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Saw the ENT Today
Today was hubby's first appointment with the ENT since his diagnosis. Now that he has finished treatment for his Stage 3 HPV+ tonsil cancer, the ENT gathered all his treatment reports and tests and brought us in for an appointment today. We love our no-nonsense ENT. He is the head of the Head and Neck Cancer Department at…
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Shambles.
What a cluster f@#k, as you all know and thanks for the well wishes and prayers I went for my first PET two weeks ago today and they said I'll have the results the following Monday. Well no phone call came or Tuesday or Wednesday so my wife called my ENT and the said he's on vacation and no one can give me my results as…
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Lung specialist in the a.m.
Hello everyone ! I go in the morning to the doctor who first discovered my acc. I'm not as anxious as the last time I saw him. I am prepared this time with the proper questions on my lungs. I have right around 10 nodes in each upper lung. With the type of cancer I have it is very common to spread to the lungs. So knowing…
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embarrassing recovery moments
can't believe I just did this. started feeding tube process and had unconsciously opened my tube. jumped up to get a new syringe from the kitchen without holding tube upright... that's right, dumped the remainder of my previous feeding in a trail all across the floor. ewwww. add decline in mental faculties to treatment…
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Accupuncture for nerve damage
Hello everyone ! Was suggested to me today to investigate accupuncture as an alternative to meds for nerve damage done due to surgery. Does anyone have any experience with this ? I'm thinking maybe, why not ? Thanks for any imput, Katie
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just checking in
Just checking in haven't been on here for a while. First my computer crapped itself got a real good deal on Amazon with new laptop, then the end of June into July a bad storm hit on the east coast alot of damage to our region, was with out electric for 10 days and I was scarred to death becausae I'm on oxygen 24/7 had a…
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Hearing loss
I'm 9 weeks out of radiation now... and just within the past few weeks the hearing in my right ear has been decreasing steadily. I can barely hear at all out of it now. WHY are these side-effects starting so late?? And has your hearing been affected? This sucks.. I have enough side-effects to deal with I didn't need…
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Radiotherapy experiences after neck dissection - please share
Hi my name is Don and on July 9th I had a direct laryngoscopy and biopsy with frozen section and a left neck dissection with tonsillectomy to remove a mass in my neck and search for a primary. I now have an important decision to make about continuing treatment with radiation. I would like to hear from anyone who has…
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Six months after my last treatment and still having trouble swallowing
Hi everybody! This is my first post here so nice to meet all of you. I was diagnosed with baser of tongue cancer last November. I went through the 35 doses of radiation and 7 chemo sessions. February, March and April were pretty brutal, but I feel 100% again from the shoulders down. My biggest complaint is I still can't…
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Walking the walk talking the talk
Hello everyone, I want to commend you all in your survivorships first of all, each and everyone of you are true fighters and I have been proud to read all of your posts and giggle at your antics. But guys please don't take me wrong in this but....I read a post and felt you packed on a survivor only asking for rad advice.…
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Tx plan
Well we saw the medical-oncologist yesterday and she through us another curve ball,, good thing I'm a 290 hitter! Appears she believes I am young enough (54) and healthy enough for a very aggressive plan. 3 rounds of chemo cocktails (3 drugs) 22 days apart, then 7 weeks of rads concurrently with chemo, guess I better " Get…
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one year out and...
N.E.D. Thanks to all of you, your support and experience was invaluable. Without this forum I would have had a mandibulotomy, and still be recovering. So, I can't tell you enough how grateful I am of the love and caring, you all have shown me.
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Checking In
Still having only light side effects. Mucus in back of throat is a bit worse but not unmanageable. Only 3 mOre rads to go!! Rad Onc Doc said if she can judge by how my body has managed it this far, she doesnt expect my side effects to get much worse. Hope she's right! Feeding tube site is all. I ely healed. No issues…
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Just starting out on this journey and a bit scared
Well, last Friday the ENT doc said I have the big C. WOW! Now what? I am having a CT scan today. The doctor took a needle biopsy on Fri and the results came in, positive, today. They canceled my hospital OR visit for another biopsy tomorrow. That's good news. The doctor said now a board will meet to discuss my treatment.…
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Dry mouth questions
I have a couple of questions about some issues my dad is having. 1. Do any of you notice that airconditiong makes your dry mouth issues worse? 2. Do you also get a dry sore throat when your dry mouth is worse. 3. Do you sometimes sound like you are losing your voice. 4. Did your dry mouth get worse years after treatment.…
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Periodontitus Linked with Risk for HPV+ Head & Neck Cancers
Interesting article just released June 18th in the Articles of Otolaryngology. By Mine Tezal, DDS, PhD, School of Dental Medicine, State University of New York at Buffalo. "A history of periodontitus might be an increased risk for head and neck tumors positive for HPV". I was dx with BOT SCC two years ago with HPV+. The…
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scc of the epiglottis
hello, i have been told stage 1 N0 early stage rdiologists wants to radiate surgeon wants to remove epiglottis; cantdecide which one is least invasive, has anyone been through this? which one has the least side effects and how bad? thanks.
