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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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2023 Roll Call??
I may have missed it but are we still doing an annual Roll Call?
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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…
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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
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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
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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
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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
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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…
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Parotid Gland Cancer
I am interested in hear from others who have been diagnosed with Acinic Cell Carcinoma or other Parotid Gland cancers.
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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.
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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…
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Healthy Alternative to Boost or Ensure?
My brother-in-law just completed chemo/radiation last week and the past week has been hellish. Still feels like he has a hot coal in his throat, lots of mucus, nausea, etc. He is having a difficult time drinking Boost, it's just too thick and all the sugar and milk protein is not agreeing with him. Is there a healthy…
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Fungating Tumors
Anyone dealing with these types of tumors? I have searched the boards but didn't find much information. My husband had surgery for oral cancer of the inside of his cheek as well as a neck disection. After some mis-diagnosis about what the pockets of fluid were along the outside of his cheek, if was determined to be more…
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My radiation mask is too tight....what can I do
Hello I'm so glad I found this site. I have head and neck cancer and I'm currently getting radiation treatments. Two weeks in and my mask has become extremely tight....especially choking me and crushing my already sore adam's apple. It's excruciating and I just can't endure it anymore. My oncologist cut a hole next to my…
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Side affects chin and lip numbness
Hi to everyone, I am 5 and 1/2 years post treatment of base of tounge cancer. Dealing with many side effect of 35 radiation treatment and 3 doses cisplatin chemo. Sides effects include damaged thyroid, blood pressure issues, cervical issues,dry inflamed mouth and throat neck spasms and the list goes on. Managing all these…
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ATTN: All military veterans on this forum... new VA PACT Act passed 2022
I have not yet contacted any veterans organizations to get the ball rolling; however, as a former Marine '88-'93 (12 months of that in the gulf.. so, I should be covered by what have read so far), I am going to start making some calls asap. If any other veteran has had any experience with this new PACT Act, please let us…
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Coughing up blood
I had bot cancer stage 3 treated with radiation in December 2021. I suffer from a lot of phlegm and I usually clear this by vigorously coughing or clearing my throat. Most mornings I suffer from a coughing fit and today I coughed up some blood. I can feel that where my cancer was is now a little sore, this area is also…
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Just dropping by to say hello …
Hey folks. Another year has passed, since my operation in 2019, and I'm dropping by to wish everyone the best in life. This place has been so invaluable for support, both technically and mentally. Still getting very tired, during the day, but that's basically it, so far. I want to thank everybody once again, and perhaps…
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A Support Web Site To Check Out
I have come across this site at different times in my research for support and information on cancer-related H&N subjects and I think it is a very helpful site with Blogs and Webinars and a Webinar Library where you can access past webinars on many subjects related to cancer, you may find something helpful. More…
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Wishing Everyone A Happy And Blessed New Year And Great Hope for The Future-Add Your Hopes & Helps
Hello everyone, we are about to turn over a new year and are looking to the positive as much as we can I am sure. I know we are all in different phases of treatment and recovery and or dealing with the after-effects of treatment to some degree. May we continue to work together on here for the good of each other to help and…