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Head and Neck Cancer

Reality check
Hello everyone. Wanted to let you guys know that I had doctors appt today to address my breathing issue. ( Paralyzed right vocal cord blocking airway.) Well this is a new doctor for me who I actually liked! He''s compassionate, helpful, and caring. Very rare combination for Specialist. He''s a doctor, professor, and…
one year anniversary
Today is my one year anniversary since finishing my treatment for stage 1 HPV 16 Tonsil Cancer with mets to 3 lymph nodes in level 1. The old staging would of been stage 4a. Had Pet Scan 4 months after treatment and was NED. The cancer was only on the right side. My treatment consisted of 35 rads and 3 high dose Cisplatin…
Tooth Extractions
Can someone offer either info or advice on this topic? I went to the dentist with a toothache and he advised that I had decay in two teeth and they could not be saved. They are in the back so I wasn't too upset. Also, the oncologist had told me more than once to expect problems with my teeth because of the radiation. So…
Scar tissue
Hello, I was on this forum a lot back in 2017. My husband was diagnosed with cancer of the head and neck with his left lymph node involved. He finished treatment in April of 2017. All has been well since then. His scans and scopes have been clear. When he received his last CT scans about two weeks ago the oncologist said…
Skin Tearing
Has anyone had an infection(they think it originates from some 'dead bone' area of my chin) in their face after radiation? I am on antibiotics for the infection but one area of my skin that was swolen and had a sore underneath the skin has split right through to the mouth. It started as a pin prick and is now a horizontal…
Update: 18 months Post
Hi Everyone - It's been about 18 months since my husband finished treatment for Stage 4 HVP+ tongue cancer, with mets to lymph nodes in neck. (Tongue surgery, chemo, radiation, modified radical neck dissection.) Third scan just came back NED, which is especially great, since in the meantime he'd developed a "new" cancer on…
Another Chapter in my H&N Journey-9/13/2019 Update
New Update 9/13/2019 I will try to keep this and future updates as brief as possible but with enough information. Tuesday, Sept 10, We met with my physician from Hershey Med. PA, Dr. Guy Slonimsky at Hershey-Penn State Health Lime Spring Outpatient Center Lancaster, PA. I had a thorough checkup and was scoped to check my…
Interesting Web Site-Medical-Just FYI
I found this web site and am still checking it out. Also has apps you can put on phone or tablet. You can look up any medical condition-- The main page-- https://www.uptodate.com/home The demo video page-- https://www.uptodate.com/home/help-demo
How much does it matter where you have your radiation therapy?
How important is it to have your radiation therapy done at a well-known institution? If you had the exact same radiation treatment plan (the same areas were to be radiated with the same dose for the same number of sessions) would it make a difference if you had this plan realized at a good local hospital or at a national…
Another Chapter in my H&N Journey-Saw My ENT Today
Just an update 9/4/19 I saw my ENT today for my follow up post-biopsy and it confirms I have cancer of the squamous cell type. So far all my cancers have been the squamous cell type but hope this is the last. The next step is my ENT has put in for a PET scan and sees no problem getting it approved considering the biopsy…
Stage 1 SCC HPV+ Journey
Hello all. I have not posted much on here but wanted to create a post that may, hopefully, help out others who are just starting their journey. To give a little back story, in April 2019, I noticed a lump on the left side of my neck. Went to my primary care who prescribed antibiotics. Those did not change anything so I…
New Here....need advice...throat and neck
38....was a smoker 15 years..quit this year..light smoker....drinker, beer and shots, once a week or so...drink alot of coffee/caffeine I am pretty worried....notice a small hard lump on right side of neck ...like 4 years ago....still there...i have gone to doctors numerous times....told me I have Gerd. Over the years, my…
HPV 21 months out
Hey guys I am blessed to be cancer free 21 months out. Tonsil, base of the tongue, and 4 lymph nodes. I went through the standard 36 radiation, 6 chemo in 6 weeks and have progressed better than the doctors expected. Question for you, do you ever get back to normal? Granted I'm 64, but I still haven't recovered my energy…
Cancer Metastatic to Neck Lymph Node
Hello Family, I a new member to the head and neck with SCC MPV Tonsil Cancer. I was told it's at stage 1 with a tumor on the right side of my neck. They were wanting to do Robotics surgery with possible RAD treatment after. Won't know until they do the surgery. I'm worried for a few reasons. If I need CHEMO and RAD will…
Proton beam radiation — experiences?
Has anyone here had Proton beam radiation for a H & N tumor? If so, what were your experience and results like? Why did you go this route?
