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She Said "Yes :)
I wanted to share the good news with my H&N family. I asked Marcia to marry me and she said yes :) I did the "Christmas Story" proposal. Those of you familiar with the movie "A Christmas Story" know that it's the story of a little boy who wants a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas. He gets told by everyone including Santa…
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I'm taking care of the hair issue next week...
My hair is so think it's pretty much transparent. It's still coming out in handfuls. I can't pull it up or back because you can see my scalp if I do. I'm cutting it OFF next week. Short, almost buzzed. I'm going to try starting over since the docs don't understand WHY it's coming out so crazy. I'm looking forward to it…
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Happy New Year all
New year just arrived. Celebrated with a G&T just rolled it around my mouth ....tasted real good just as it should do.
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Transoral Endoscoic Surgery for Tonsil Cancer
Does anyone have experience with this type of surgery? John Hopkins is advocating surgery for early stage cancers of small size. Website says: Many patients with smaller tumors in the mouth, throat and voice box may be candidates for tumor removal through the mouth (transoral). This is a minimally invasive technique that…
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Chime in - if you wish
My husband has sme serious back issues now. Spinal Stenosis, lumbar fracture and a bulging disc. He was fine before cancer treatment, after that he has had a slew of health problems. The latest is the back. I am blaming the chemotherapy drugs for the bone deterioration. Here is a list of health problems from the past 3…
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High TSH from contrast
Hi, I am slmost 2 years post treatment and haven't revisited this site for about that long (perhaps a pscychological defense mechanism). Firstly, to everyone who's new to this, do remember that the even the darkest hours would eventually come to pass. Things will get better, though as a lot people say, a new normal will…
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Introduction from Switzerland
Hi, my name is David Jellison (hence, DaveJay). My wife and I moved from Denver, Colorado to Geneva, Switzerland about a year ago, in connection with my work with Siemens. Just as my current high-pressure project came to an end, I caught up with some administrivia, and finally got that physical the Swiss Social Security…
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Social Security Disability ?
I got cancer in 2010 i think. I had stage 4 tongue cancer with 3/4 of my tongue removed and replaced with my thigh. I also had a double neck dissection with cancer on my left side and middle. I had chemo and radiation. For chemo i had Cisplatin. I lost hearing in both ears and a lot of hearing in my right ear. I was 45…
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Preparing for Cancer Treatmet
Its been 10 days since I was diagnosed with SCC HPV+ of the left tonsil, possible cance in one lymph node on the same side. Was told after the biopsy that it was stage I but if its in the lymph node I guess that would change. I have seen the Oncologist, will see the Radiation Specialist this week and together with my ENT…
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Fever
Soooo, for close to two weeks I have been running a pretty consistant fever in the evenings in the temperature range of 99.1 - 99.6. Most of the time I don't even realize it... but sometimes I can tell and I check my temp and sure enough... I ask my onc when I saw him Friday and he didn't seem to be concerned about it.…
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Deformed bottom lip
has anyone got a deformed lip from neck dissection. After my op my lip drooped to the left really ugly and the muscle on the right side was drawn down making a line pulling my cheek down, when I talk or smile the left side of my mouth pulls down and I talk out of the side of my mouth. The right side of my bottom lip is so…
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needing to vent a bit
Hello everyone, Well I'll have to see my primary in the a.m. Having alot of issues with pain in the right lung. (the one I had resected last Dec.) Also waking up from a deep sleep with major pain behind my left eye. Can we say Damn on site here ? Damn, damn, damn. Well that's how I feel right now. I was being such a smarty…
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Update since finishing rads
Hello all, Finished radiation therapy and now just taking it day by day. Neck burn: switched from Alra MD wanted me to use to Calendula and it seems to be more soothing. Must be allergic to something in the Alra. G-tube: still irritating the H___ out of me, waking me up and pain under left rib, hard to get comfortable and…
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Need "back to work" advice
2013-12-30 I have been reading posts on this site obsessively since christmas anticipating the journey ahead. To say I've been impressed with your collective wisdom and courage would be a severe understatement! Now , I need your specific opinion on this: i begin IMRT rads (60 gys to primary, reduced level to bilateral…
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Plan in place???
