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when do things get better?
15 days post radiation for stage 1v tonsil CA. Had radical tonsillectomy April 2011. Thought I would be getting a little better by now. since 15 days out from radiation. When did you people start to feel a little better? I have sores on tongue and throat. Can't swallow anything due to pain and secretions. Using suction.…
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No saliva and more Problems
I finished my radiation treatment 8 mounts ago and I am still not producing any saliva I have been on Salagen for about 3 mounts it hasn’t helped yet is there anything else I can try? I am unable to eat bread or meat still soup and soft food. Where they removed the feeding tube I now have a hernia but I need to have more…
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Tear Duct Plugs
Those that know me know that I had radiation to my sinus's and neck. Since Ive had issues with my vision. Blurred vision, pain when I move my eyes around, eyes always felts strained. Finally decided to get some relief, when I couldnt even look up without it causing discomfort. Nothing life threating, but annoying. My doc…
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Good News!
Hi All, After a few weeks of scary tests PET/CT and biopsy, Pat got the all clear today! Thanks so much to all of you for your prayers and support! Twenty months out and doing well. Myka
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Question: symptoms achy joints, freezing cold
3 weeks post radiation, my husband suddenly said he was freezing cold last night - I mean his hands were pure white, and he was shivering uncontrollably, teeth chattering, couldn't warm up for about an hour under heavy blankets. Now this a.m. he says his whole body aches, especially his joints. Anybody have any info of…
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Salava
I use bioten spray. Nobody understands when you say you have dry mouth they just think drink something. Then i spend 10 minuets about how it does not work that way. I tried Sweets mugg root beer thats the best drink for me. Thanks Sweet. But the thing that works best for me is milk with hersheys syrup in it. It cant be…
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Caretaker Question
Hello to all the caretakers, this is my question. My poor wife is so stressed with me fighting cancer for nearly two years and she still working has really taken a toll on her. I am not in good enough condition yet to help around the house much, I have more bad days then good. I have been through chemo and radiation twice…
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ROLL CALL, AUGUST 2011
Aloha all. My apologies for the delay. I have not been on the board as much, but will continue to update if there is sufficient interest. We have 58 who enrolled or reported back in. There is another 77 who have not checked back in. That roster will follow. The intent was to keep track of those with H&N cancer. There are a…
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I have missed cold cereal
Not the most pressing subject but just thought I would throw out this question. I love cold cereal. Tried eating it not long after treatment ended (Dec. of 2010) and I had trouble swallowing it and the taste wasn't quite right. Now I find myself eating almost everything. Wondered if any of you had this same issue and if so…
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diarrhea
Not a pretty subject. BUT...Did anyone have chronic diarrhea from 5 F U. Docs have prescribed immodium, lomotil and nothing is stopping it. Mouth sores from 5 F U are so horrendous that we are back on PEG tube for most of nutrition. We were making progress until this "episode" and now very discouraged. Nothing tastes right…
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long time lurker
I just thought it was about time I introduced myself, i have been lurking for sometime! My husband was dx BOT scc on March 18/10, stage 4 lymph node involvement on both sides. Completed chemo and 7 weeks of rads in July 2010 with surgery in Dec to remove the lymph nodes. I have followed along with everyone and feel like I…
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Surviving/health guilt
I don't know if this had been discussed here before. If it has been overdone, sorry for the repeat. Does anyone else read the stuff here, or "IRL" stuff you know of others, and feel like "Why am I so lucky/blessed?" Don't get me wrong, this is not a whine. I know I'm lucky and blessed. A month or so I got an unclear PET…
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Post treatment - coughing, sneezing, chest pain
I am 4 months out from treatment. Had my 90 day PET/CT 30 days ago and all sign of the disease I had was gone. But, they found some stuff in my lungs that concerned them - inflammation or more cancer? They don't know. Get scanned again in 30 days. But now I am experiencing coughing when I drink some fluids, little sneezing…
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Well I guess it really starts today
Well I guess it starts today with tooth clean at dentist no more sweet products ever and the cooking starts Wed correction Tue which is tomorrow for about 7-8 weeks love the smell of pork cooking LOL
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Post treatment - coughing, sneezing, chest pain
