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Head and Neck Cancer

Return of the turkey neck
Food Tips in Recovery
Hi There So last week I had my clearance PET scan, but it was inconclusive. Apparently my inner mouth & throat have suffered such a profound insult that they still haven't healed up (still, after 3 months, thick with mucus). The scan couldn't differentiate between damage, inflammation and cancer, so I have to re-scan in 2…
PET Tomorrow
So tomorrow I have my three month post treatment PET scan. This has been in the back of my mind for several weeks and now, here we are. I won't get the results until one week later, even though I was given the option of calling in for the results two days later, I want to be there in person. Hoping and praying for NED, but…
Tongue Physical Therapy - tongue muscles not responding
Hi, I had surgery on the left side of my neck to remove 39 lymph nodes, my submandibular gland, 2/3 of the SCM muscle, and a melanoma tumor (former lymph node wrapped around SCM). That was in early February. Following the surgery I had physical therapy for shoulder issues (extreme muscle tightness, so much so that my arm…
constipation
This morning I was still suffering from pain in my rectum as well as bleeding. I got online to search for something to apply externally. Found something called Anorectal Cream with Lidocaine. Also bought some medicated wipes at Walgreens. The cream is expensive at $24 for a small tube but well worth it. My pain now is…
Just diagnosed - No idea what to expect
So... I found a lump on my neck in March. I'm male, in my mid 40's, in good physical health, don't drink nor smoke. I had just recently had a minor surgergy to my chin and my primary care physican and myself figured the swollen lymph-node was simply a reaction to the minor surgery. After a couple of rounds of steroids,…
Cancer Owl
Good morning all, If you are unaware of this blog, I highly recommend it. The owner is a colorectal survivor who created a cancer owl cartoon about his cancer experience. It's very funny and informative and right up the alley of all who take this journey. Enjoy it and please make it metasticize (see what I did there?).…
Three Month PET, NED!
Had my three month post treatment PET this morning and was shocked when a Doctor on my team called and told me she had a chance to review my scan. I wasn't anticipating results until next Monday during an appointment I had scheduled. Doc said she didn't want me worrying through the holiday unnecessarily. Doc excitedly told…
Gagging reflex
Hi all, I'm only one week into treatment and am having some issues with my gagging reflex. When healthy it's normally really sensitive anyway; just last night it was triggered by me trying to brush my tongue because my tongue feels gross. I already feel the swelling in tonsil/back of throat area but not sure how to avoid…
Treatment completed heading home
That’s me done finished heading home in the morning. 3 lots of Cisplatin and 35 IMRT Rads done, I’m not sure if this sounds strange but the time has flown by. Thanks for the information on here easing my journey. Andy
Dysautonomia
Sitting here in Jim's hospital room as he begins to fall asleep. We've been here 3 days. With symptoms including dizziness, wildly erratic blood pressure, tachycardia, night sweats and fever of unknown origin the diagnosis, after many tests, is dysautonomia. The doctors suspect this may be a late effect of his cisplatin…
Scared Wife - Tonsil and tongue
My husband received the results from his CT scan from the oral surgeon yesterday showing a 3-5cm tumor in his right tonsil and part of the tongue. He is 41 years old. He had difficulty opening his mouth which we attributed to TMJ. Turns out the tumor was growing into the muscle causing his jaw not to work properly.…
First time posting!
Hi all, just wanted to say I've recentry started my 7 week treatment plan - 7 weeks radiation plus three cycles of cysplatin....one infusion given and it's not pleasant! Fatigue, headache, nausea, ringing in ears....seems to be typical side effects? Throat starting to feel a little "thick" from the radiation already but no…
Just started treatment - NEED ADVICE
My husband was diagnosed a year ago with unknown primary SCC. He waited until about 6 weeks ago to do another exploritory surgery for the primary. FOUND IT at the base of the tongue!! They were able to remove it with clear margines. He is taking weekly cesplatin and daily rad for 6 weeks. First dose of chemo was on Monday…
Alternative Treatment
Hello. I was diagnosed with Esthesioneuroblastoma (skull base cancer) I was wondering if anyone here has done alternative treatments at all?