Radiation de-escalation study
https://www.healio.com/hematology-oncology/head-neck-cancer/news/online/%7B38b7d331-5d5f-4fb2-acab-024eb46bd81b%7D/aggressive-radiotherapy-dose-de-escalation-confers-benefits-in-hpv-associated-oropharyngeal-squamous-cell-carcinoma?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=sociallinks&fbclid=IwAR3il24Qc4d1vS90wf6Ok9…
How many patients trust what "experts" tell them
I am curious how many/what percentage of people follow what doctors; radiologists; chemotherapists tell them is best for their cancer; without researching it themself? Do you think if there was something else available, other than chemotherapy or radiation that had equal effacacy; they would tell you? Have you ever googled…
Hail Mary...chemo-immunotherapy last option
My Thomas had his nodule removed, but they were not able to get clear margins. Has limitations of weight and activity. At same time we noticed another nodule appearing in same area. Had PET scan and it showed multiple sights...in and around lungs but the worse is his original sight shows a BOT tumor compromising his eating…
Another Chapter in my H&N Journey-Scan Follow UP
As stated in a previous post I had some neck soreness and stiffness and lt felt like a tight muscle on the left side of my neck. ENT was not alarmed but he set me up for a CAT scan OF THE NECK with dye on 8/13/19 just to be on the safe side. OK-Hi Folks- so here is the update on scan-got my Cat Scan with dye on Tuesday. My…
Saliva FYI
Saw my specialist this previous Tuesday for my yearly checkup. I was expecting a PET scan but he said the insurance company would never pay for it so tough luck for me. What he did mention was the procedure he did on my mouth when I had my neck dissection prior to radiation. Back in 2012 he removed my right parotid…
Tumor #3...God it just needs to end already
My poor Thomas has been in the hospital 1st week of July for pnueminitis and radiation inflammation. Out a week and back in he goes due to falling from newly prescribed severe Obstructed Sleep Apnea. While in this last time, the nodule they've been watching around the area the drain tube was in grew larger, so they did a…
Newly diagnosed, atypical head & neck SCC of unknown primary
Hi everyone! I am a 55 y.o. woman, who has been diagnosed with head & neck SCC of unknown primary (HPV negative). Last week, I consulted with an oncologist at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa. He told me that he doesn’t believe they will find the primary and that we should just move on to treatment ASAP or at least within a…
CANCER STAGING
Hey all. Will try and be as brief as possible. Saw someone's post the other day and they stated that there previous Stage 4 was now classified as a Stage 1 under the "new" staging system!! What is this "new" staging system because according to my Oncologist and Radonc, the Stage 4 I was diagnosed with back in Jan 2018 is…
URGENT - Panic
HI all H&N members. I had my CT scan last week and I saw my ENT doctor today. He said my CT scan showed their was a "mass" in my larynx. They eliminated my original tumor on the base of my tongue and left tonsil. Now a year and a half later he suspects the cancer came back. Not just because scan said their was a mass but…
Radiation Effects
Hello, I was diagnosed with Olfactory Neuroblastoma in March 2019, had surgey to remove the large tumor in my right sanal cavity in April and just finished my second of six weeks of radiation to my sinus' and neck (excluding my left saliva gland). During my surgery I had my entire olfactory nerve removed so my sense of…
eating surprise
greetings from a new member
hello, I am a 61 year old male, recently diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. in my neck and throat. It is in my lymph nodes and has gotten into my chest area. The prognosis , I have been told is not good. My attitude is " it is what it is"" and to try to have a positive attitdue. I lived in New Mexico when i was initially…
Another Chapter in my H&N Journey-Stiff Neck-Rad Leftovers
About a month and a half ago a couple of weeks after seeing my ENT I started getting a soreness on the side of my neck, the side that was radiated. When I stretch my neck different ways it feels like a tight muscle. There is some soreness a lot of the time but sometimes it feels normal with no soreness like the other…
LANREOTIDE & AXITINIB--anyone know about these trials?
Yesterday I saw Dr. Tito Fojo in NYC. He is one of the best Hematologist/Oncologist researchers in the world. My ENT surgeon wanted me to see him before surgery. I told him all about my malignant Carotid Body Tumor. He listened carefully, asked some questions, and then spent the rest of the time talking about two trials he…
It appears my tongue cancer is back
I just read my PET scan and it says I'm being referred for tongue cancer again. I don't see it or feel it but Ithe scan shows a lesion. I can barely open my mouth which scares the **** out of me as to how they will tackle this. This is truly my worst nightmare coming true.

Head and Neck Cancer

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