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Head and Neck Cancer

Swallowing and eating after radiation
Hi everyone, My fiance was diagnosed with head and neck cancer in June. He started chemotherapy and radiation treatment in July. We're in our early twenties and this has been a scary journey for both of us. Everyone we have talked to who have gone through this said chemotherapy is the worst but unfortunately that has not…
Extreme negativity
So were beginning week 5 of sn 8 week treatment if 3 Cisplation and 40 rads. My bf had such a large tumor before detection on 12/15 that it blocked airway fir breathing and swalliwing so he had emergency trach and feeding tube. He had just started new job so not eligible for STD or FMLA, so im soke breadwinner. I have set…
Bell's Palsy symptoms after surgery, biopsy
Hello all - Has anyone had Bell's Palsy symptoms after any surgery or biopsy? I had a biopsy done a few wks ago and I believe swelling or other? may have caused the symptoms that I am experiencing - numbness on the one side - mouth, chewing, spitting, eyelid won't close on own, very sore, dry eyes. Gave me 10 days…
PEG tube question
Planning on having my PEG tube removed in a few weeks. How long does it take for the stoma to close up? Can food leak out of the unhealed stomach hole before it heals? I am diabetic and slow to heal so a little scary to me.
Enlarge lymph nodes
I completed radio and chemotheraphy in Jan 2014 due to NPC (T1N2M0). My oncology doctor asked me to do MRI scan for head and neck in last Oct because of mild numbness at my left facial. The scan was clear. However, I found one small enlarge lymph nodes (~ 5 mm dia) above adam's apple/midline of hyoid bond 2 weeks ago. The…
Two week post treatment encouragement
I hope this encourages some of you that are just getting diagnosed, started with treatment, or in the midst. My husband is two weeks post treatment for SCC tonsil, HPV+ Stage IV cancer. He had a neck dissection and tonsillectomy followed by seven weeks of radiation and seven Cisplatin treatments. He is in his early…
16 yr old son going through tx for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma
Hi. My 16yr old son is going through tx for NPC, He is finishing up his 3rd round of 5day chemo tx (Cisplatin and 5FU). After this, he will start a combination of radiation and chemo. Can anyone here relate? Want to know what kind of side effects we will be facing. Thanks
taking a long time
6 months post radiation for neck tumor. Still no saliva,no taste and dry mouth. Getting 2 cal protein feedings in my peg tube 4 per day. Trying to eat some solids but food causes nausea. Chemo has caused a painful gait when trying to walk. Any encouragement from others with same situation? I am patient but there is a…
Skin rash 4 years out
Hi. I'm about 4 years out and have been having a recurring rash for 3.5 years.. I finally figured out what it is from help from friends. Eosiniphilic folicullits..any one else?
Submandibular swelling after surgery
Hi all - first post here, I'm a 50-year-old dad who was diagnosed with base of tongue cancer last year, had laser surgery and a neck dissection, luckily it had only spread to one lymph node (and then just barely). I just finished my third week of follow-up radiaiton therapy; three weeks to go. I wondered if anyone else who…
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma or anything close??
Hi Everyone My Name is Karissa i was 13 years old when i was diagnosed with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma and now i am 18 i have been cancer free for almost five years (five years will be 1/19 i think)i have been feeling angry because of all cancer took form me and i was just wondering if any1 else out there felt like this or…
Tongue Question
noticed something new about my tongue in the last couple of days and thought I’d run it by you folks and see if anyone has experienced something similar. i am ten months out of treatment for base of tongue SCC, 35 rads and 6 Cisplatin treatments. Lately my tongue has what looks like tiny little cuts or bloodied scrapes on…
Who has had reccurence on vocal cords?
Hey everyone, I've been doing some reading online (credible medical sources!) but I know it's better to hear from you all. In June I had a biopsy of growths on my vocal cords and at the time the doctor also used the laser to remove some of the growths on the one side. Once it came back that it was cancerous (early stage),…
Lung Nodules on PET Scan
I have been reading these blogs since I was diagnosed with NPC stage III (t3N2) in Feb. But this is the first time I am posting on this forum. Your stories have greatly helped me cope with the stress and harshness of the treatment. So I want to thank each one of you for sharing your experience. I finished all the…
Seeking Info on Sinus Area Radiation only--not including neck radiation
Has anyone undergone IMRT radiation therapy specifically in the sinus areas where your radiation therapy did not include the neck? I am considering IMRT therapy for my Esthesioneuroblastoma situation in left maxillary sinus area. I am hoping to hear how your experience went with short and long term side effects. Did you…
Happy to join the clear PET scan parade!
