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Free flap surgery
Has anyone had a mandiblectomy with free flap where they used tissue from the thigh instead of the fibula bone? When I went back for surgery follow up they told me I had fluid I'm my thigh by the incision. They said it would go away by itself but not how long. How long does it take for fluid to be absorbed? It seems like…
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Necrosis how to stop it
As my doctors were all trying to figure out what next to do about the Necrosis the hole was just getting bigger and bigger. My daughter was doing a little research about Oil pulling; I think Laralyn had a post about it last month. Coconut Oil Pulling and Raw Honey seams to be the cure for it, I even started using a little…
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2 Years ago.....tomorrow
August 30 2012, is the day I got the phone call saying you have Stage 4 cancer. A life changing moment. I am not one to get upset or afraid real easily, but I'll tell you, that chilled me to the bone, as I am sure you can all relate. Of course I jumped on the internet to learn all I could about SCC, Staging, 5 year…
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Carboplatin and 5-fu
Has anyone had the bad luck of having a second go round of carbo and 5-fu? Had rads and chemo Dec 2012-Jan 2013. Since then I was on avastin for mets to lungs for kidney cancer but this was changed to erbitux this past February when a biopsy showed it was squamous cell. Last Pet scan showed it had spread to left 6th rib…
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40 anniversary surprise
My children and I all planned a surprise for my Wife on our 40th anniversary. I told the Wife I wanted to spend our anniversary up on Toledo Bend just me and her. Well I could see that she did not really like the idea but she went along with it. We were down on the pear fishing when her brother and his wife just walked up…
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Sore throat 5 months after radiation
I have a sore throat for 3 weeks. It has been 5 months since my last radiation treatment. ENT has put me on a 3 week regimen of antibiotics still no relief. Also I have a tickle in my throat that results in me coughing up a clear mucous. ENT says next thing is a CAT scan. has anyone else had this problem before? I had…
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Inspire
My great niece was an intern for St. Jude Hospital this summer. Her sorority does fundraising for the hospital. She ends her messages with: For the children. I was thinking of ending mine with: For the survivors. This was on the wall at the doctor's office today and I felt it was more of an inspiration. You are Stronger…
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Surgery Prior to Radiation
Hello everyone, My ENT is wanting to perform a tonsillectomy and neck dissection on the same day and then start radiation treatment. How many of you had surgery prior to radiation and how long did you have to heal before the radiation could start? I of course want all of my treatment to start immediately but am worried…
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What Type PEG Tube are you using
What type of PEG are you all using, I have a low profile tube and from the day they put it in it leaks For everyone who has a PEG Tubes what type do you have. Two months ago I got a replacement Low Profile PEG Tube and all it does is leaks. I can eat all my Norman food with no problems but as soon as I drink water it…
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help please, 3 weeks since treatment finished
Hi there, I haven't been here in a while. I have now had my radiation and chemo over 7 weeks. It now been 3 weeks since it finished. I have a peg and am still using this. How long before you are able to eat again or does it seem too long for me ? I have been on morphine which I have now weaned myself off , one side effect…
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TODAY IS CT DAY
Hi friends, and I hope you are all doing well. CT at 9am today. I have no reason to believe it won't go well as after 15 weekly treatments of Cisplatin, the mediastinal nodes are still just dead tissue after the Taxotere destroyed them. All of the damage to my body and the severe Pleural Leakage is almost healed. The small…
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went to doc yesterday.
went to my oncologist yesterday for meds. she told me she does not want me to have surgery on the 25th. her and her partner both said to wait three more weeks so they can mesure the two spots on my rite lung the are 3centermeters now. if they grow in this this three weeks wait and see, that there is no sence in haveing to…
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Road Trip
My husband and I went on our first road trip since cancer #2 struck in December/January. We went 3000 miles to visit friends and family in New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and Kansas (started in St. Louis). The new profile picture is from the mountains above Alburquerque. We took the tram up to over 10,000 feet. I was…
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checking in - 14 rads done so far
Dears, sorry i haven't been available much recently. To be honest I'm not enjoying this rad treatments at all ! And sorry for the long post! 14 sessions done, still have another 14. I have developed a reflux / gastritis problem in my stomach because of stress (that's what the Dr. told me) Haven't been eating for the past…
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Jaw replacement and osteoradionecrosis
first I really appreciate each if you. Here's my new situation I'd like to know if there is anyone out there going thru this. 3 years ago I had segmented mandilbectomy, fibula free flab to reconstruct jaw bone. All teeth removed and implants put in. Six weeks radiation. no reoccurrence of scc so far. I was told last week…
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MOVING
Tomorrow will be four months since Jim died. Seems like yesterday. The closing on the condo is Tuesday so I am beginning to pack up. Jim had his own room the last few years. He kept his books, clothes mementoes, etc. in there. My sister offered to pack it for me but my son wants to do it. We were in there Friday and I was…
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Just Sayin..
