horrible disease, my thoughts and my prayers are with you and never give up. Keep fighting. As for me ive stumbled upon this forum because I have a few questions and concerns. I’m a 28 year old male, obese. Never smoker never drinker…
New Year
Happy New Year H&N Members, Not to be too confusing to the (current and active) H&N members but, back in 2013 I came across the following post by a 2010 H&N member known as nkimber. I found it to be very heartfelt and I have been re-posting it back to the top of the H&N forum (most) every January since. Many H&N members…
HPV+
So we tell everyone, "get the vaccination, you wont get HPV+ cancer. BUT, your chances of making it with HPV- are substantially less than if HPV+ (30-50 as opposed to 90 - full cure) So really, you are damned if you do, and damned if you don't
Radiation mask accident
Hello. During this mornings treatment the radiation techs first struggled to attach my mask. Once attached the automatic table I was laying on moved quickly towards the scanner and my head crashed directly into and under the scanner. Then it moved quickly again and for a second time my head crashed into the scanner. My…
Parotid Gland Cancer
I am interested in hear from others who have been diagnosed with Acinic Cell Carcinoma or other Parotid Gland cancers.
Tonsil cancer
Has anybody after radiation and Chemo treatment for tonsil cancer Had a biopsy come back suspicious for cancer in the same lymph node from the start of this process.
New here … tonsil and lymph node
Hi everyone , Seems this more common then I knew , I too am positive for HPV . Started in the tonsil and months of doctors giving me antibiotics after antibiotics… now I’m faced with this and to be honest I’m a bit freaked about getting the feeding tube .. which when the asked I said “yes”. I haven’t started any treatment…

Head and Neck Cancer

Discussion List

Discussion Boards