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Today's Procedure
Well folks, I made it through my simulation with flying colors! I had to remind myself several times to breathe, relax and that I was not choking. I feel great knowing that I can make it through the daily treatments. Now the funny news. I have some fluid collection from my neck dissection that will not go away, despite…
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Bloodtest Result
Hi All, I had my bloodwork done a couple of weeks ago but held off posting as there was no urgency. I requested to have the Thyroid function done (TSH) and also Vitamin D3 along with the other routine tests. The TSH came back in the normal range 1.54 uiu/ml (Ref Range: 00.35 - 4.94) The D3 came back also normal 28.81 ng/ml…
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Work
I returned to work today - with a bag of goodies to eat and my feeding bag and slupplies if I can't get enough down. It feels so good to be back. I work at the tech desk at a high school - not very labor intensive.
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endoscopy fail
I had an endoscopy yesterday, well an aborted endoscopy. The nice Dr could not get the endoscope down my throat and did not want to risk perforating my esophagus. So now I have a barium swallow on the 25th to determine the location of the stricture so they can go back in another week to try and open it up. I know Joe has…
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FINAL PATH IN FROM SURGERIES
My Doc's Nurse Called my wife earlier to let her know that the Doc did get good margins in my mouth, but there may be some uncertianties regarding the removal of all of the cancer in the neck. Of course my Doc is in the OR all day today. The final repot now makes the Chemo portion mandatory so my journey will endure…
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Hello All! We are New to this discussion board!
Hello All! My name is Crystal and I am helping my mom Tammy ( who isnt tech smart haha) get used to using this site. She just found out last week she has cancer; Basal Cell Carcinoma and Matastatic neck cancer. She had surgery on Friday and The doctor said That they cancer didnt start in her neck and that they need to find…
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Still Have pain!
Hello, Hope everyone had a good weekend!! I am starting my 7th week post treatment and still have pain in the back of my throat on the right side when I swallow. Also some pain in the right jaw area. These areas are obviously where I got the most radiation. Is this normal to still have pain this far out of treatment? :(…
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Update on Hubby
Hi all: Basketcase checking in here. Charlie has finished 5 of 7 erbitux/taxotere treatments. One is this Tuesday and the other next Tuesday. He has not gotten the taxotere the past two weeks due to mouth sores. Don't know when the scan will be to check our progress; onc. told us if we are getting a good response, we will…
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Swelling
Hi - I'm new here, and looking for help. My husband had surgery for HPV-related pharyngeal cx in March,2010, followed by a series of radiation & chemo treatments that ended in late June. The removal of his lymph nodes left him with the familiar "turkey neck" appearance. In the past 2 weeks or so, he has begun swelling at…
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Over Radiated
There are some discussions in different posts on this board that some patients feel and know they were over radiated. Looking back, does anyone know or have any ideas as what effects during radiation would send any warning signals?
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TPF chemotherapy treatments
Hi, I am new to this board... I apologize in advance for giving so much detail and for the lenghty post... My father is in this 3rd round battling tonsil cancer. First round major surgery followed by Radiation; knock out, cancer free 10 years. 2nd round Feb this year, further surgery not an option another round of…
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Amifostine (ethyol)
During my rads treatment I took two shots before they zapped my head called amifostine. I was curious out of the lot of us here, who all took this drug? Did you find it to be beneficial post treatment? I'm just curious because I think I only saw one person mention the use of the drug in a post somewhere. Amifostine:…
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Feeding tube hole
I had my feeding tube taken out six days ago, my question is. How long did you wait before going swimming and getting into the lake? I have not gone swimming or boating this year since I could not get into the water. Tommorow will be 100 degrees and I want to take the fishing boat to the lake. Should I wait or get in the…
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Difficulty swallowing---Needing Prayer
My mother(46 years old) is a 6 year stage 4 tonsil cancer survivor(as of may). After surgery to remove tonsils, 22 treatments of radiation, and 2 different concurrent chemotherapies, she was given the thumbs up for no cancer. However, she had been severely burnt from the inside out with sores from her lips down her…
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Sorry Guys
To all my new family, As promised I would update as soon as the results were in...I do have another tumor. This one appears to go from the left tonsil into the soft palette. The ENT wanted it to be that the spot showing on the PET was hot from my rads but no such luck. The radiologist confirm another mass and when scoped,…
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How / When to tell my mom?
