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Acupuncture
Hi All, I haven't posted as much lately, just being busy with life and some light treatment. One of the last posts I made was about how well Acupuncture works. Most of the responses were positive so I gave it a go. Didn't help at all. The problem I have is when my Dr. did my rt neck dissection he disturbed my scapular…
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PICC line to be or not to be
Well David had his PICC kind inserted early Tuesday morning and every afternoon since they have had to redress it because he keeps bleeding. I'm not talking about a trickle here a trickle there but soaking through the dressing and his shirt. Today the chemo ONC came in and said if they can't get the bleeding to stop this…
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Long 3 week trip
Hi all, have not been around for a while, was locked up in a hospital bed. I had a small piece of my lung removed at Hershey, all was good until I got Atrial Fibrilation, I was kept another 3 days. The left the catheter in with instructions to have my urologist get it out. I left the hospital. When I met with my urologist…
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Neck muscle spasms
Hi All, It's been a while since I've posted. I finished radiation and chemo for nasopharyngial cancer in May of last year. It's been good so far with negative CTs and exams. I am truly grateful. Most of taste has returned and saliva is at about 70%. I can lick a stamp and envelop! Of late, however, I've noticed…
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Blood work results
OK so most everyone knows David was unable to do chemo today. I got a copy of his blood work from today. There was more wrong than right. Low RBC/Hemoglobin/Hemocrit/Platelet County/Chloride/CO2/GFR High WBC/MCH/MCHC/Metamyelocyte/Myelocyte/Reactive Lymp/Monocyte/Plasma Cell/NRBC/Abs. Plasma Cell/Glucose…
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how to start eating again
hello to everyone On 10-24 my dad finished chemo and radiation treatment (33). He had the feeding tube put in on 9-28- and that has been his only source of nutrition throughout his treatments. Now that he is done and trying to swallow he wants to start drinking and eating. I do not know where to start. What are the best…
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Possible Side Effect Assistance (Head, Neck and Sinus)
Possible Side Effect Assistance Head, Neck and Sinus It's been 3 years since my radiation and chemo treatments ended and I was pronounced amazingly healed for the moment, as we all have learned to avoid the CURED word! Since then, like many of us have suffered with post treatment side effects. Mine are constant dry mouth,…
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need resources for financial help
I am desperate and don't know were else to turn too does anyone know an organization that can help with rent? My husband has not drawn a paycheck since April 2011 and we have been living on one income we are seriously behind in our rent and I have looked everyone for some assistance. we live in a two bedroom apartment for…
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more delays
I took David for chemo today and they are postponing again until the 29th. His bloodwork was not good and his PICC is continuing to bleed. They are giving him IV fluids/minerals and shots of B12 and vitamin K. They want IV fluids 7 days a week at home and keep an eye on the PICC. They said they may need to change his…
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For those of you that had Erbitux
Just had my third round of Induction today and was advised that concurrent with the RADS I'm going to get Erbitux. They also told me to expect an acne type rash just about everywhere. So, to you folks that have lived through it, what am I going to need to cope with this? I'm working really hard not to buy tomorrow's…
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Mandibular Sarcoma
I am re-posting a reply I submitted the other day. I am wondering if anyone else has experience with this diagnosis? It is less than 3% of all head and neck cancers. Here's the post: My husband had mandibular sarcoma that was diagnosed in December 2011. Total shock to us, as he has never smoked or chewed tobacco. Little…
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Colonoscopy done, check. Hernia surgery done, check! ;) :)
Hello All ... For those that sent the pm's. Thank you. I thouht I would just post a thread for an update. Boy oh boy have the last two days given me some good comedic material to write about one day. May I share just a little? Okay, since you all said yes :) My colonoscopy was yesterday. My hernia surgery today. I'm doing…
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teeth protection
Hi to everyone. I'm new here and eager for all info you can give as well as the opportunity to share and vent. My 26 year old son (physically disabled) was diagnosed with stage IVb SCC (base of tongue, floor of mouth and bilateral lymph nodes). He's at number 28 of 35 rads and has had 4 cisplatin chemos. The situation has…
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HPV Status
Just wanted to say that I never thought how saying that HPV postive status has a better prognosis could affect and be hurtful to some on this site. I realize now that it could be a discouraging comment if you arent' hpv positive. We are all in this together no matter the status and I am sorry to have ever offended anyone.…
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How do you keep food down with PEG?
