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Magic mouthwash
Magic mouthwash is mentioned alot. WHAT IS THAT and do all patients get it or do you have to ask for it. Also does anyone know why they would treat with radiation only when so much is said about simultaniously administering chemo and RT. My son never mentioned being offered chemo at all. Thanks for any ideas. sally
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Scary midweek
Wednesday evening, had finished dinner and went to the computer to do some stuff I am working on, all of a sudden it felt like my heart was jumping out of my heart, in 2008 had an emergency quadruple bypass and a minor stroke. Have been doing so well with the cancer and told my doc I feel better now than at any time since…
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Happy Easter.
From myself and my Family we would like to wish everyone A Happy Easter. Take time out this weekend to thank the Man upstairs For getting us through this, and giving us light at the end of the tunnel. And pigging out on a few Easter eggs won't hurt either. (If I coud taste them) God Bless, Tonsi Dad. Dad.
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brachytherapy boost
Hello fellow survivors, yesterday I went for my third opinion and they had a surprise for me. They proposed to do radiation to mouth and neck but, instead of adding chemo to enhance the effects of radiation, they suggested a boost of radiation to the tongue through High Dose Radiation (HDR) brachytherapy (an extra ~20 Gy)…
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Decision made....oh what a relief
it is. Today was decision day, since my decision was going to be on how I felt about the radonc here. I am staying home for treatment! I took both my sisters with me, in case my decision making process might be bogged down by emotion...but all three of us walked out of the conference feeling confident in this guy...so…
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PET Scan ?
A friend of mine just got some bad news? Her turkey neck had a cyst in it. When she went for a PET they advsied her that it was a 4. I assume that is bad but I do not know for sure. Any help or info would be apreciated. Thanks Dave
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Hydrocodone
So today was my doc appt after rads with my rad onc. It was also a day I missed work due to a very painful swollen throat and ear and subsequent stomach ache from too much ibuprofen trying to bring the swelling down. Two weeks ago she prescribed the hydrocodone and I carried around the script for a while then finally took…
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NPC - PET Scan
Hi Just want to share with my PET scan result. It's turned out NED. This is the first time scan after treatment. My treatment finished at 15th Dec 2011. Needlessly to say ... Thanks you very much for all your support, sharing and caring. But will have to deal with New Normal side effects. cheers, Neo
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Finally I can talk again
To all my friends out there, I thought I would post a health update for you. My recent surgery last week was a success, I can now talk again & I can't tell you what a relief that is after not being able to communicate with out my trusted Pad & Pen since my TOTAL LARAGECTOMY on Jan 5th. I went in for surgery for what my…
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Exercise
After feeling a bit low yesterday, I did my first 5k run on the treadmill since diagnosis a week ago today and I feel like I can take the world on again now! What do people with H&N do for exercise? Seems that these days research suggests it is really good to keep exercising, even (if possible) some light exercise through…
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Hydrocodone
So today was my doc appt after rads with my rad onc. It was also a day I missed work due to a very painful swollen throat and ear and subsequent stomach ache from too much ibuprofen trying to bring the swelling down. Two weeks ago she prescribed the hydrocodone and I carried around the script for a while then finally took…
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A vent...and a rescue!
Yesterday MD Anderson sent me a list of all that I would need to send them...it included pathology slides, PET scan CD Rom, all the paperwork the ENT had, etc etc. I called the ENT's office and told them I was running up there to give them a release form and copies of my Insurance card and Driver's license. When I got…
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Has anyone tried steroid injections?
Hello to all, I've been doing some research and wonder if anyone can shed some light on the idea of throat dilitation as well as steroid infections into the scar tissue to reduce inflammation, in hopes of less dilitations in the future. My dad was dx 8-8-11 with tonsil and lymph stage 4a hpv. Finished chemo and rad end of…
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HPV Vaccine & Recurrences of Cervical Cancer
Here's an interesting article that was just posted to the New York Times. I had wondered if there was any point in going for the HPV vaccine and our doctors pretty much said that there was no percentage in closing the barn door now. This makes me wonder. In fact, it makes me think, what the hell. Nick finished treatment…
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NPC with bone met
I found out that I got NPC and started treatment last Sept. Three months after the treatments, I did a PET scan and found that the cancer had went to my bones!!!! I had search on the internet and saw that when it gets to your bone, it is pretty bad and the chance of cure is low!! I am going back into treatment in 3 days! I…
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Check up and other info
I just got back from my every 6 week ENT vist, exam went well although his was uncomfortable when he stuck his finger in my mouth to feel the tissue where the cancer used to be. He wanted to be sure it felt soft. So far everything looks good, have my next PET in August which will be a year post DX . We got into another…
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NPC and Proton Radiation....
