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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Magic Mouth Wash
Hey, I just learned our insurance will not cover Magic Mouthwash. Did anyone else have this issue? We have United Healthcare.
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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…
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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…
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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.
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Has anyone heard or tried "thunder god vine"
This is a plant that is grown in China. It has been used there since 1975 to treat cancer and other ailments. Even though I am doing radiation & Chemo it will not hurt to take this along with it. Please let me know if you have tried it and any effects on H&N cancer. Thanks Mehrdad
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Surgery after radiation
I finished my radiation treatments about five years ago and have been dealing with the side effects just fine; however, a months ago the lump in my neck began growing back. Because of where the lump is, it is causing me alot of pain. I will be going in soon for a biopsy of the lump to ensure it is benign, but my doctor is…
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At MDA FOR MY FIRST 3 Month checkup!
Lots of tests scheduled from today through Thursday. Hoping I get good news.
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New and seeking advice
I was recently diagnosed with cancer this summer for the first time. It is localized in my neck and was told it originated on the back right side of tongue. A few weeks ago I had surgery and they removed 16 lymph nodes on the right side of my neck. Going into surgery I was told I will have lots of pain when I come out.…
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positive PET scan but negative MRI--TWICE
Following surgery and radiation for throat cancer, I had a PET with a bright spot (4.6 SUV) but the MRI did not pick up any mass. Now, 4 months later, the PET is showing the bright spot at 6.1 SUV but the MRI still shows nothing. What is going on? What should my plan be to find out if this is a cancer spot? The spot is…
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What type of surgeon should do the biopsy?
My husband recently had an aspiration of his lymph nodes on the left side if his neck. The pathology report came back with carcinoma. A biopsy of the back tongue and sinus area etc needs to be performed. The surgical oncologist that was recommended has great qualifications but only 1 -1/2 years experience. A general…
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Tooth Issue Bone & Gum Pocket
I'm looking for some advice and wonder if anyone can help? I am 2 years post treatment. Prior to treatment, I was advised to have a wisdom tooth removed on the radiation side which I did. About a month ago, my dentist advised me that I needed a crown on the last, back molar just in front of where I had the wisdom tooth…
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1st PET Scan Post Treatment - not NED
Well, 75 days post treatment and my first PET scan shows activity in a lymph node on the opposite side of my neck, where I had my first surgery to remove a cancerous node. I also have Sarcoidosis. Doc says it's possible to be related to that. Either way, a biopsy tomorrow is in order. If it's cancer, back under the knife…
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Hyperbaric treatments and insurance
Hi all, On recommendation from my dentist and treatment team I had all my teeth extracted back in February before commencing treatment. I am now almost six months out of treatment and doing well. My new normal is not here yet, taste buds are still out of wack, dry mouth is still almost 100% and the no teeth thing is…
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Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment
I started on a new journey today. I need to have two molars removed on my lower right. My doctor recommened 20 sessions before teeth extraction and 10 sessions after. There should be no gap between day 20 of treatment and teeth extraction and session number 21. Even though my radiation was completed in December 2003, I had…
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ROLLCALL 2016 - UPDATED SEPTEMBER 18, 2016 CLOSED
ROLL CALL 2016 Updated September 18, 2016 All H&N members are welcome! Roll Call is dedicated to the memory of HAWVET (JOHNNY) who’s curiosity to know and to share a little bit about members of the Head and Neck Form inspired him to start and run this thread (2008 thru 2014). Thank You. First off, please feel free to…
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Chronic Headache Post NPC treatment
Hi CSN, Has anyone experience chronic daily headaches after treatment? It's NOT painful that I need meds. Just slight/mild pain one of side of my head (temple). The strange ting is I've never had this before. It started occuring about 3 weeks ago. My last scan was before the headaches started, it was NED then. I'm about 12…
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Calories and body temperature
My husband is one week post treatment (35 rads and 6 chemo's/cisplatin). He is doing about 2000-2500 calories of VHC Boost a day but continues to lose weight. How many calories did any of you need to consume to maintain weight. He isn't feeling any relief yet and also spikes fevers then they come back down. He presented…
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3.5 years and counting...
Fellow warriors, its been awhile as the days and months roll by and I get caught up in my kids activities and the seeming normal activities of life. Then you look at the calendar and realize another milestone is upon you on this never ending journey. Not really brought about by another scan, another doctors visit or…
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First rad appoint next Tuesday
In late May I was diagnosed with squamous cell cancer below my left eat behind jaw bone. I've had 2 surgeries one for tumor removal the second to repair tissue damage. My shoulder and chest still hurt from the tissue grafts. I have an ear wick in my left ear to prevent the ear canal from closing up. Pain is an everyday…
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Still not eating enough 6 months post last treatment
My husband had last radiation/chemo in April and an adjuvant chemo in July for nasopharyngeal cancer. He still is struggling eating. Eats very small amounts maybe twice a day and relying on shakes made of protein, Boost Plus and ice cream twice a day and plain Boost Plus once a day. He still has peg in but not using as…
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Going down that road again
Just got my stitches out after a second neck dissection nearly 2 weeks ago. Cancer was contained to the one lymph node that lit up the PET scan. Doc says radiation, this time with chemo, may be recommended by the board. I know how tough rads are. But how much more difficult are they with chemo? I will most likely have…
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What did you use for the skin and neck burn during radiation?
Any suggestions of what did and did not work? Thanks, Margi Greene St. Charles, MO
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Fluoride trays & gel
Hi all. I was using colgate gel Kam but it stained my teeth very badly, so now I need some ideas for a non staining gel. Has anyone tried the Ionite gel? my dentist said it's non staining.
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Transfer of care to MDA
Hi, has anyone who is in remission (surveillance) time and tried to transfer care to MDA? I also had a few second opinions I wanted to get on the imaging and surveillance. So far I have been so far, unsuccessful. i'm not sure why. Have done a number of phone calls, many emails, etc - they don't seem to want to accept me.…
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First scan on clinical trial
I had HPV+ SCC in my left tonsil and soft palate in 2012 and got the all clear after chemo-radiation. In 2015, they found a mass in my right lung. I went through chemo-radiation again. They weren't sure if it was a new primary lung cancer or a metastasis of the head and neck cancer--especially since it was HPV+ SCC again.…