It's been long and hard battle..., hopefully the light at the end of the tunnel is near. I still have a ways to go, still seeping a little from the stomach, but no PICC line and what I can eat is a new venture as well... But I'm pushing forward. Oh and BTW, I had a little fun today.... ~John
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One year check with the surgeon...
I saw the radiologist at my one year mark (June 21) and he said all was clear, so today was my one year check with the surgeon. He was VERY PLEASED with my progress and said "see ya in 4 months". Cancer free. Music to my ears. For those of you just starting your journey...be hopeful, have faith and lean on the support…
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Newly diagnosed
My husband was diagnosed on August 11th with Metastatic Squmaous Cell Carcinoma of neck with unknown primary. He does not smoke or drink or use any tobacco products so I think it may be HPV, although we haven't got that far yet. He is suppose to have a scope to take multiple biopsies in hopes of finding the primary and…
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Prayers for son
I know it isn't cancer until they say it is cancer but after what I have been through I can't help but worry. That said I want to ask for prayers for my son Lonnie. He started having jaw pain on his left side near the ear (where Jim's pain started) and thought it was his wisdom teeth. Dentist said no, maybe he grinds teeth…
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Mayo Clinic Rochester and Modified Radical Neck Dissection
I'm wondering how many of you received treatment at Mayo? My ENT already scheduled me for Wednesday with another ENT in Bismarck to consult about my modified radical neck dissection. I wanted to go to Mayo but was told that this was already scheduled so why change it now, the sooner I get in the better. But the health care…
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Rang the bell today...
...well, my doorbell anyway...they don't have a bell tradition where I am taking treatment so today was the last day of tx and went home and rang my own bell. Kept the mask, not sure why, I suppose I'll resolve that later. I know from all of you that the next couple of weeks are often the worst so I hope I can cope ok.…
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checking in
Hey everyone, Been crazy here trying to get ready for my son's upcoming wedding. Aug. 30th. So excited to be a part of it ! My brother is doing pretty good after his tx's. About 3 mo's out. (almost) He's lost around 65 lbs though. They maybe pulled the peg a bit too soon. Doing the supp's is helping keep his labs in order…
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Good Vibes needed for Steve
Steve (hawk711) is having a jaw resecting (left side) this coming Tuesday, August 26. He and I have been in fairly regular contact leading up to and after my own same procedure in early May. Please send him your good vibes (in whatever form you generate them) on the 26th, and into the next several weeks afterwards, so that…
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HBOT here I come! Update number 1
I have my first appointment next Monday. I don't know how long it will take to get set up. Local ENT is hopeful that it will help my ear problems and when he looked in my mouth today he said back tooth is loose and 'fissure' goes right up the tooth to the sinus. Luckily my husband likes to read and recently downloaded some…
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4 years yesterday
Hi all: Yesterday marked 4 years of Charlie's passing and home going. It's still rough being without him of course. I always read over the cards and letters and look at the book at all who came and then watch the dvd the funeral home did of the pictures. Had to stay late at school last nite for curriculum nite for all of 2…
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Canker sore becomes Cancer after PET scan
In October of last year I had a PET scan because of a high CEA blood test reading. I had a canker sore at the time. Within days I had an extremely sore tongue. Saw my regular doctor, referred to an ENT, saw him several times, medicine prescribed, nothing helped. By January 2014 I was so weary of hurting and nothing…
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worried obout throat cancer please help me anyone please...
Hi all, it is not easy to be there.i have ent problems ,i have sore throat ,burning pain un my one side jaw and ear .i have neck pain and when i turn my head to both sides it sound kinda cracking.weird sansation one side of my tounge and some pain in my mouth. My left tonsil is some bigger than other.i feel like its pain…
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Save the teeth!
Three and a half years out from treatment, I had a dental crown fail catastrophically. Turns out it was completely decayed through from beneath, and the tooth itself was shattered. After numerous discussions with my oncology team, dentist, endodontist, and maxillofacial surgeon with special expertise in…
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Squamous cell carcinoma of base of tongue also involving lymph nodes
My brother was diagnosed a week ago with squamous cell carcinoma of the base of the tongue (primary site) and also has spread to lymph nodes on both sides os the neck. He's a non-smoker (always has been). Information on the Internet is conflicting with regards to treatment and survival rates. Just looking for accurate and…