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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…
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Suction pump
I am a long term NPC survivor and had to get a feeding tube just over 2 1/2 years ago. My swallowing has continued to worsen and now I am looking for a suction machine to help with saliva/secretions that I am having trouble swallowing. I have insurance but there is a high deductible and I have found that it can be more…
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So, I finished today!
Now for the dreaded week 8 and the recovery. I hope I can get back to work pretty quickly. I still have quite a bit of stamina. I never had a feeding tube but it makes eating a challenge at the moment because it hurts like heck to swollow anything. But, I'm sure I will overcome that. Thanks everyone for the support... I'm…
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Esophagus skin sloughing off...
How long does this happen? Also, I don't really have that sore of a throat anymore (maybe because I'm wearing a pain patch), but the food supplements (SPIZ, Carnation Essentials, Ensure, etc) all cause a thick mucousy situation that is hard to clear out. How long does that last? lol Thanks again guys and God bless, Jamie
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Merry Christmas
Just in case you get busy and don't get on during the next week, I just want to say Merry Christmas and Happy (Healthy) New Year to my CSN family. I pray you have a safe and wonderful holiday season. I know many of us are looking forward to the end of 2013 and praying for a much better 2014, I hope it is better for…
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False teeth
For you guys that had to have all of your teeth removed, how long after treatment ended were you able to get dentures? Thanks and God bless, Jamie
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Food taboo for cancer survivors?
Happy Holidays everyone. Well, I am finally having food craving after finishing treatments for three weeks. I want to eat hot dogs, tacos, burritos, sandwiches, soups...etc. However, I was advised by family member to stay away from beef and raw food such as oyster and sushi. Does anyone have a take on this issue from your…
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NED!!!
Scan results are in, NED!! Best Christmas present I could have. They ordered more blood work, they think my thyroid may be fried from the radiation but other than that, all 3 doctors said everything looked great. So blessed, thank God for answered prayers.
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I am Joining the Thyroid Club
Fellow Thyrodians, As you can see, I am trending higher and I will be adding Levothyroxine to my ever increasing pill regiment. Prior to cancer, I only took Prilosec, now I have my own pill box. Oh well, now that I am crossing over who is going to teach me the secret hand shake and where is the club house? Is there a…
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I finally met him
It has been a long journey, I have finally met NED! MRI Tuesday morning, 2 doctor appointments in the afternoon. Cancer is aggressively DYING!!!! It wasn't just my nerve, I never heard the word tumor in September. I just heard the 'c' had returned 6 months after treatment and I guess I just shut down. There was a tumor in…
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Merry Christmas Y'all
Hi all: Just wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. I'm headed to in-laws in a couple of hours. Have now left J0-Ann's and will be able to sub full time starting after Christmas. Already have 3 days in January booked. No more nite or weekend work so I'm excited. I'm grateful I had the opportunity to work at Jo-Ann's…
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Anyone have this happen with insurance and rads?
Had a Christmas surprise after rads today. Two ladies from billing came to see me about Cigna who decided the last week of radiation that I would have to pay $40. each day of radiation which amounts to about $1300. This came as a surprise and we (the Century 21 oncology center), me and my Cigna oncology case manager…