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Tomorrow (Tuesday) is Day One of Induction
Well, after a bit of a panic, tomorrow is the day to start induction. For those of you that haven't seen the blog (jcortney.blogspot.com) my surgeon that inserted my port on Friday called on Saturday morning and said "I had a hard time getting the port in and I'm not convinced that it's in the proper spot. So, I don't want…
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One day at a time
Well I am having to learn this quick. David is still in the hospital since he is having difficulty tolerating the tube feeds and using the bathroom. This morning at 6:30 the resident came in and was talking to him and said he may go home in a day or two. Then she asked if he has his neck surgery scheduled. You ought to…
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Saliva or Mucus
We have all said there are no dumb questions, so I hope this still stands. I hear folks describe getting back a percentage of their saliva, obviously I know what saliva is but maybe its chemo brain but how will we know its saliva coming back versus this crazy mucus we all deal with. Right now my mouth at nite and sometimes…
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Standard Chemo or Protocol (Cetuximab=Erbitax)?
Loved one Dx Stage IV, SCC BOT with 2 lymph nodes involved to neck (left side for both tongue and nodes). No surgery planned. Tx is Chemo/Rad. We are getting prepared for our October 8th treatment date. Must make a decision by this Friday (Sept 28th) as to what Chemo we'd like to do. Need some input and experience here…
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My first ENT threw a monkey wrench in all my plans last night.
Now I'm really confused. My ENT that first diagnosed my SQ called last night just to check on how I'm doing. I told him about my trip to MD Anderson and their recommendation for Induction/Chemo/Rad and no surgery. He listened carefully and made some comments about that's how Anderson has been treating this condition for 10…
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Scoped today, for the first time since mid-May!
I was last scoped during treatment, but when I visited my radiation oncologist today, he scoped me again. He said, as far as he could see, there was no evidence of disease and I was cancer free! I have my PET scan in mid-August, which of course is more detailed, but that was still good to hear. He also said my upper vocal…
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The doctor missed it
Hi everybody,was feeling good late Monday and Tuesday, then at 8am this morning the oncologist at Hershey called to say that the scan shows that I have lung cancer, they had a team meeting and did whatever they do and confirmed that a grey area was cancer. I am being scheduled for a biopsy, don't know when but right now I…
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WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
Most of you know I got my first post treatment scan last week and it was clean as a whistle. My treatment consisted of 3( rads with a weekly dose of Cisplatin. I missed the last two doses of chemo due to low blood count. Doc has asked me to decide whether I want to take the last two doses just for peace of mind. He said he…
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PET/CT
Well the time has come and I won't lie, I'm a little nervous. I was 13 weeks finished on Friday and it's time for my scans. I go tomorrow at 7:00am. I don't see my surgeon until next Friday and my rad onc until the following week so I'll have to wait at least a week to get my results....so nerve wracking!! I know right now…
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Taste Buds and Eating Normal Again?
I was diagnosed with SCC on the right side base-of-tongue in July 2010. I started treatment in late September 2010. I had 35 radiation treatments and 3 chemo (simplatin). That was 2 years ago and I am doing great. The only thing is my taste still has not come back. I can taste food, and the first couple of bites actually…
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MAY BE TIME FOR WAR AGAIN
Been gone awhile as things have been going great. Sunday morning woke up with a huge cellulitis in my face, neck and upper chest. 4 days of hardcore antibiotics and was discharged on 10 days of oral antibiotics. While I was in, a CT was ordered to see if any of the infection required draining or resection which it did not,…
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Neanderthal medicine
Does it amaze you all as much as it does me, that in this age of incredible medical discoveries, microscopic surgeries, lasers, robots, medication, gene therapy etc, that treatment for cancer is like beating your body with a huge club, until nothing would want to live in it? How and who would have ever expected a toxic…
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Question on Phenumonia
Hey all... My wife and two of the kids several weeks ago developed a cough and had runny noses, the usual "kids just started school and brought home the germs first week" thingy. Anyway, my wife prohectically (joke of course) said to me "I'm concerned you will get a bug". Well, sure nuff, I got what I thought was the "bug"…
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surgery and radiation
Unable to sleep and wondering this....my husband had a 12 hour surgery which included a very extensive transoral laser surgery to remove tumor at BOT and a selective right neck dissection. I know that surgery causes scarring at BOT am am wondering will that cause more problems swallowing post rad/chemo because I know that…
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what an experience
I'm finally sitting in our room at the Markey Cancer Center. We were in ICU until 9 this morning and then transferred to a holding cell in the basement until they had a room for David. Last night was rough. They ICU got overwhelmed and when David 12:00 am meds weren't there at 12:15 he paged. No one came until 1:45. He was…
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DPNS did not work
As many of you know after 6 years from the last time of being treated with radiated twice to the head a new side affect develop the lost of being able to swallow anything. Doctor suggested DPNS, well Deep Pharyngeal Nerve Stimulation did not work to restore any movement of the tongue so that I can swallow again. However I…
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Questions regarding mucus -- please help
In the last two weeks my husband's mucus has increased greatly as to where he can't sleep lying down. This is both in his lungs and mouth. He had a laryngectomy in March 2011 and then in April 2012 they found a tumor at the cervical of the esphogus (rare spot and due to location considered head and neck). He underwent…
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I Don't Mean to Brag, But - - -
Of COURSE I mean to brag. I want those of you in and freshly out of treatment to know what you can look forward to. Yesterday, on the way to work, I ate the breakfast I fixed in the car (I ate the breakfast in the car, didn't fix it in the car). It consisted of a SANDWICH. Not just a sandwich, a BAGEL sandwich. Not just a…
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Now what?