My husband was diagnosed with SSC BOT HPV+ stage 4 last summer. He started treatment (35 radiation & 6 Cetuximab) on October 4 & finished on November 21. On Wednesday his PET scan came back clear!!! Now we’re focusing on getting over the lymphedema that appeared on Monday. Thanks to everyone for your wise advice and kind…
Text Results and Pain - Not sure best direction
Hello - I hope someone has some idea. Currently, I have carcinoid with lymph node and liver mets diagnosed in 2009 -- very very slow progression on the last FDopa in 2016. The last two years on and off my lower jaw hurts terrible and usually comes with night sweats, underarm pain, naseau, but it goes away. I had a regular…
PET SCAN is C L E A R!!! Cancer went BYE BYE!
Hi! Just wanted to update y'all and let you know that my husband's cancer went BYE-BYE! Clean PET Scan this past Monday (13 weeks post treatment)!!! For those that don't know, he was diagnosed in September 2017 with HPV+ Base of Tongue SCC. Stage IV T2N2M0. His only symptom of a problem was a swollen lymph node in his neck…
Conflicting Information
Hello all. I'm glad to be here. As you can see from my moniker, I am the support person for one facing SCC, which was discovered when calling attention to a swollen lymph node at his long overdue yearly checkup on 5/5. I find myself highly suspicious as he faces the decision as to which treatment to choose because of…
Creams for Radiation burns on face, how did you manage the pain?
How did you cope and manage the radiation burns to your face and neck? The burns on my face and neck are, very red, itchy, flaking, swollen, raw and downright painful that I don’t sleep. When I put creams on the skin within a few hours they form scaly flaking clumps that are hard to remove when washing my face. * Over the…
2nd tongue cans & reconstruction
Feb 10, 2018 - 9:51 am Good morning My 81 year old mother had tongue cancer in 2001 with surgery and radiation. The radiation that saved her then caused a new cancer in her left side of her tongue. She used to be a smoker. I myself just finished treatment (radiation and chemo )in April 2017 for anal cancer. My mother is…
tongue cancer
Hello, I am new here and just received a diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma of the oral tongue. It is underneath my tongue on the left side and the pathology report said it is superficially invasive. It is a T1N0 as my ct scan of my neck was normal. My ENT says that nothing more needs to be done except a wait and watch…
Read the PET results online
Mostly sounds good as far as the neck cancer if I am reading it right but have a few other concerns until I see the doctor next week. "There is dependent airspace disease in the lungs consistent with dependent atelectasis." This sounds like it may or may not be a problem according to Dr Google. "On the PET data set there…
Family member newly Dx-ed
With throat cancer. Still very early in the gathering of information stage, and he and his wife aren't ready to share a whole lot at this point, which I understand. Tomorrow is meeting with RO, and MO, next week surgeon. Don't know for sure exactly what kind of cancer. His symptom was a large lump (Dr who first examed him…
After Treatment
I am 8 weeks post treatment HPV stage 4 base of the tongue and 4 lymph nodes 3 left side neck 1 right side. 42 radiation treatments, 6 cisplatin over a 6 week period. I did well with treatment losing 10 lbs and no severe burns. As expected, I lost saliva glands and the hair from my beard and neck. I also have the…
Nasal pharyngeal carcinoma in adolescent males
I am the parent of a 16 year old boy who has just been diagnosed with this type of cancer. Apparently it’s rare in this country for adults, but it’s extremely rare for kids. My son begins his first round of chemo next week with a 6 day hospital stay. This a child who has never been hospitalized until last week. So needless…
Stage 1 larynx cancer on right vocal cord progress. Not Happy
Hello All: Just joined this board tonight because I liked what I was reading about the same problems that I am experiencing after 42 radiation treatments for cancer on right vocal cord. I was diagnosed with cancer on Dec.6 2016, and two biopsys were performed via laryngoscopy. 1st one was inconclusive, second one was…
Scared and waiting please help
Hello, My name is Shane. I'm 30 and literally terrified on a daily basis. I'm literally always finding something wrong with myself and after a quick Google, headed to the doctor thinking the worst. ...this time is a bit different. I've been having this odd feeling every time I swallow, like something is in my throat.…
Vocal cords not vibrating, 5+ months post-treatment
I had my 29th radiation treatment on August 18th so it's been 5 months since the end of treatment. I had a hoarse voice before I started and I still haven't gotten my full voice back. My ENT and radiation oncologist both said my voice would be better after radiation; I was expecting for my voice to be at about 80%. I would…
neck cancer Acupuncture
I have read about using acupuncture treatment to help restore the saliva glandsafter radiation .Does anyone know a great accupuncturist in Los Angeles preferably in the Santa Monica area who can treat this condition. Thank you!

Head and Neck Cancer

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