Sorry for the length of my post or any spelling errors. I am new here and wanted advise on telling my mom that I have tonsil cancer. I am a 40 year old, single,non smoker, rarely drink just diagnosed with Tonsil cancer with right neck metastasis. I received the initial call from my ENT on July 8,2010 after a ultrasound…
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Cancer free states/areas
Thank you Skiffin16 for creating that map with our locations. Has anyone else noticed the considerable lack of individuals posting from the Rocky Mountain states or the Great Plans area? The gap is very noticeable on John’s map. I realize that these states are probably less populated, but it would appear that there should…
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PET scan or no PET Scan
Question regarding PET scan. So far my doctors have not scheduled me for a PET scan. Should I be requesting one? Initial testing by my ENT for initial disgnosis was ultrasound of neck, CT scan, needle biopsy, which showed Squamos Cell Carcinoma in my right neck lymph nodes. Then he refered me to MD Anderson. He ordered a…
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Two Different Cancers
Hi Everyone My Name is Judy I recently discussed my newly diagnosed Kidney Cancer which I was led to believe was Renal Cell Carcinoma with neck lymph node metastasis.Following further discussions with my Oncologist I have now found out that the tumour in my lymph node appears to be a different type of cancer as it was…
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Tinnitus Drug On Horizon
Hi Everyone, I live in the central valley of California. My last trip to my ENT I told him about my tinnitus, and he suggested I was a candidate for a trial being done on a new tinnitus drug treatment. I can't apply until September, but I will try and get into the trial. The drug is already being prescribed in Germany, and…
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Better days!
Hey peeps! Sorry haven't posted in a while; I have been reading but didn't really have much to say! I was really inspired by the caregiver posts; but being single I didn't really feel like I had much to add! Anyway, I am on week 6; haven't used feeding tube since last Friday. I am eating but it's slow process and have to…
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Tripping Over My Tongue
Hi all. Pam here - almost 5 months post tx for base of tongue. I got my PEG out and throat dilated a couple of weeks ago. I've noticed very recently that I sometimes have difficulty speaking again (haven't had this problem for at least 3 months). Not total inability to be coherent, just like having a harder time getting my…
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P E T Scan
Had my first P E T Scan after having surgery and 33 radiation treatments for pitirod gland cancer and the P E T came out clean .It was well worth the hard times of enduring the 33 Radiation treatments
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squemous cell carsonoma
I was diagnosed withSCC and am presently ending my third week of treatment...I am presently having a constant buzzing in my ears, which I believe is from the chemo..I have this now for two weeks and am due for my second dose of chemo on Monday..I was wondering if anyone else has experienced this...I am scheduled for a…
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New Article! New England Journal of Medicine!
Hey, I also wanted to share that there is a new article from the New England journal of medicine from July 1, 2010. It talks about HPV+16 tumors and Survival stats for those of you who are interested. N Engl J med 2010; 363:24-35
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NEW BUT LATE UPDATE
Good morning all!! I am finally home recovering from my surgeries. Yes, surgeries with an S. Nothing comes easy. My original plan was to have one surgery on Monday August 9th to extract the oral cancer and then the neck dissection. While driving home from work on Friday the 7th, my mouth filled with blood, and this…
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PET Scan due Wednesday
Hi everyone, looks like another PET scan is due this Wednesday at MD Anderson in Houston. My local doctors are a little concerned as I been have a lot of pain the head and neck again and they can seam to find the problem. As you know all my passed PET scans for the last 5 years came back dirty, but showing no new growth.…
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First news update
Hi to all, I had my scans this morning and will know the results tomorrow. But the big news is...my PEG is gone..YIPPEE. Of course mine went like everyone else's with my doctor saying take a deep breath and he yanked and I howled. Then I cried because it was gone. The doctor told me to stay on the Boost and Ensure because…
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Post NPC Questions
As I am in recovery phase, even though I have two chemo sessions to go Aug 9 and Aug 30, I have some questions about what to expect in the future. Finished my 40 rads about 6-7weeks ago. Port I have a port surgically inserted into the upper left portion of my chest just below my collar bone / shoulder socket. I heard and…
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Needle Biospy not performed in 2005 (lump in 2006 was cancer)
Question concerning something that has been really nagging at me ever since my brother Michael's diagnois. He had a lump in his neck and went to ENT in Sav, GA sometime in 2005. He told me he thought it might be ear, tonsil, or tooth related (he did not have the best teeth even prior to rad treatment). At that visit the…