Now that my doc has given me 8-10 months, and said that this is Non-curable, what now? We are looking into trials an options, looking at hospitals like MD Anderson in Houston, UIC (Chicago), Mayo, etc. I guess what I am saying is there any chance that the doctor could be wrong, and that one of these trials nay give me…
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New "Bling"
Trying to post a new pic..not sure if it worked
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radiation?
Kind of a dumb quesrtion but do you feel anything during the actual radiation treatment or is it the after effects that are the worst. Starting on the first of October just wanted to know what to expect......
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A few extra prayers needed
I know I have not posted for awhile about my dad. He has been doing pretty good. I think the last round of chemo took more of a toll on him. There seems to be some mental decline at times and it did a number on his physical strengh. But he still drives everywhere with someone with him. Goes to the grocery store with us and…
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Still in schock
I am new to this site. My husband has stage 4 BOT HPV 16 SCC with mets to 3 lymph nodes on the right and none on the left. He will be starting chemo and rads later this week or early next week. I have read so much on this site and am so nervous about the outcome of it all. Because he had all negative nodes on the left side…
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Met With Doc For PET Details Today :o)
The report says "excellent response to treatment" and "no evidence"! My doctor was so excited, I could tell he could barely wait for me to finish reading the report. In celebration of being a 2 time survivor, I got myself some new tattoos. I tried to make it my profile pic so hopefully it really updated even though I don't…
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Shells ~ Shrimp & Garlic Linguine - Phrannie Special Order
MMMmmm this is for Phrannie.... Shells ~ Shrimp & Garlic Linguine Shrimp & Garlic Linguine in Cream Sauce...., course grate parmesan cheese and warm Baked French Bread.... Sauteed fresh shrimp and garlic, in olive oil, dry white wine, and heavy cream... Ingredients 8 ounces linguine 2 tablespoons butter 1 pound shrimp --…
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Water taste real bad
I am 6 week out of radiation. 35 treatments for cancer on the tonuge. I have a little taste. I could taste apple juice and it tasted good, that is tasted. No it taste bad and water taste real ba. Is this normal?
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colonoscopy in the a.m.
Hey there, Man it has been an upside down inside out kinda posting as of late. I'm wishing for everyone better and better outcomes. I posted before about this darn issue I've been having with my GI tract...and guessing as I was told after 3 and a half months it's earned me a one way pass for the scope. Love the clean…
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Confirmed Metastasis.
Well what I fead is true. It had metastasized and doc has given me 6-10 months. I am going for a medi-port and new PET right now. Needles to say, they family taking this hard. I think I am still in shock. The lump that they biopsied is one of the two original lumps, the other on my head. I now have a total of eleven (11)…
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Checking In
Hi all: I've been keeping up with everybody. Finished my overnight job with Jo-Ann's and did get hired seasonally. This goes thru the first week in January and then they bring you in permeantly if they so desire! I tell you kudos to all you out there who work retail and have worked retail. I still marvel at how Charlie did…
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November is "Caregiver Month"
but it's never too early to express our gratitude! caregivers, we greatly appreciate your compassion, patience, and love. btw, just learned that Mercy Cancer Centers in Toledo offers stress reduction and support services to caregivers (free of charge). no doubt other cancer centers offer similar programs--if you're a…