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To continue or not
Hi everyone, Here is a brief of my story- My mom was diagnosed with tongue C T2N1MZ on the base of her tongue. She had a successful surgery and is going through radiation. So far not good. We are three weeks into it and she is not taking it well. I fear if this is her situation now what do we have in store in the future.…
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Family member almost done w/Tx weight loss??
Have a family member who just had their 3rd chemo, and by the end of the week will be the last of 35 rads for tonsil cancer. They were adament about no PEG tube and have lost a great deal of weight. 25% (44#s) Would appreciate anyone willing to share how much they loss, especially % wise and what kind of treatments you…
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5 Months Post
Well, haven't been on here for a while, keep forgetting my password, lol. Anyway, I was Squamous cell base of tongue with 1 lymph node involved, finished 35 rads and cisplatin Nov 15th. Tongue tumor had long disapperaed, but the lymph node had not shrunk at all. Drs waited til 2 months post and ordered a PET scan, telling…
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HPV+ Cancer Survival Rate
I’ve heard that HPV+ H&N cancer has a 92% cure rate. What are the statistics for 5 year survival and beyond?
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Can't get rid of nausea
I'm in week 3 of my treatments and I have nausea almost every day. The nurses keep prescribing meds that don't work. As soon as I take them I throw up. I have a peg n just started using liquid food. But needless to say the food doesn't stay in me. Nurses are'not listening to me. They just keep telling me to take the nausea…
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Treatment Underway
Hi everyone. I wanted to give an update on my status. After finally getting my PET scan approved by insurance, the results came back as a 48 year old male HPV SCC stage 1 T2/N0/M0. I was able to catch this early because I had a growth off my tonsil that I could feel in the back of my throat and so I went to the ENT. So…
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One side of radiation compared to both sides
Hello question has anyone experienced having just one side that needed radiation and if so how were the side affects for you? Second questions to the individuals that needed treatment on both sides how were side affects for you? I realize all are different but the common realm of things how did each cope? And this magic…
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Week 2 treatment
On day 3 week 2 of treatment. First week chemo brutal! Have chemo every Friday and last weekend had dry heaves took nausea meds didn't work. Could not eat or drink for 3 days. Peg tube got clogged due to nausea meds not totally disolved. Ugh.. They had me go to the hospital for IV infusion. Even on my rad days I try to…
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Half-way point...Scared about long-term side effects
Greetings, My spouse had robotic surgery Feb. 16 to remove a 1.2 cm tumor from the base of her tongue. It was HPV positive. At the same time, the surgeon took all of the lymph nodes from the left side of her neck. Pathology showed three of those nodes were cancerous and two of them showed extranodal extension. So, that…
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Septoplasty and Dry Mouth
I am a 6 year survivor and need some input from the group. Without going into the gory details, while I was recovering from rads I suffered a broken nose when I face planted one night. I've lived with a diminished ability to breathe out of my nose and recently decided to do something about it. I'm going to have a…
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blast from the past...
Hi everyone! I hope everyone is having a great day, feeling well and happy! I haven't been on here for what seems like forever! I had major computer problmes at one point and it gave me all kinds of problems getting on to the site. Anyhow, I'd love to hear how you all are doing. I personally just got my 5 year scans about…
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Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma
Hello, I am new to this site and decided today to join. I found out in 2009 I had Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma, a very rare cancer that usually begins in the salivary gland. After having had surgery at Ohio State, and completed 35 radiation treatments in my hometown, all was well. Until June of 2011 when I found out it has now…
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Mask, phlegmy throat and panic attacks
Hi, I am starting radiation on Monday. When being fitted for the mask I had a claustraphobic panic attack. The nurses said this was comon and prescribed Lorazapam. Having followed manny conversations here over the last several weeks I noticed a common side effect of treatment is phlegmy throat. I am really concerned that…
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Crying times
All this cancer stuff finally got to me. I cried a few times cause of trying to handle upcoming feeding tube rads and chemo. Will miss working badly as its good therapy to get ur mind off ur health issues. Ironically I help elderly people with thier heating bills so they don't get shut off which of couse is dangerous in…
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chronic rash and sweating months after treatment
Hello all, I'm posting on behalf of my dad who underwent successful (we hope) radiotherapy treatment for a tumour in his sinuses last year. The radiotherapy that followed surgery was completed 6 months ago but he has been suffering from a severe rash and chronic sweating which has been slowly getting worse and worse over…
