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Head and Neck Cancer

3 month post PET inconclusive / biopsy conclusive
For those of you who know my story, radiation and chemo treatments for Stage IV tonsil cancer ended on 7/15/16. My 3 month post treatment PET was performed on 10/14/16. The results showed a 4.6 SUV in an area where part of my tongue was removed. The docs could not conclusively determine whether this was radiated tissue or…
I hate to complain
But the fatigue is overwhelming at times. I'll be four months post radiation on the 12th, and thought by now the fatigue wouldn't be as bad. I do exercise (walk 3 miles) or go to the gym about 5 days per week to see if it would help. I get a bit of a burst of energy after exercising, and then the plunge into a suffocating…
Throat went south fast! Almost everything I try to eat burns ...
Overall still feeling good, but in the last 5 days, my throat has gone from tolerable with no meds, to needing some Advil, to the magic mouthwash, and now I tried my first meal with Oxy/MM, and almost everything still burns. The senstive spot is the very back of my throat which is hard to target with the MM. A little worse…
Insomnia
I am almost 2 months post surgery and I am having a very difficult time sleeping at night. I have prescription sleeping pills, they work but, I find myself waking up 30 minutes -1 hour later. I can be exhausted when I go to sleep. The same thing happens. Either wake up or have insomnia. Can anyone make a suggestion? i was…
Three months out - hoarse and pressure on windpipe
I'm my husband John's caretaker and haven't posted in awhile. He was diagnosed with HPV+ oropharyngeal cancer in May. Primary tumor in lingual tonsil at BOT and one lymph node on side of neck 4cm. He had 35 proton therapy sessions at Scripps with 7 concurrent cisplatin. No PEG. Lost 30 pounds. Has regained some appetite…
Question for olfactory neuroblastoma folks
Hi I would like to get a second opinion for my treatment of ONB and wondered the name of the doctor and the hospital that you were treated at. I called my health insurance company and they said they needed the name of the doctor to see if it would be covered. Also, do you seek a head and neck specialist or a neurosurgeon…
2 months post radiation return of major pain
Good evening everyone, My husband is 2 months post radiation. After his pain went away at about 3 weeks after treatment, he was totally pain free for 4 weeks, didn't even have to take a tylenol or advil. Last week, he started having major pain again, unlike treatment pain. This is near the surgery area. More muscular or…
Newbie
Hi everyone! I'm Shannon from the Tampa area. I was diagnosed with SCC, lateral tongue, on Wednesday. I haven't had scans or been staged yet. It is all so new. My consultation at Moffitt is Nov. 9th. Until then, I am trying to read as much as I can. I have a fabulous support system. My boyfriend and Mom are going to be…
What can I expect this time?
Some of you know my story. I am really worried about second round rads with chemo. Especially when I will be alone in a hotel for a number of weeks. I had rads over the summer without chemo and it was pretty debilitating. Can I do this alone? I know the answer is subjective but I want to know what to expect.
New to site vocal cord cancer and partial laryngectomy Help
New to site Have many questions Help My husband was diagnosed 8 yrs ago with left vocal cord cancer he had 8 weeks of Radiation and 6 weeks of Chemo. He faithfully followe up with his ENT all of those years and was considered cured. About a year ago his voice start going out on him we thought it might be his job he's…
WILL I EVER EAT AGAIN????
I have been reading so much on this wonderful website. I have been out of 8 weeks of radiation and 3 sessions of chemo for about 1 and 1/2 months now. I am so impatient and want to eat real food again. Does it really take a long time? I was treated for naso-phar. cancer. Right now I am living off of Ensure,water, and just…
Drinks that help with dry mouth (xerostomia)
I'm wondering if it would be useful to create a list of drinks that those of us with Xerostomia have found helpful? It becomes quickly and disappointingly clear that water is next to useless! Artificial saliva isn't great and I found Pilocarpine made me quite unwell. So what has helped you? Here is my list, so far. I know…
Squamous Cell Carcinoma as Secondary Cacer. Unknown Primary
Hi , I'm a 62y/o Aussie male .Retired Hotel Publican & Head chef. Married for 35 years. Retired for 8 years . Spent 6 travelling around OZ in our 28' caravan. I have been diagnosed, with SCC. of the Lymph Nodes on the left side of my neck.Ultrasound FNA was done. CT with contrast of head and neck . To conferm the SCC. But…
Cancer in throat that has spread to glands in the neck.
Dear Sir, I need your kind help regarding my father cancer. He has a Cancer in throat that has spread to glands in the neck. Which treatment would be better for my father? Cyberknife treatment? or VMAT? or chemoradiation? "Hydrogen Peroxide Cancer Treatment, nitrogen flush" "transoral laser microsurgery" ? Thank you very…
By the time this year is out...
I would have endured... 5 biopsies 2 surgeries 4 CT scans 4 PET scans 2 MRIs All this for a stage 1 tumor on my tongue. Does this seem excessive?