I've been reading about Proton Rads...has anybody gone this route instead of the IMRT? Everything I'm reading says it's as effective as IMRT, but with less damage to surrounding tissue, as well as less side effects during and down the road. My insurance will cover at 3 or 4 places that offer it, yet all are far away from…
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Results of dad's CT scan
Dad's scan was clear today. His doctor told him he had three choices. 1. He could stop chemo completly and wait for another occurance 2. He could have started again with no break on a lower dose of the same chemo 3. He could take a two month break, then rescan and go from there. Dad and the doctor felt the best option for…
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NPC
Hi My name is Joseph Sultana, 43 year healyhy male ( or used to be ) I have just been diagnosed with Stage 2 NCP. I would really love to hear from anyone who has been down this road as I feel I am spinning out of control.
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Jitters again over staying here or
going to a big Cancer Center. I just got my NPC Stage III diagnosis last Tues., and even set up appointments for the Radiologist and the Oncologist next week. At first I was thinking that since they have an IMRT here, and because the chemo seems pretty much standard for this that I would just stay here for treatment.…
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Has anyone tried steroid injections?
Hello to all, I've been doing some research and wonder if anyone can shed some light on the idea of throat dilitation as well as steroid infections into the scar tissue to reduce inflammation, in hopes of less dilitations in the future. My dad was dx 8-8-11 with tonsil and lymph stage 4a hpv. Finished chemo and rad end of…
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Need your help, please. Stage 4 - Acinic Head/neck, parotid gland and lymph nodes acinic cell ca,
I need help to find out where to go and who to see now. I have had three failed surgeries of parotid gland and radical neck lymph node dissections at three different hospitals and the wrong radiation with damage and severe lymphadema of neck. Acinic cell is extremely rare and I was told I cannot have any more radiation and…
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Two reasons to celebrate today
Today is my 29th wedding anniversity. My oncologist also gave me the results of my six weeks CT and PET scans this morning. They showed no evidence of cancer. Thanks to all of you for your help and support over these last seven months. It has made all the difference.
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Hi! New here........pain management issue
Hi everyone. I've been lurking for a few days. There is so much information on this site, it's been so helpful! My husband is currently going through treatment for tonsil cancer. Tomorrow he will half way through his 7 chemos and 35 rads. He did great for the first two weeks,but as of the end of last week and just this…
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Carotid Body Tumor
I'm 29 years old, 4 months pregnant, and I have just been at least preliminarily diagnosed with a carotid body tumor. I say preliminarily because the diagnosis was arrived at after an ultrasound, and I'm waiting on referrals to talk to specialists. So I guess my guess is that if it's NOT a carotid body tumor, it's…
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Diagnosis at last...
I have NPC T1N2M0 Stage III...the primary tumor is at a place in my throat that is against the vertabrae(maybe they all are with this??), so the plan is rads and chemo first. There is also an enlarged node on the other side of my neck, smaller than the original one. He said they'll be cooking those along with the tumor. I…
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Sore throats and such post treatment?
Hi, I am almost 2 years out (In June) for stage 4 SCC. Yesterday and today I sound very hoarse and like a frog. My throat is sore on my left (affected) side and so is the side of my tongue where I had a partial glosectomy. Any one else do this sort of thing, or should I go in? Just had my check 3 weeks ago. Can't do any…
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Newly diagnosed
Good morning everyone. I was recently as of 2/3/2012 diagnosed with a cancerous tumor on the base of my tongue. Yesterday I had all of my top and bottom back teeth removed. Once all this heals I will begin radiation and chemo treatments. I see my chemo dr. today for the first time and am supposed to get fitted for my mask…
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Scan vs. scope
Okay...I have two specialists...the chemo doctor (who I only met 3 times during treatment and did not really care for) telling me he wants me to have PET scans every three months. Then I have my radiation doctor (let me also add he is one of the best radiologists in the nation), who I highly respect and saw every other day…
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little over 3 weeks out from last rad/chemo
Well Hello there! What can I say, I made it through treatment. I was hospitalized a few times, had a pretty rough road but I am finally turning the corner and life is much better. All of my superficial burns have healed, I got my PICC out 2 days ago. I have been dry swallowing pretty well and am gonna start thick fluids…