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I just finished treatment
Hello, I'm Tim. I just finished 35 rounds of radiation and 5 rounds of chemo. Boy this took much more of a toll on my body than I thought. I still can't swallow (it's only been one month) nor drink much. I lost 40lbs through this and have no energy. I'm worried about my pet scan and overall prognosis. I'm 54 but have young…
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Proton Beam therapy
Right side tonsil cancer SCC, HPV+, stage IVa N2, no evidence of distant metastasis, both tonsils have been removed, no neck dissection. The plan is for 7 weeks radiation and 3 cisplatin treatments and then possible neck dissection. It looks like I may have the opportunity of getting proton beam therapy. I will be having a…
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Proton Therapy at Scripps
Hello all, I hope to start treatment on January 30th for tonsil and base of tongue HPV+ cancer. I had an enlarged left tonsil which turned out to be cancer and had a tonsillectomy in November. Since then it's been non-stop doctors and trying to decide on the best course of treatment. I'm 54 and in generally good health,…
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Anyone with SCC HPV+ NOT have chemo or had alternative treatment
looking for anyone Stage 3 or 4 SCC HPV+ that did not do chemo, but either did radiation only or an alternative treatment? the more I read it seems the more chemo may not be needed in all treatments. I am just worried they are fighting my cancer with cancer causing agents
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Carbo/ Taxol
This is the 3rd choice of chemo that was decided on. I didn't want to deal with the rash so I decided on this as did the chemotherapist. My radiologist said this wasn't proven for BOT SCC cancer. He said good for lung cancer and I also reminded him also is used for Cervix SCC My question is has anyone used this for BOT…
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Surgery Scheduled...........anxious!!
My husband has 3 different kinds of cancer, colon cancer that is now in his lungs, prostate cancer, and was diagnosed with small cell neck cancer in his neck last November. Primary was never found but possibly "hiding" in tonsil. Only has one lymph node on left side of neck that grew extremely fast to 4.6cm. Had chemo and…
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Dry Mouth
Starting week 4 and my saliva glands seem to be doing well... No dry mouth. When and if this side effect takes place does it occur. Right now I have the dreaded sore throat and phlegm.. Blood in throat not much and dried blood in nose. I assume all this is normal. I must gargle 30 times a day.. it helps with the sores..…
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Lymphedema
Hello- Does anyone have any experience with lymphedema in their neck/throat? Is this something that can go away? Or is it something that gets progressively worse? Some days, it feels like I'm being choked. Other days, it's not TOO noticeable. I finished treatment at the end of last October. The lymphedema took a couple of…
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My dad has throat cancer. What to do?
So today my dad finally went to the doctor after nearly a year of my mom pestering him. He has been coughing when he eats food, and people who hadn't spoken to him in a while said that his voice sounds different. The doctor looked at him and said he has throat cancer. He wasn't even able to see his vocal chords (I believe…
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HPV Tonsil cancer
Hi everybody. After discovering a lump on my neck I saw my doctor who took a biopsy. Long story short: Stage 4, HPV positive, squamous cell carcinoma. Primary site being the tonsil and base of tongue which spread to the upper jugular lymph node causing the lump on my neck. I just completed three cycles of chemo and 35…
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just need to talk
I am 7 months out from my last rad (35) and chemo (2..couldn't do the third) I have been reading the posts and realize that I am luckier than some and worse off than others. I dont feel like a victim, but need to vent! I have a supporting husband and a circle of friends that try to be upbeat. When can I cry , be angry and…
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Hard to shake the feeling
I have SCC BOT and Tonsil HPV+ cancer. I did post on here before and received many great responses which I am thankful for. My first rad treatment is scheduled this Monday at 11:30 am. Also seeing head chemo nurse before at 11:00 am. Problem is I can't seem to shake the anxiety and fear and sense of despair about going…
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Thinking of Curlyn
I know she's is probably having a rough time right now, miss her already, and only hope she comes out of this somehow. Thinking of you out there somewhere girl and I'm sure the rest of you on this forum are too. :( tears ):
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Tongue cancer - how to prepare for post-operation
Three months into what looked like a canker and one month into knowing that it is tongue cancer. I am totally blown away by its nature and force. My mom's tongue now has a white patch. It got larger after incisional biopsy. Can anyone comment on the recovery of the tongue and the tongue activity, speaking, eating and…
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Joint pain?
Just a quick question here. My husband is nearly three months out from completing his treatment, which I can hardly believe. It has truly been a roller coaster of physcial symptoms and emotions, but we are thankful each day to get further and further in the healing process. He has developed a pesky hip joint pain the past…