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First PET scan better than I expected
Just got the results today, of Thursdays PET scan. I was told my SCC is "regionally localized" , at least I don't have to worry as much about how far it has spread. I am gearing up to give this cancer one hell of a fight, and I hope to be NED in 6 months, and get on with life.
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Ok, now that I know it's chemo and Rads, what products do I need to gather?
Reading here you guys know what works. What do I need for my skin, mouth sores and all the other products to make this as livable as possible. Thanks folks, Joe
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FRIDAY'S BRONCHOSCOPE AND BIOPSY NOT GOOD NEWS
As I expected going in for the news to not be good, the news is even worse. In addition to the 2 lymph nodes that lit up on my PET in my Mediastynum area, the doc biopsied 3 more areas of tissue that also came back positive for cancer. All I know right now is surgery is no longer an option, the cancer in NOT cureable, only…
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Getting A Little Scanxiety
My scan is Wednesday and I see the doc on Friday. Getting nervous only because I know how large and widespread the tumor in my tonsil was and it was only partially removed during biopsy. I guess I should be more concerned about the lymph nodes but I'm not. I really feel like I'm fine now but its just one of those things I…
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Scan
Well, I have my cat scan of neck and chest on Monday, really nervous about this one after the discovery last May of a 4mm nodule in my lung. I am trying to heed everybody's advice about not to worry too much, but it's hard. Wish it were over and done with. Denis
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Treatments done!!!
Well, finally! Today was the last day of radiation for my Dad. He finished up 35 rads and 7 chemo (Cisplatin). The onc/rad doctor said yesterday that for now everything looks good: lymph nodes are probably not palpable anymore, but he didn't touch his neck because it is very burned. But my Dad says also that he can't feel…
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Just a thought ;)
There are SO MANY good responses on these threads, I wish there was a "like" button...THANK YOU all of you wonderful, caring people!
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Been a while
Been a while since I visited the site. Nice to see some of the old timers are still around but not so good to see so many new people. Looks like a lot of NED which is always encouraging. I recently had my one year eyes to thighs PET/CT which showed nothing unusual. No hotspots or abnormalities. Do most of you get the…
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Xylimelts for dry mouth
I was actually excited to know that I left my water bottle on 2 separate occasions last week. There was a time that I never even sat it down let alone walked off and left it. Saliva improving :-) Matt, I'm going to give you the pat on the back for that one. I went on-line and ordered the sample of Xylimelts. I used one and…
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Awful week - long post!
Hello all! We have been lurking here for awhile but after the last two weeks, need to compare notes with you and see if there were any similar experiences. I'm an RN, so I was hoping that would give me a leg up on handling things, but that has not always been the case. Wife first, nurse second. :) My husband was diagnosed…
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It isn't Whooping Cough
The reason whooping cough was even mentioned is that I live in Snohomish County (Washington State) which has the largest current epidemic of whooping cough. So I text my Primary Care Physician. Since I said Whooping Cough in the text, I was initially treated in the parking lot. Nose swab plus vital signs. The physician…
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Can you share some smoothie recipes with me?
Okay...I've seen a lot of posts on smoothies in the past and I just got out the old blender and am wanting to eat a bit better ...so I thought I would try some healthy smoothies (for those of you who don't know, my pre-cancer life was a really bad diet - you don't get to be 320lbs and have a good diet). I might have had 5…
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Quality of life (so to speak) continued w/more info - long
Thank you to everyone for your comments in my previous post on whether quality of life is or should be an option. This is long and I am sorry for that :( I also appreciate everyone's prayers for healing and our feeling overwhelmed. The overwhelmed-ness comes from deciding what to do. I'm not worried about the extra time…
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Air travel, TSA and a PEG tube
Anyone have any experience with getting through TSA at the airport when you have a PEG tube? I will be traveling in the next 5 weeks to visit elder daughter in Orlando and will need to know what I'll need when I go through security. TSA's web site does not provide any direction. I saw a story on Drudge about an elderly…
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When to consider "quality of life" over treatment
I feel overwhelmed with everything we are hearing from the doctors regarding Bobbie's cancer. It's aggressive, it has spread, side affects of chemo are kidney damage, high possibility it will return in 1-2 years, plus all the regular downside of chemo and radiation treatment - tired, sick, trying to stay health and away…
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cure for chemotherapy induced neuropathy?
