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Strange Sensation in Throat
OK In April I was diagnosed with SCC unknown primary with 1 lymph node positive with no extracapsular spread. I had a left neck dissection and tonsils removed. I have had no further treatments but lots of exams and a BOT biopsy. Lately I have noticed a new sensation and was wondering if anyone here ever felt something…
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STILL CANNOT SWALLOW REGULAR FOOD
I will be six weeks post treatment this Wednesday and the only thing I can swallow without trouble is liquids. My ENT visit 2 weeks ago revealed allow of esophageal swelling and a Barium Swallow Test revealed the same thing. My Medical Team wants to give it more time, and they put me on Prednisone for the swelling. Am I…
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Loss of sense of taste with radiation
I am finished with radiation - thank god - and wondering how long it took for everyone's sense of taste to return. I got fairly concise answers from the physicians and techs about the other side effects, but the return of taste response was very ambiguous. Perhaps it does vary greatly, but I thought I'd just throw it out…
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Made it Through the First Big Holiday
Hi all: Basketcase checking in here! Well, I made it through Thanksgiving! We had a good one and my sister-in-law and two nieces and I did some shopping while my brother stayed at home with his grandson and had a great visit with him at my house. We had to go to K-mart as my microwave conked out T'giving day and they had…
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We are all still here
Hi all. Just thought i'd post a positive thought for us survivors today. As we ponder our future and side effects and treatments. We are still here and living and amongst our wonderful caring families. We have not been taken suddenly like the poor miners in new Zealand. We are surviving. We are slightly tainted now. But we…
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questions about treatment
Hi everyone, My Dad has his first appointment at Wake Forest tomorrow and I will be going with him. I am sure I will find answers to many of my questions, but would like to be armed with some additional info as to what to expect as a caregiver. My Dad was wondering if the chemo and radiation will cause hair loss? (not that…
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Eating, the Aftermath
So, here is the aftermath and the final word from me on the subject (for now). Even when it seems like the end of the world, it is not. Remember that I had my surgery in October of 2005, more than five years ago (followed by chemo and rads), and am only now, for whatever reason (and I sincerely do not know why) getting it…
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Salavart better than Biotene!
Hello, Just wanted to say I'm a U.S. Public Health Nurse (USPHS.GOV) and I talked with some of my colleagues in the dental field and they say salavart works better than biotene for Saliva temp. replacement; also I've found that citrus orbit gum works just as good or better than biotene gum and is cheaper!!! Worth a shot…
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hyperbaric oxygen therapy
My husband was diagnosed with stage IV throat cancer in March and underwent 7 weeks of radiation and 7 rounds of chemotherapy. The tumor was at the base of his tounge and around his tonsil area and was to large to remove with surgery. After completion of his treatment May 25th he has had 1 pet scan and 2 biopsies because…
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"Don't fear the reaper"
(Blue Oyster Cult reference) Coming into this Thanksgiving, I tasked myself with making oysters rockefeller. Don't ask me why. I do not believe I've eaten them since I was a bus boy at the Officer's Club at NAS Norfolk WAAAY back in the day. They were, of course, free. But, we live at the beach and I felt like we needed to…
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Induction Chemotherapy with Cetuximab
My wife is starting induction chemotherapy with chemo drugs Docetaxel, Cisplatin and Flourouracil combined with Cetuximab. Her cancer is advanced and she has a rough road ahead. Her cancer was caused by the HPV virus which the doctor told her that her prognosis was better since it is related to HPV. We were told that…
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Mayo Clinic, Hondo & NED all go together
Well there is some very good news from the Mayo Clinic. They did a biopsy on me and it came back NED for any C, they still want to review the MD Anderson PET scan for a final judgment but as the doctor said with the biopsy being negative on any cancer she don’t think anything will change. As far as to why I am in so much…
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No need for pet scan
I went for my three Month check with scope and fingers. Doc said all looks good. It's funny how you have questions but some take time to ask. I guess for fear of the answers. But I finally asked about my staging for tonsil cancer which was stage 2. T1n1mo. Does anyone know about this info. Also I asked about when my next…
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Happy Thanksgiving
Just wanted to wish everyone here a happy Thanksgiving. You are all incredible people and words just can't do justice to how thankful I am for your love and support. As I am drinking my meals today I will be thinking on how many of you are doing the same or putting it down the tube and will offer up a prayer of gratitude…
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Eating Part I
