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Head and Neck Cancer

The C: Section Chronicles - 6 years later
It's been a while. Yes it has been that long. yesterday I had my final ultra sound scan at the bequest of the ENT. It is hard to believe that 6 and a half years ago a lump was discovered on my neck, which started this adventure (as recorded in the Chronicles which I am going to collate into a full document sometime.)…
Reading A Pathology Report And Questions To Ask Your Health Care Team
I was talking with another CSN'er and a question came up about pathology reports and got me digging for more information and in doing some research I came up with a wonderful page of information from cancer.net about pathology reports probably everything you need to know and the questions you should ask your medical team.…
Questions For Your Doctor After Treatment Has Ended
Hello folks, I came across this short guide and I am attaching it here. It gives you an idea of questions to ask your doctor after your cancer treatment has ended. It can be printed out and there is a lined section at the end for you to take notes. Take care, God Bless-Russ
Questions For Your Doctor After Diagnosis
Hello folks, I came across this short guide and I am attaching it here. It gives you an idea of questions to ask your doctor after you get the diagnosis of cancer. It can be printed out and there is a lined section at the end for you to take notes. Take care, God Bless-Russ
Spring Is Starting-Spring Is Close
Once again here in Southeastern PA spring is and has been getting started. I am sure your part of the country varies from this location as per spring happenings Things are not totally bustin' out yet but after a few really warm days things will really get started. Every spring wherever you are at all things are new and new…
Can you remove lymph nodes in neck area without radical dissection?
I just spoke to a friend at work who's husband has hodgkin cancer. She told me had had lymph nodes removed from his neck and he was in and out of the hospital. I have two lymph nodes that may need to be removed, can they remove them without radical dissection? Is this possible?
Vacmedix-A New Platform to Make Cancer and Viral Vaccines
Hello fellow CSN'ers, hoping you are all having the best day possible. I came across this article in my travels and thought it might interest some here on CSN H&N. it appears to be another group and this one I believe is in Britain, that is developing cancer vaccines and working on making immunotherapy better. You folks…
saliva glands can they be transplanted
I had radiation to the head and neck and it fried 1 part of my saliva gland. All I have is the sticky part and it makes eveything hang in my throat. Although I have a feeding tube I cough alot because of that saliva. I found a doctor that can help me swallow food again by reconstructing my throat and removing my voice box…
New Problem: Radiation Recall?
Hello old friends, and new. The good news is that my husband's recent scans are all NED, five years out from treatment for SCC HPV+ cancer of tongue, mets to neck. Some of you will remember that we've had a few scares (episodes of new tongue dysplasia) handled by laser ablation. Happily, the state of his tongue has been…
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…
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

Head and Neck Cancer

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