Hi Everyone, Well last week was the PEG insert. He is being fed via gravity bag. Does meds by syringe. Does his flushing of water before and after. First couple days was able to hold down the food (called 2.0) and now he throws up everytime. Also can't hold his meds down with syringe. Do we know why this could be? He's…
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How long to get back taste and saliva?
Greetings all. It's been a while for me on the board. Sure glad to see almost everyone is doing so well. I have a question about the amount of time it takes to get back at least some taste and some saliva after treatmente ends. I am at 3 weeks and 2 days after radiation and 3 weeks after chemo. I had 33 rad treatments and…
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Question about taste changes
My significant other/spousal equivalent (:-)) is in week 3 of 7 of radiation and has 1 of 3 chemo cycles under his belt for tonsil cancer, stage 4A. He has dry mouth but is tolerating it well with biotene and some xylitol mints and a spray, caphosol. He also has a very sore throat which he is using the caphosol for, just…
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New diagnoses with not enough info
Hi, My husband had a cervical lymph node that showed squamous cells via FNA. I still can't catch my breath and feel like the earth just disappeared under my feet. He has swollen left tonsil on the side of the lymph node and a cough.....but that is all. His bloodwork is perfect. I am petrified to find out what the primary…
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Collection of fluids
Hi everyone I need your help, I taken my hubby to hospital as his right cheeck was swallen n apparently he has an infection apparently a collection of fluid(puss). Surgery is risky n he is under care of doctors has any one had this happen to them and if so please help me.
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Tim 6003 CT Lung Scan back - but "odd" Any advice or opinion?
Okay all ....you all know me well enough to know by now I like it straight and simple with some stats and facts ...so here are my results today with my oncologist visit for a routine follow-up scan....... and I hope to hear some thouhts and feedback from you all. I had been asking for an eyes to thighs scan for the last…
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PICC line tomorrow
Well we go in tomorrow at 8:30 for a PICC line for David. The doctor's continue to worry about his nutrition and hydration. We had a doctor's appointment with the radiation oncologist and David had lost 8 pounds since we saw the doctor last Monday. They were not pleased to say the least. David is doing better with the Two…
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How to say goodbye to your doctor...
Hi all, Briefly, to catch up, my husband is being for treated for lung mets from his tonsil cancer - incurable. Been going to the same oncologist since initial diagnosis February 2011. Since day one, we have not been crazy about his personality. Now that things have gone "south" and we had a second opinion, we MUCH prefer…
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Blood transfusion
Wow, two posts in two days...thanks for being here, everyone! Anyway, my husband will be having a blood transfusion in the morning. He has been off of chemo (reminder, he has lung mets and was on a study) since the second week of September. Taken off the study because of blood counts. Two different doctors (our new…
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Dry mouth
Just thought I would share what I have been using for dry mouth at night recently. Although I realize what works for one does not work for others. I originally tried the Biotene Spray and Mouthwash but found they both were limited in how long they worked, thus I continued waking up about ever hour to take a water…
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Ok...about this tube removal....
After FINALLY getting the two Dr.'s to communicate in the way that made them each happy, I finally got my appointment to get my tube removed. They gave me my choice...to have anithesia when they pull it out (no driving no work for the rest of the day)...OR, just suck it up and have them pull it without anything....I chose…
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Clean PET
Jim finished treatment August 2010 for inoperable advanced hypopharyngeal cancer: today he was told he had a completely clean PET scan last week! Talk about Thanksgiving! We definitely are!
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Results back sooner....dang !
Hello guys and gals, It was almost this time a year ago last time I got crappy news. MRI/CT was good news in the H/N area I'm still considered stable disease. (meaning they cannot tell me if the dx is microscopic...but can tell me it's not growing) I recieved this news on Tuesday...but didn't want to share it til the…
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so many variables
I am so worried about my husband. The doctors are doing a lot of blood work watching for signs the hypercalcemia is coming back. Our chemo dr. told us on Monday that it will come back. David wasn't thrilled to here that. They had put him on a new anti-nausea regimen and it was working great until David started having…
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Just finished 2nd round of Induction-food question
I'm in my second rest period and all of a sudden, meat in any form turns my stomach in knots and, tastes like crap. Ever happen to anyone else? Thanks, Joe
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Last week of treatment
Well, like many have said the treatment bus ride has been rough, but seemed to go by fairly quickly. I think the long train ride back to "normal" will take more time, god knows I am not a patient man. I am down to 5 radiation treatments left and even though I know I will survive them I am not looking forward to the week.…