It's a bit boring I know, if you are a regular reader (and who isn't?) but I have to go over a bit of the history in order to get to where I am now. Once upon a time, oh, five years ago, I guess, I was told that I had cancer and they could do some wonderful things with my tongue and nerves and maybe I could be the man I…
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HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL
Hi All, I just want to wish everyone here the best Thanksgiving possible and thank the members of this forum for the great advice and support. Although Pat is post treatment and currently NED, I still have times of anxiety and fear. It is so hard, because no one really understands unless they have been through it. Looking…
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For Thanksgiving Loners
I was born into a nuclear family, one mom and two boys. I enjoyed my ex wife's family as my own for over twenty years, but have spent the last few solo. I have a lady friend who lives 50 miles from me and she has been my great and loving support through my treatment. I am of course invited to her family gathering for…
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Bring on the chemo
I no it sounds sick, but the pain I have been having is to much to handle. If the chemo will shrink or kill the tumor before I have brachythrepy radiation bring it on. The pain this morning, urg... tylenol would not touch it. So back on oxycodone, I have been off it for several months and do not like the way it makes me…
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starting to get a thick coating in mouth
I just finish my 8th rad treatment. My mouth is starting to get a thick coating. I have no pain yet. I know people on here have diffrent rinses that they have used. Please share any recipt or products that you may know. Thanks Mike
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Im Dancing
Appt went good. Doctor told me those words we all love to hear.. You are still cancer free. Still have to go back in 6 months, but thats okay. I was reminded that peace of mind is priceless, so Im okay with going back in May. Not only did I get a clean checkup, I spent 6 hours at the Galleria Mall... NOW THATS FUN! Thanks…
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loss of appetite
What can be done for loss of appetite?
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starting treatment
Hello to all. Today I begin my jouney to become cancer free. Today I start radiation 35 total treatments. Tomorrow I start chemo for the first, third, and seventh week of radiation treatment. After the first of the year I hope to be a long time survivor. Stay strong Mike.
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Dealing with Hyper and Hypo Blood Pressure
I am Almost seven years out from a tumor base of my tongue..(squamous cell) I deal with all the problems I read about on the Discussion Boards as most do..They seem to just be a way of life for me and I deal with it..ie ... taste, no saliva, hard to swallow, etc..I still get my support at my Medical School but one I am…
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18 month PET
Got my results Friday for my 18 month PET .Dr said all is still clear-see me in 6 months.Keep the faith,newbies,we are survivors on this board!I am doing better than I ever would have believed a year ago.Enjoying all my Sicilian foods I so missed-had a wonderful Braciole tonight at a new restaurant.Best to all. Bob
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scared...my dad was diagnosed with stage four
I am so glad I stumbled upon this site. My dad who is 67 was diagnosed with Stage four base of tongue cancer on Friday. Immediately I was devastated and everything I read on the internet was Doom and gloom. So good to see that there is hope. I really need A site like this as I am alone in this journey with my dad And I…
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Back from 2nd trip to his folks
Hi all: Basketcase here! Got back Sunday night from NC. This was my second trip in to Charlie's folks since his passing. It still is hard initially but I made it. Got my mother-in-law's decorations up for Christmas. My father-in-law is having a rough time as we approach the holiday season (like I'm not!) Nothing's the same…
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the check up with the chemo doctor yesterday
Well I got good news from yesterdays chemo doctor visit and he is happy that I did gained 2lbs since I seen him six weeks ago. So no feeding tube needed and I asked the chemo doctor if the NPC would come back and he didn't have a clear answer on that but he did tell me that I would have to have PET scans every 6-8 months…
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New problem
David has several pretty good size "looks like blisters" on the very back of his tongue. Very painful and burns him to even drink room temp water. his progress with eating has stopped. It is on the opposite side of the throat where the tumor was... Could this be the worst and be c back? or could it still be the radiation…
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PET... NED... EEE... TYJ!!!!!
And Thank You ALL! Just wanted to thank you all for your positive posts, good wishes, and the many prayers. Mt Sinai declared me NED! Tah Dah! I am so glad to add my name to the list of posts this month who have had clean scans. My prayers are with all of you, especially the friends who are having scans in the next couple…
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Dad biopsies in August good, biopsies taken last tuesday bad.. confused, angry.. pls help
hi my father was diagnosed in february with stage 4 tongue cancer, which we were told was agressive.. we opted for option b which was radition and chemo, 2 rounds of induction chemo..finished treatments in june, biopsies in august clean! instead of the surgery which we were told he would lose all of his tongue, jaw and…