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SETBACKS
I guess I am just having a couple of down days. Origally should have been finishing radiation on the 31st, now won't be done until at least August 3rd if my neck heals enough to start back up on Monday, I don't think it looks hopeful. I have thrush and that doesn't seem to be getting better, been on Nystatin since…
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2 weeks post treatment. When will the pain stop! 35 rads 2 cisplatin chemo. HPV+
Hi I have cancer in my throat but because they couldn't locate exactly where it came from I had radiation from about where the tip of my nose is to just below my neck above my chest. I had radiation 5 days a week for 7 weeks. I also had 2 rounds for Cisplatin Chemo. I was supposed to have 3 but got too sick after the 2nd…
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One Year Post Treatment
Hello all, I haven't posted in quite a while. I just wanted to drop a line and let everyone know that I just had my one year check up today and am happy to report that I am still cancer free. This blog was extremely helpful as my wife and I went through treatment last summer. I just wanted to be an encouragement to anyone…
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It's been a year!!!
I don't post here much but come here every day to check on everyone. I can honestly say that you all have made this past year much more bearable.I finished my treatments on July 22, 2011 then 8 wks later my Dad died of a heart attack and 18 days later my brother commited suicide. It was a struggle to get through each one…
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GlennaM ~ Fallen Warrior...
Another of the very best...fallen warrior. I had gotten word earlier today that Glenna was with family and preparing for her journey to heaven. I just hear a few minutes ago that she has departed us and is in the grace of the Creator. She was a very dear and close friend, she will be missed. Glenna was a very special…
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2 Year Check Up
A few weeks short of 2 years out from treatment and the latest check up and scan was clean as a whistle. They’ve been giving the PET/CT scans every 6 months, but that has been pushed back to 12 months between scans now. Good news all around. I hope some will find hope and encouragement in this. I was diagnosed with BOT SCC…
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NCP DIAGNOSIS
HELLO, I am a 41 year old mother of two small children diagnosed with Stage 3/4 on April 20th. I recently underwent a dose of cisplatin & doestaxol and I'm scheduled to see the Radiation Oncologist for chemo/radiation treatment. I am terrified of the chemo/radiation and subsequent side effects which seem endless. Has…
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Getting Ready for Radiation..
Hi all, sorry its been awhile since my last update but feeling anxious and scared more often, can't sleep and getting very irritable with my wife and nurses, family, etc...it's more my own frustration on being dependent on others to do things for me and not at them. But feeling guilty as well. For the first time I feel…
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"There's a rainbow of babies/Draped over the graveyard"
(John Prine reference) My dear friend Glenna: You would be pleased to know that I spent the weekend involved with the grandboys, their parents, and their friends in a birthday party. It was a car racing theme, per the young man turning four, and there was lots of water play involved, as you might imagine, along with all of…
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Waiting is soooo hard
Had my 1st CAT w/contrast today and am suffering that scanxiety that Skiffin talked about. Doctor was to have results on their desk by 10:30 and I have been on pins and needles since. I realize they have patients, appts. etc. but the waiting is so overwhelming. Praying the surgery, rads and chemo took care of the beast.…
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just woke up with a puddle of drool on the pillow
sweet! disgusting! it'll probably stain the pillowcase! but one of the surest signs of progress since rads ended a month ago today. happy dance!
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SCC of the hypopharyngeal posterior wall
It has been 2 weeks since the end of my 35 rads and 8 Erbitux treatments and feeling better. My throat pain is slowly going down as well as my stiff neck. Still have some blisters and burns popping up but they are also healing slowly. I have been able to cut back on my pain medicine so don't feel like I am addicted. I have…
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Gargle and spit w/ Tylenol PM helped pain
Hey all .... The last month I have had some pretty bad pain in my uvula (sp) area...not worried about it as oncologist did a scope July 1 and said all looks good ..ENT also said pain will come and go when I saw him July 19th.. ..but boy, really painful this past week. The pain seems to be coming from the uvula (that thing…