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nasopharangeal cancer.
My husband was newly diagnosed with a cancer of the nasopharnyx. The doctors are planning to insert a tube into his abdominal cavity to help him, should he need it, take nourishement during his treatments. Has anyone had this done and are there any side effects from having it done. He shudders at the fact that he will have…
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First Week treatment
WED-Fri was rad and that was a relative calm experience. Chemo minus the port went ok except the numerous trips to the bathroom to urinate. I have taxol, carbo for aobut 3 hours. I did get a little nauseated, stomach wise and constipated. Does chemo get worse or pretty much stay the same?? Today I went to work after rad…
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1st rad treatment
Had my first treatment today.. Took awhile to get going because they had to redo my mask. Too much pressure on my adams apple. Once they fix that and cut the mouth out it was a breeze. My question is I am starting mucus in the back of my throat. Like when you come down with a cold. Is this possible after one treatment?? Or…
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CURED!
I had my 5 year appointments and have been deemed "cured" by my team at Johns Hopkins. I was hoping to be totally discharged but my rad onc wants to keep an eye on me and help me manage the side effects. I still have to have a yearly CT scan and swallow study but there's something about graduating from NED to "cured" that…
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Need advice
Hi everyone. Just a quick note to ask some insight and feedback. I am scheduled for rads next thursday then peg tube placement. Also on friday rads n chemo. Think that's too much at once. Has anyone had appts back to back like that? Kinda hard for ur body to take within 2 days. Please let me know. Thx a bunch!!
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Pet Scan Denied by Insurance
Hi everyone, I'm 45+ male that was recently diagnosed (last Friday) with HPV SCC and this is my first post. My ENT was able to snip a piece of tissue from my tonsil area to confirm the malignacy. My ENT submitted to have a Petscan and a CT done but my insurance (Aetna) denied the Petscan and only approved neck and chest CT…
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Scared...
I was diagnosed with HPV+ BOT cancer about 14 months ago (Jan 2017). I happen to work at the academic medical center where I received treatment. I have had a little bit of a scratchy throat over the last week or so. I have an amazing gag reflex (or lack thereof) and can actually get a finger back there and touch the area…
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Where have I been? (followup post post-treatment)
Hi all, You may remember my previous post where I gave weekly updates during treatment. I had an early response scan during my last week of treatment, which came back showing nothing particularly alarming. Shortly after that post, I had my bell ringing ceremony at ProCure and things got a bit worse before they got better.…
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Ring the Bell
I just wanted to check in to ring the bell. I just completed my 1 year and a half scope to receive the good news that per all indicators I remain NED! I really appreciate is Forum, and I particularly appreciate the posts I read from old timers. It gives me hope to see so many thriving in the life after cancer world. Cancer…
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Excessive saliva
Hey, I have a problem. About 3/4 of the way through my radiation treatment for squamous cell in my throat and tongue, I developed excessive saliva. On April 15th, treatment ended but as of today I still have the excess saliva. Has anybody heard of this before. It's driving me crazy and keeping me from getting my swallow…
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New Kid in Town
Hi there. I'm new to posting here, having just found these discussion boards recently. I was diagnosed HPV-16 last July. No tumor was found but several lymph nodes lit up in first PET, so I did 34 days of Rads and 6 doses of Cisplatin. I finished treatment in late October '17, and have been mending ever since. I know that…
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Back To Work
When did you guys find that you were able to return to work? I am 14 weeks post treatment with a clear PET and CT scan - Yay! My energy is good, but if I have a couple of days of "normal" activity I end up in bed for the day recovering. I am walking 30 minutes a day and doing yoga twice a week but if I do an 8 hour day it…
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Recently Diagnosed
Hi everyone!!! yesterday I was diagnosed with squamous carcinoma... back of the tongue. I had no symptoms except a swollen gland on the side of my neck. this was about 2cm. I only had this for about two weeks.. They said the primary tumor site is most likely at that right tongue base at about 2.5 cm. They said it appears…
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Anyone have Ensure issues?
This is my 2nd try to post so if the other shows up, I will delete one. I had been feeling good but trying to gain some muscle back, so in addition to my 3 qts of milk per week I added 4-5 Ensure (original or high pro) to my diet. I know Ensure has 25%/bottle of daily b12 requirement but I am thinking the synthetic…
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Taking my first chemo dose tomorrow- Cisplatin+Gemcitabine. Worried about few things please comment.
