The Cancer Survivors Network (CSN) is a peer support community for cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, families, and friends! CSN is a safe place to connect with others who share your interests and experiences.

Head and Neck Cancer

Hair shaved off
Hello, I am new as of today. I have had tongue cancer. My radiation and chemo was completed the end of october. I am recovering from the side effects including hair loss. I went and had my hair cut short but now my question is should I take it to the scalp look. Will this make my hair grow back thicker and faster? Also…
Xylimelts for dry mouth
Has anyone used these and if so do they help?
Final stretch tips? Encouragement?
Here we are on the seventh week of radiation with three treatments left. Seven cisplatin treatments have been completed! My husband was doing fairly well and we have somewhat successfully managed side effects as they have emerged. Today it was like the wonder twin powers of the acculumated chemo and radiation activated in…
Radiation treatment for Tonsil Cancer ,one side or both ?
Hello , I'm new to this board and have found very good info reading through everyones posts it''s wonderful to read the positive outcomes. I'm a caregiver for my husband who was diaganosed with Squamos cell cancer. It presented as a swollen lymph node right side of neck level 2 nodes. Pet Scan and Ct scan were not clear as…
Partial glossectomy
Hello everyone, I am new to this but I can use some advice. Two years ago my mom was diagnose with stage 2 floor of the mouth cancer. She underwent surgery in September of 2015 with a flap and neck resection around April or may she found out that the cancer had returned in stage 4. She then decides not to do surgery and…
lymphedema serendipity
I have been experimenting with ways to treat my jaw and neck lymphedema, and may have stumbled on to something. I have been sporadically applying various skin moisturizers to the area of my neck skin that got toasted by the radiation, and wearing a variety of heavy scarfs to keep my whole neck warm. I happened to have an…
tongue cancer
My dad just went through tongue cancer treatment where he lost 75% of his tongue. After surgery, he was given a radiation, but no chemo theraphy. He is not gaining weight. Any suggestions?
What happens if I have Fever during treatment
Hello all, On Thursday 10/20, before the did my chemo the took all the vitals, as they usually do. My temp on 11 tries was between 99.9 and 101.4, so the NP decided to to a fever work up, which included taking blood from both arms, a chest X-ray and an EKG. They did not find anything in X-ray or EKG, so they went ahead…
Thank you to all who post!
i posted for the first time this spring when I was frantically searching for a place I could read through other people’s experiences with H and N cancer. My husband was diagnosed with stage iv HPV + Tongue-based cancer on feb 17. He had robotic surgery one week after finding out he had cancer. He did 30 treatments of…
neck muscles still very tight
I'm starting to wonder if the muscles on the side of my neck will ever become soft and relax again? I did some PT and am currently having massages done once a week to try and relax the muscles so that they will stop doing spasms all day and night. I'm so sore from the muscles being tight it's driving me crazy. Has anyone…
Newly diagnosed
Hello everyone, i am just getting diagnosed with SCC in the supraglottic area right above my vocal chords. The ENT seems to think it’s a T1 and caught early,but he also said it was benign when he cut it out. The tumor is 1 cm and the lab report said it is well differentiated. I am 40 years old and have a wife and two small…
Intentions For 2011
After a very inspiring yoga class this afternoon, I began to think about my intentions for 2011... in some ways a little more strict than resolutions, but in some ways a little more relaxed! Instead of vowing to do something all year, and then giving up when you break a rule, I think of intentions more as something you can…
Newly diagnosed
I have just been diagnosed with acinic cell carcinoma of the left parotid gland. I first noticed the lump on the left side of my neck about 2.5 years ago and it has slowly been growing and is now 3-4cm in size. I had a doctor look at it in Jan 2017 and he put me on some steroids and said that should solve the problem. In…
Hypothyroidism
Hello Survivors! Dennis is slightly past one year from the end of his powerful chemo(s) and 35 radiations to his head and neck area. He has done darn well post treatment, but there are some bothersome residuals. The thyroid seems to be increasing each time he has blood work, but he has not hit the number where the…
Zofran vs Compazine
Any opinions on which works best for nausea on the 6th day following Chemo? Thanks!
Perineural Tumor