Well, I thought I had a plan. Saw the new ONC yesterday and had two choices (drug combos) suggested by Mayo. I opted to lose hair and have acne in place of nausea, mouth sores and diarrhea. My decision was for Cetuximab (aka Erbitux) and Paclitaxel (aka Taxol). I just went to get the paperwork so I could tell you what I…
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Recurring Thrush post treatment
I was diagnosed with cancer in my right tonsil on April 1st 2013 it had metastasized to the lymph nodes on the right side of my neck. Although it was stage IV when it was found, after surgery to remove the tonsil, 7 chemo treatments and 35 radiation treatments ( finished June 11th), I've had 2 clean scans and am doing…
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Lord!! This treatment is brutal!!! :(
The oncologist wasn't kidding when he said this is the hardest cancer treatment there is!! My father is going through stage 3 base tongue cancer treatment and he is on week 7. He would be done tuesday if it wasn't for the low blood levels and fever. He was I the hospital for 2 days, pumped him with antibiotics (as if his…
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Needed to write, good news, boost needed, still leaning
Haven't been back to my lifeline for a little bit, just looking for a little boost from you all - sorry to ask, sorry to feel like whining - I have 15 rad and 2 chemo treatments to go - living on ensure and water, started supplementing water into my feeding tube, I feel light headed when I get up, so not enough water - I…
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Need Some Love… ~ Updated ~19DEC2013 - Paths Clean..
Well actually, MOJO, thoughts, prayers and all of the other good stuff... I've had a small cyst on my pancreas for a few years... It hasn't bothered me, hasn't lit up on scans, or increased in size.... But for whatever reason, they have me scheduled for a procedure called an EUS tomorrow, along with my every two year…
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Been a long time, it seems...
Hi All! Been a few years. I had the cancer on my left tonsil in 2011. Did the feeding tube, 35 rad... Then in May 2013, during the night had a horrendous coughing spell. I thought it was due to allergies/whatnot. But 2 lumps formed on my neck..had bi-opsy. Cancer. My PET from 2011 was completely clear, I mentioned this on…
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Mucus making me throw up
How do I stop that from happening?? I certainly HURTS to throw up stomach contents when your throat is in week 8 lol. Sucks, just threw up all in my freaking bathroom again. Had lots of mucus so I'm guessing that's the culprit. How do you stop it? Everything I get down my gullet for nurishment causes the inside of my…
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Question about swelling/edema
Hello! I finished my chemo/rad in August and got a good petscan in November. Little by little I'm doing a little better. The ENT had me order a smaller trace and it feels better, especially on the outside of my neck. The other one was rubbing the skin raw and was real swollen above it (edema). Some of that has gone down.…
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Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma
Hi there! I'm just wondering how many people on here have been diagnosed with ACC, what kind of treatment you've received, and how long you've lived with this diagnosis. My primary tumor was the submandibular gland in July and it was removed in August. I've got new growth in the parotid now and another near the middle of…
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right side tonsil squamous cell carcinoma spread to one lymph node in right side neck stage 2-3
Hello, I had my operation on 09-012-03 and followed with 35 radiation treatments ending 12-31-03. They removed the right tonsil and the l3 lymph nodes in my neck and throat area plus other tissue in the area. The operation was called a radical neck dissectomy. My throat and mouth are dry requiring me to carry a water…
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Safe to have baby after treatment?
Hello everyone. Need your personal advice or experienced opinion. Is it safe to start having baby after recovering from chemo and radiation therapy for head and neck cancer? Would the treatment affect the health of the fetus due to genetic change or damage from treatments? I am 40 y/o male and 1 month out of treatment.…
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Regaining appetite
My husband had three chemo (cisplatin) and 35 RT to his sinus cavity and neck. Last treatment July 25th. He has a PEG tube and uses it for most of his nutrition (Ensure PLus). He will try to eat a bit in the evenings for supper, but its very little. He says he has no appetite. Any suggestions would be helpful and…
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Merry Christmas - I miss you all!
This January will be my 2 year mark with clear and clean scans / checkups from my stage III throat cancer. There is no way I can express how much I love every day with my family. You spend many days going through treatments looking at the faces of your children, you spend many moments answering question from worried little…
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H&N Cancer, not Esophagus Cancer. Late, not early
Saw the surgeon today. He looked at the PET scan, and its not good. It is head/neck cancer and it extends into the esophagus. More tests are needed to see if is operable. That should be Monday. If it is, he will remove the esophagus, the voice box, and put in a trachea. If not operable, then chemo. Prob not radiation,…
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Wanting my G-tube out!
It is 3 am and my g-tube woke me up again. It starts to hurt, mostly ache or throb around 2 or 3 am. This one has been in place for 3 weeks. The one before that for less than 24 hours. I change positions, prop myself up fiddle with it, etc. I am basically tired of the tortue it has brought me. I am still eating and…
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Scans on Thursday
I have my CT and PET scan on Thursday. I went to the oncologist this morning that I used in 2007 (and have been seeing regularly). He schedued the scans - I should know by the end of the week where I stand. So, now I can enjoy Christmas, instead of waiting for a call. Except for the food part. I still can't eat. But, I did…