Hi all I hope all of you are doing well. I was recently diagnosed with right tonsil cancer with right side neck level II lymph nodes involved and HPV+. Stage details include T2N2M0; which is Stage II as per the new guidelines on HPV+ oropharyngeal cancers, and Stage IVA as per old standards. My doctor has suggested the…
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Bronchial spasms
Has anyone suffered bronchial spasms after treatment? We did 3 cisplatiin and 40 rads. Went through and ended with bronchial spasms and now need nebulizer. Bf has trach and peg tube we're working to get removed in the next few months and have a machine for misting air and a machine for suctionung and now thus. Hoping it…
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Radiation Fear
I have SCC large tumor in the throat. Scheduled for rad and chemo treatments beginning of April. I'm just terribly scared of being in machine with mask getting radiation. I'm usually upbeat positive person but this whole ordeal just causing me intense fear and anxiety. Wondering if anyone else feeling this way. Got through…
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Phlem phlem and yucky taste!
Hi All... Here I am 4weeks out of radiation for mandible cancer ! I am so grateful to be over with it , if I could eat I would go out and have a nice dinner to celebrate but as a lot of you have experienced during and after radiation , food has lost its great appeal so celebrating that way has no thrill four me. Here is my…
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lymphoma & hpv+carcinoma at same time?
The bad news is that unfortunately, my ENT was correct. I do indeed have tonsil cancer. The good news is that it is the hpv type, so more treatable. However, oddly, they also found lymphoma-type cells in the lymph node which they are all confused about. Having both at the same time is not usual apparently. Honestly, I'm…
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Many neck cancer issues still
post radiation 7 months and still no taste,saliva and dry mouth. Walk with a limp. Ears blocked with thumping sounds. Trying some solid foods but gag. Thank God for peg tube for two cal liquid. Can this continue forever? Any experiences to share?
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Recovery after treatment with trach and g-tube
Does anyone have, or had a trach through treatment. We are completing on 3/19 and I want to be proactive on what to do to help him get trach and tube removed. We obviously need to wait for rad swelling before we can get accurate swallow test 4/27 and ENT scope 5/24...but i want to help him do anything he can to help him…
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Headaches after Oral cancer treatment
Hi, My brother has been treated for oral cancer using surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. He has had a rough time of it for sure. His treatments ended about six months ago, but he is experiencing headaches that do not seem to respond to drugs or anything else. Is there any wisdom from members on how to help him manage…
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PET Scan Frustration
Hi Everyone, I've only posted a few times. My husband was dx with BOT HPV+ SCC, Stage 3 in September 2017. Finished 35 rads and 6 cisplatin on 4 Dec. PET was 7 Mar. Met with Medical oncologist on 8 Mar and she said it all looks good. However, they just put the CT results in our online medical records and there is something…
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Tongue Flap
My father in law was diagnosed with Head/Neck cancer on December 1. We finally got in to see the oral surgeon on January 9 with 1st surgery on January 25. It was a very long surgery and they could not use the bone in his leg or shoulder to replace the bone in his jaw line, so they had to go with a metal plate. Here we are…
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Radiation after surgery- tongue cancer
Hi everyone, My mom was diagnosed with T2N1MZ tongue cancer on 29 janauary! It's been 5 weeks since surgery and she seems to heal well. radiation starts tomorrow. Could you please help me with what you expect ? Doctors say the only side effect would be ulcers. However, the internet says a different story all together.…
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Cancer spread to lymph nodes in armpit
Anyone experienced this?
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Advice needed for pain during recovery
My husband completed his treatment (35 radiation and 6/7 Cetuximab) for SSC BOT HPV+ on November 21. At week 8 of his recovery he started experiencing sensitivity in his skin on his upper body, including the top of his head. He does not have a rash or anything visible. He’s really tired and cold. He was doing great with…
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12 months since starting treatment
Today I celebrated 12 months since I started treatment. As my daughter said today "A year ago, Dad, you had cancer... Now you don't." God willing, she is right and although I've had ups and downs, not once do I regret not having chemo and radiation, or the rotten after effects that seemed to linger on and on. Last week I…
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Depression?
So you go to bed with the best intentions for a new day tomorrow, then tomorrow comes and you lay in bed trying to decide if you really feel like getting up or rolling over and after rolling over you get out of bed at 1:00 and face that day full of promise only to realize that you feel like the same slug you did yesterday.…
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Radionecrossis of C1
I got the results back from my CT and I have radionecrossis of the C1 vertebrae. My ENT says there is a break in the front, away from the spinal cord and there is probably some infection around it. He seems to be a little bit of a loss of what to do. I am going to see a neurologist, but I think I'm going to my ENT that…