What is the cure or medicine for chemotherapy(Dosetaxel-Taxotere) induced neuropathy? Is 2000 mg. daily dose of B-12 helpful?
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Lookin' Like A Bunch of NEDs Out There!!!
So happy to see so much good news! Hoping I can add to the joy next week! I was originally scheduled for PET this week but asked doc to give me one more week to cool down. So I get PET next Wednesday and results on Friday. This whole process is so bizarre. One one hand, I cannot imagine anything other than living a long…
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Just back from MD Anderson
Well folks, that was an enlightening experience. They tell me that all in one day was extremely unusual but look at this schedule: 8:30 Met with head of Head/Neck department (he's a surgeon, that's important you'll see later) 11:30 Had video taken of my SCL/bot (pretty amazing) 1:00 Dental Oncology - Don't need any teeth…
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doctors comment -
Well, the doctor did not tell me, he told my husband. We went Friday for his 3rd weekd of rads and he came out and said the doc said he was doing goog with all the side effects but not sure the treatment is doing exactly what they planned. Of course, I question him and he side steps and changes the subject. I know he is…
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Coughing
Hi all, Hope everyone is doing as well as can be expected. I know so many are waiting on biopsies and to start treatment or to finish treatment or to simply start feeling well again so I feel a little silly addressing what may be nothing. I have a question, which is also a concern. I am 12 weeks from rads, 14 weeks from…
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Cleveland Clinic advice? why are things are taking so long in Youngstown?
my dad was diagnosed stageIV A in head and neck lymphs, nodes, submandibular and above where his larynx used to be. he is a total laryngectomee 20 years now and the cancer is back. he is 85. it has been since early summer for the discovery and has been such a long process to this point. his PET and set up with his…
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NED
Just got back from my ENT he had the results of my PET from last tues...NED...I can breath again. See my onco on Wed , then my rad doc on Oct 9th...ENT scoped my throat everything looks great, even the tongue where he removed the small spot. He still wants to see me every 6 weeks...so gladly I'll go. I asked about my raspy…
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Gardasil
A few months ago my rad doctor mentioned gardasil injection(s), he has discussed with my internist,and they agree that I should get the injection(s,) (even thougth I do don't fall within the age category the shots are intended for) since I had the 2nd spot of scc on the left side of my tounge back in June , that was not…
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Getting An Early Scan
Hubby has developed a "spot" at the back of his tongue that the doc wants to scan. Dale is 7 weeks post tx for stage 3 tonsil cancer. This "spot" won't go away so the ENT has decided to do a CT scan next week. Mouth sores were about the only side effect Dale did not have during or after his 34 rads and two rounds of…
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How do you clean your teeth outside home
I start working next week and wondering what will be best way to clean my teeth at work. For me just brushing the teeth does not take away all the food from gums. I have to use waterpik at home. Would be great if you can give my any tips from your experiences, I have seen that gargling with warm water seems to dislodge a…
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Dental visits
Hello everyone, from what I read most of us have our teeth cleaned 3 to 4 times a year. My insurance only pays for 2 cleanings per year, how do you get them to pay for all the cleanings we need?
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New here and wanted to say hello
I was diagnosed last week with scc, and came across this site and found it to be informational and supportive. It is great to see the multiple year survivors, and that gives me hope. I am having to wait until next Tuesday to talk to my oncologist. I am very concerned with staging, and trying to locate the spread. Seeing…
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FIRST FOLLOW UP WITH RADIATION ONCOLOGIST SINCE TREATMENT ENDED
Went to the doctor today for my 1st followup since ending radiation and chemo. He said I was doing great. Didn't scope me but looked in my mouth and throat and felt my neck and said everything looked and felt good. Get my feeding tube out next Wednesday since I haven't used it in 2 weeks and have maintained my weight. Pet…
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Possible New Cancer and/or Metastasis !!??
Hello all, I am totally freaking out. Over the last three weeks lumps started forming under my skin. The first one was under my scalp and a nurse told me that it was an ingrown hair and to apply a warm cloth to help. Then one showed up just to the left of my belly button. then one under my left breast. I alerted my…
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OHIO HERE WE COME
Hi everybody me and my family are taking a much needed vacation to NorthField Ohio we fly out today there be time spent at the club which will include a clam bake yummy,some ski shooting,the zoo and whatever else we can find to do my uncle is a 33 year survivor of vastecular,testecular,lymphoma cancer at the age of 22 he…