Does anyone have any knowledge of perineural tumor in the inferior alveolar nerve? Please share treatment options. Husband is 18 months post diagnosis of Stage 4a SCC with primary in buccal mucosa. Latest scans show concern in the nerve but no lymph nodes. I know every patient is different but was hoping to get a general…
Swallowing issues, Little or no saliva, extreme dry mouth
If you have little or NO SALIVA, dry mouth, or just a VERY HARD time swallowing, loss of soft pallet, this is for you. Buy frozen bags of OKRA. ($1.00 a bag at regular groc stores). I put 4 bags into a deep covered pan and cover the okra with water. I simmer it for 8-10 minutes to speed up the process. Then I turn off the…
New year, new me - American Ninja Warrior
Hi everyone. I am trying out for American Warrior. Wish me plenty of luck.
Father and Son
I was diagnosed August 2017 HPV HandN cancer, however, my father was diagnosed 5 years ago with the same thing. He was 72, still cancer free, I am 57, anyone ever heard of this before? The docs say it is nothing.
Anybody experience kidney stones after treatment???
So, my husband has had lower abdominal pain on and off for the past two days. It got so bad this morning that he went to ER. Long story short...CT Scan showed a 4mm kidney stone! He has never had kidney stones before so I am wondering if this could be related to the Erbitux? Or radiation? Or maybe the fact that he is sort…
Holidays and not eating depressing
I am about six weeks out and still basically only consuming liquids with the ocassional can of pureed Campbell's soup but beweteen the crappy winter weather and not being able to enjoy eating a good meal life is getting very depressing right now. Had to give up my annual FL Christmas vaction this year and the euphoria of…
2018
Happy New Years!!! Here’s to a year full of health and healing!!
vinegar
I finished chemo & radiation for tonsil carcinoma about six months ago, and I am trying to find out if I will ever be able to eat food (mostly sauces) that contain vinegar, without my mouth burning ?
Microcystic Adnexal Carcinoma???
I'm the wife/caretaker of a wonderful man who was diagnosed with carcinoma in his face on June 28, 2016. To make a long story short, after his surgery on August 1, 2016, the cancer was finally diagnosed as Microcystic Adnexal Carcinoma (MAC). His surgery involved a right orbital exenteration, partial maxilectomy, removal…
Heartburn 5 months post-treatment
I finished 35 rounds of radiation and 2 doses of Cisplatin on August 1st for HPV+ SSC tonsil cancer stage 4. A couple of days ago I started to experience constant heartburn symptoms. Has anyone else had this experience? I am scheduled for an MRI on January 14th and am thinking of asking my oncologist to include a scan of…
Sharp pain in ears when eating and drinking
This is my first post. Thanks for allowing me to join the group. I’m five weeks post treatment for BOT cancer. HPV+. I’m slowly beginning to eat and drink again but I get a stabbing pain in my ears whenever I take a bite or drink anything. I had my 30 day follow up with ENT yesterday. He said I was radiated and there was…
Love & Joy come to you~~~~~~~
To each and every one of you, Whether you're just starting on your journey, or, like me, are an oldtimer, I just want to say Merry Christmas and the very Best in 2018. I am starting on my 6th year of freedom from the beast, it was rough, as I know it is for you. But, it can be beaten, and you will, maybe not be the same,…
Old fashioned sick
I THINK I have one heck of a cold. Called one of my drs. yesterday and a nurse told me that my symptoms are from radiation (which ended months ago). Waked today with 101.4 trmp and a bad sore throat that feels very swollen, have slept most of the day and my nose runs and runs.Does anyone remember a time like this? I'm…
4 months out from treatment and side effects
I was diagnosed in March 2017, went through 7 weeks radiation and 3 cycles of cIsplatin and had my 3 month PET and all is clear. During treatment I worked and immediately after was in the office full time. I wasn't feeling well,but powered through and did what I could each day. It's now 4 months after last radiation and I…
Newbie Here
My husband was diagnosed with throat cancer the end of October. He wi start his 4th week of radiation and his 2nd chemo tomorrow. He has a lot of mouth pain but hasn’t started pain meds yet. We will ask for those tomorow. How much worse can I expect his pain to get over the next four weeks? And should I expect he’all need…

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The Cancer Survivors Network (CSN) is a peer support community for cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, families, and friends! CSN is a safe place to connect with others who share your interests and experiences.

Head and Neck Cancer

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