Esthesioneuroblastoma
Has anyone been to a good ENT or neurosurgeon in Southern California that treated you?
Radiation Therapy Begins
I'm keeping a blog of my cancer treatment. If interested, here is the link. http://mythroatcancerdiary.blogspot.com/2017/06/second-radiation-treatment-today.html
Can your pets tell that you are sick?
I think my little black Chiwawa knows I am sick. She wont leave my side lately. Follows me everywhere, even sits at the bathroom door whining till I come out. She trys to sniff around my head sometimes and whines also. Her behavior was not like this until I got sick. I have heard that dogs can smell cancer, I wonder if it…
Ding, ding, ding!
My husband just rang the bell! 7 chemos and 36 rads. Here's to healing! :-). (I posted the video on Facebook)
One down - 34 to go
One down, 34 to go. I was very surprised when then told me it was over. I was expecting for it to last longer. For what I have read, the treatments last about 15 minutes. I was done in 10. Just when I was beginning to relax it was over. Not sure if all my treatments will last that long but I sure hope they do. Still had…
Lotion for intense itching due to Erbitux
My Dad is going into his fourth week of immunotherapy (Erbitux) & 3rd week of radiation and has broken out in a TERRIBLE acne like rash.(likely due to the Erbitux). We were informed this rash would likely happen. But what they failed to mention is that it itches like crazy! He said he feels like he has about 60 mosquito…
Done!
Today was my final radiation treatment. In total... 6 chemo and 30 rads - thank the good lord it's over. Now on to recovery. I'll be extremely happy when this mucusitis goes away. I'm tired of puking-up bile in the morning while clearing my airway. Good luck to all. There is an end to all this pain and suffering. Here's to…
eating problems
good morning, i am my husbands caregiver. he was diag. in sept. had rad & chemo in oct. surg. in dec. chemo & rad in feb. he has had his j-tube in since dec.10. and they are talking of removing it in april. he still cannot eat well. nothing wants to go down he has alot of phelm still coming up. he carries his spitty cup…
Advice please.
Having issues opening my mouth wide. Can only open 3 fingers wide. Is there something that can be done? I'm a soon to be 8 year survivor NPC Stage 3. Any advice will greatly appreciated.
How do I respond
When hubby announces that if his July PET scan shows there is still cancer, he will not seek further treatment? He says he's just now starting to feel human again and refuses to go back to the way he felt during radiation and chemotherapy. I wanted to cry and scream but instead decided there was urgent flower pit watering…
ELEKTA LINEAR ACCELERATOR
FIRST OF 35 RADIATION TREATMENTS SCHEDULED TO START TOMORROW Received a call from the Cancer Center. I was set up for a practice run-through and a Verification of measurements today at 3:30. I finally got to meet Elekta, the Linear Accelerator. When I entered the Mother Ship - LOL, there it was in all its glory. It is…
Advice please
Last week, monday, I was released on "surveillance" I get to see a Dr once a month. (YAY) Tuesday, I got a stomach bug thing, the kind where you are starving but you cant eat kinda thing. I thought, "its a 24 hr thing" so I've been ignoring it. except here we are the following monday, and I am nauseus as all hell, anti…
Any info on Stage IV base of tongue/lymph nodes and PROTON THERAPY?
Hello, My husband recently was diagnosed with base of tongue invasive squamous cell carcinoma. Traditional 7weeks of radiation and chemo have been recommended at this point. We have also reached out to the University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute and they are setting up a consult. The Oncologists recommending the…
Finish line in sight
Well. Here I am on my last week of treatment. I finished chemo last week and I have 4 rads to go this week. Its not been without many ups and downs. Almost to the point where I didn't think I had it in me to finish. I want to thank everyone that replied to my posts with words of encouragement. I don't think that I could…
Ear ringing from cisplatin
Greetings, My dad has nasopharyngeal cancer and is on cisplantin. He's been having really bad ear ringing that's not going away. I was wondering if anyone on this medication has experience that before and whether this is really permanent. Also, what can help relieve that (besides corticosteroids injections)? Thank you!

Head and Neck Cancer

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