NPC Tongue Paralysis
Hello everybody!! I was just wondering if anyone has had tongue paralisys post NPC treatment? And if yes, is there anything that can be done? I am almost 5 years post NPC treatment and last February the left side of my tongue paralyzed and now it is the right side. Also have vocal cord paralysis (mostly left sided), dry…
Help !!! Recommendation needed for Radiation Oncologist in NJ
I need reviews for Dr Shupack in memorial Sloan in Basking Ridge facility. Or recommendation for the best radiation oncologist in NJ. My 42 yr old non smoker husband is diagnosed with stage 1 vocal cord cancer and dr shupack at MSK is suggesting 6 weeks radiation. We are also awaiting CT scan to finalize the stage. I…
Newly Diagnosed: Squamous Cell Carcinoma (Level 4) - Tonsil suspected
Last Thursday, my doctor called with the biopsy results of the curious "swelling" found on the right side of my neck . . . squamous cell carcinoma. CT Scan showed that 3 lymph nodes on that side of neck have become enlarged. This was tough because I originally thought I had mono or a viral infection. It was awful weird to…
Boyfriend with vocal cord cancer
Hi everyone: I'm new to this site and just looking for some advice. My boyfriend was diagnosed with vocal cord cancer 3 months after we met. He went for 6 weeks of radiation and at his 2 month follow up after the radiation, the tumor looked exactly the same. Next was surgery, he had a partial laryngectomy in June, terrible…
I think something is wrong
I guess once you are told that you have cancer, you can never feel "safe" again. At least that's the way I look at it. At my last follow-up (7 months post surgery for tongue tumor removal) I pointed out something I felt on the roof of my mouth. It's kind of a rough patch. That's when he made the comment about smoking that…
Doctor did not let me do my Erbiux today, cause neutropenia was 0.84 (840)
Hello after they took my bloodtest the NP came to me and told me I cannot do my Eritux treament today, cause my neutropenia was 0.84 (840) which is less than 1 (1000). I asked her to message the doc. and she was nice enough to do it and got another nope from tthe doc. explaining that I will pose myself to having serious…
Dry Mouth Relief
I'm new to this site but wanted to share with all of those who suffer with dry mouth as a result of radiation that there is a wonderful product (over-the-counter) called ORALBALANCE, by Biotene. They have a web site at www.laclede.com where you can get free samples of their products. Click on "click to enter" and then on…
Update on New Treament
Good morning all, Got back from ProCure Proton Therapy in NJ yesterday. Beautiful facility with super nice people. New doctor is prescribing chemo along with the radiation. This place is 100 miles from home so I've decided to stay in a local hotel for convenience. I have to admit, I'm a bit nervous this time for the…
Neck swelling/ Difficulty breathing after radiation.
Hello. My name is Violet and im here for my dad ..im so sorry to be here:/ My dad is 61 and recently ( 8 weeks ago) completed 60gy/8 weeks of radiation/, and his epiglottis was removed due to SCC. He did not receive chemo. His neck started to swell 2 weeks ago, but by midday the swellig was always gone.The docs said its…
Best Radiation Oncologists in NJ/NYC area?
Hello, My dad is getting ready for the next step in this journey, which will be radiation. We wanted to see if anyone had any recommendations of top radiation oncologists for oral cancer/head and neck cancer in the NJ/NYC area. He will need radiation to the base of his tongue as well as his neck where he had a modified…
Pneumonia up-date 10-26-16
Just got back from Honduras last week and down with Pneumonia this week, man that sucks. But I started feeling bad the last few weeks down there, it is not because of the weather or anything but because not being able to swallow the mucus, so it goes right in to the lungs. I don’t know if any of you remember Denny but…
Magic Mouth Wash
Hey, I just learned our insurance will not cover Magic Mouthwash. Did anyone else have this issue? We have United Healthcare.
Balance problems and radiation
so far I've had 3 rad treatments on my head near my ear. Yesterday I have started having problems with balance. I am going to ask the rad techs and my onc. Has anyone had similar trouble? i had a cancerous tumor of the perotid gland, the balance issues that I had related to the cancer were almost gone. I believe that the…
Alcohol
Today was my husband's last radiation. When he asked the doc when he could have a glass of sparkling wine to celebrate rad oncologist said 'when hell freezes over'. Is that a joke? I mean once his sores are healed? He's just a light drinker but does enjoy a beer on occasion. What are y'all's experiences with this topic? On…
Still tired after 14 mounts
It has been 14 months after radition and some days still very tired,Monday rode 18 miles on bike ,ok, Tuesday walked 2.5 miles 100% spent. I just got my blood work bqck, everything normal. I don't understand ,if blood work is ok , why still tired? Thanks for any insight.

Head and Neck Cancer

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