I am 4 months out from treatment. Had my 90 day PET/CT 30 days ago and all sign of the disease I had was gone. But, they found some stuff in my lungs that concerned them - inflammation or more cancer? They don't know. Get scanned again in 30 days. But now I am experiencing coughing when I drink some fluids, little sneezing…
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ENT Visit Causes Bleeding
Just wondering if anyone has had this occur. Now 17 months post I went for my standard 3 month check-up with my ENT. All previous scans have been NED with a 3cm area in the vallecula that they wanted to keep an eye on at future visits. Prior to doing his normal nasal scope to check the throat he wanted to check my tongue.…
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Very Bad News on PET
I can't believe that I am actually typing this as everything seems so surreal right now. I just got a call from my ENT about my Saturday PET/CT scan. It seems that the parotid cancer has spread to a lung and in the cervical vertibrae as well as still being present in my right cheek area. I am being referred to local cancer…
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Surgery Tomorrow
Thanks everyone for all of the information and encouragement! The TORS surgeon and radiation doc reviewed the PAT scan again. They (we) decided that I will have surgery in the morning. They will do a biopsy on the other tonsil and see what the pathologists says while I am still under, if it's not more cancer, then they…
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Hondo
I got you beat. I can open my mouth to 21mm. I understand where you are coming from. This jaw bone thing sucks. Plus i have a lot of pain in mine. Good luck in the future. David
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Our sister Nicole has passed on (Nkimber)
I received an e-mail from Nicole's father today informing me that she passed away yesterday afternoon. We had become good friends over the last year as we both had bone mets and it often seemed as if we were fighting together for each other. We had planned on meeting in person a few times but it had been postponed as she…
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Radiation question
I had stage 4 tongue cancer and went to one of the best hospitals in the state. Nobody in my home town would operate on me. Thank God. Now my friend has tongue cancer and he is being treated in the same town that would not operate on me. He is having radiation and chemo but no surgery. He is stage 4 also. His chemo is…
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Lung Biopsy
My cancer started in my right parotid gland and apparently it decided it needed some more real estate, so some of the little bastards are starting a condo in my lungs. So, on Wednesday of next week, I get to have a needle shoved into me to get a sample of whatever is in there to see if it is the same as the original…
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Cyst in my jaw bone
I have a deteriated jaw bone from radiation and i have a cyst somewhere in the area. My oncologist sent me to a specialist and he said dont worry about it. I told my cancer doctor this and he said its coming out. He is going to try and get it out with a needle instead of cutting the side of my face. Should i leave it or…
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HBO
Hi all, yesterday I started on my hyperbaric oxygen treatments, 20 sessions then all of my teeth out, then 10 more sessions, finally got my health insurance to agree that the teeth removal was a medical necessity, only took 6 months, huh, will be good to get some dentures and smile again.
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Hole in mouth
After 1st stage tong cancer & the surgery that took out 3 inches of it. After 3rd stage SSC (H&N) cancer, chemo & a hiccup stop just to start all over. After 4th stage B, more chemo, radiation & surgery. After all of this, I now have a hole in my mouth about the size of a pencil eraser exposing my jaw bone. They chiseled…
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Financial tolls of Cancer
Has anyone heard of SOC (share of cost) & how did you deal with it?
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Chefdaddy Mike Son Up-date 8-13
I just got off the phone with Mike and the good news is his Son and him are at home. He is doing a lot better but still in a lot of pain, and his Liver is still holding up to the chemo. He goes in Wednesday for a bone marrow test to see if any of the Leukemia is still there so please continue to keep them in your prayers.…
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Dairy
Did any one have issues with dairy while on chemo..I had some cereal this morning with silk choc soy, then a little pudding later in the day...has played havoc with my stomach most of the day.Drinking plenty of fluids, tried a gatorade in between water, didin't taste good. Thanks, Linda
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5FU
Fianlly rid of that lil beastie until the next infusion :) Will be getting an injection of neulasta on monday, has anyone here had that? Linda
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Artery Rupture
OK I am freaking out. Pam M said people can be doing fine and have an artery rupture. This is new and scarry side effect I have never heard about. Where did you hear this Pam? Doctor or friend? Does anyone else know someone who had an artery rupture? Debbie