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Head and Neck Cancer

Cisplatin and 5FU as preventive doses
After going through all the radiation treatments and 3 chemo treatments the tumor was gone. My husband who is 69 years old and had been in good health until now was just starting to get back to himself after what the doctors called "a traumatic course" that included complications of acute kidney failure and depression. He…
My radiation recovery - 1 month
Well, I'm happy to report it's been a whole month and 2 days since I completed treatment. It's gone quick but it hasn't been easy. The first 3 weeks were pretty tough. Vomiting issues due to mucositis and those Boost/Ensure shakes I was drinking to maintain my weight. I've lost maybe 5 lbs and still look and feel the same.…
FOUR YEARS GONE BY
July 30 marks exactly 4 years since my last radiation treatment and I’m cancer free. I decided to mark the day by doing three things. I went for a century bicycle ride (100 miles) just to remind myself that I’m 100% back to doing everything that I used to do prior to treatment. I updated my profile which now shares more of…
6 month NED
Fellow warriors, Good news today. My 6 month CT scan came back NED. Whew, 3 more months down. So relieved. Feeling good, back to recovery mode. Good luck to all those in the middle of it....you will soon be on the other end. I am very thankful today. Cheers, Tony
NED Times 3
Received Fantastic news today. Need to start at the beginning. The PET scan done at the end of January showed Lt tonsil/base of tongue w/ few flickers in Rt upper lung. 2 1/2 months out from HN SCC HPV+ treatment I starting to improve except for burning pain at the back and right side of tongue when eating. Went to my ENT…
biopsy
hello to all i am a little confused , maybe you can help i have been told i have SCC . i have a lump at BOT 3.2 x 3.5 , the pain can get intense , after 2 biopsies nothing found, next was a FNA of lymph nodes in the neck . still nothing . i am scheduled for another biopsy this week , i started seeing a ENT 2 i/2 months ago…
Glutamine Powder
Is this safe to take with Chemo. I have read many things interfer with Chemo and I just want to make sure. Also, does anybody know if the throat care teas are safe to dring during chemo. Thanks, again for for all the advice.
Countdown
I'm preparing for my treatments. They begin Wednesday for the next seven weeks. Radiation and weekly cisplatan. So far I have: Anti-nausea med Prochlorper (?) Comfy loose clothes Lorazepam for comfortable mask time Spray bottle (Thanks Estelle!) Cases of Ensure Complete Sign on kitchen wall stating "EAT TO LIVE" Eucalyptus…
Radiation aftereffects
I began Radiation Oncology during the summer of 2008 and was instructed to cover up from the sun. On my exit interview that aspect was missed due to more major considerations such as if my taste, salivary glands or hair would return. Years later I avoided the sun but this week I began cryogenic treatment for Actinic…
Waiting on the recovery
I am awaiting my recovery phase. I just rang my rad bell this past Wednesday and my chemo bell on the 21st of July. Lately, I get so down about not drinking enough to keep my swallow functioning. I struggle with this nasty mucous every time I drink something. It's like fighting an invisible force and I end up coughing or…
Headed into Week 6
I'm headed into week 6 of treatments today and things have definitely taken a turn for the more difficult. The skin on my neck looks awful - dark brownish red in spots and starting to peel. Very sensitive to the touch. I had a lot of throat pain with swallowing yesterday, but managed to get some relief with extra strength…
Anyone know about Vero, the latest for radiation?
The reason why I am looking into the Vero machine, is that it is touted to reduce the treatment time, and also the damage to surrounding tissue. I guess it might be considered the newest thing, more so than the Proton Therapy. So far, there are not many machines. It looks like a university hospital in Texas has one machine…
Had surgery June 30, no path report yet; worried about a few things
I apologize in advance for this long post. It was hard to sit down and put my thoughts together. I am 17 days post-op, after going out-of state to JH in Baltimore. It looks like I am healing pretty well from the surgery itself, but nervous about a few things and anxious about what's to come. Some background: The biopsy I…
No pictures again! Climb that mountain
I had wanted to post a picture but that feature doesn't seem to be working again :( So you will have to imagine the picture. I just wanted to write and let those who are currently battling head and neck cancer that better days lie ahead. A year ago we were just finishing up chemoradiation and fighting through weight loss,…
Chemotherapy
My friend is undergoing chemotherapy for the past 6 months as he is suffering from cancer. Repeated chemotherapy has weakened his immune system. It has damaged his salivary glands and has caused a dry mouth. Now, he is suffering from tooth decay and infection. We consulted a dentist at Toronto (…
NED - 3 years
Haven't seen a NED report lately so figured I'd post one. It is always be reminded that many do get past the ordeal and return to living life as fully as before. Nobody forgets the support offered here and the family on the forum, dropping in occasionally but the absense of most is good sign that daily life is as full and…
Cisplatin plus Abraxane-Clinical Trail
Finally some answers! At this time there will be no surgery. Because the cancer is Squamous Cell Carcinoma – P16 it was determined by the team of Drs. yesterday that my husband will be treated with chemo and radiation. There has been a trial of a specific chemo drug called Abraxane which is already approved for other…
End of week 5 , still alive
Hi everyone, Shirley here reporting at the end of week 5. Still on solids although awoke with the worst sore throat to date. Nausea still. Vomiting here and there. My neck muscles are so stiff. Skin starting to bleed behind ear ,was prescribed silver cream stuff for it. 5 tx to go then probably 2 more weeks of agony before…
When did your fatigue subside?
I'm less than 1 week post rads and the fatigue is hitting me hard. I can't stay active more than 2 or 3 hours before lying down. How long can I expect this to last?
Dry mouth support group
I suffer from no saliva thanks to radiation I have started an online support group for people with this problem. Have a dry mouth is so hard....... here is the link https://www.facebook.com/groups/1024253284332042/?ref=bookmarks
Neck Pain
I'm 4 years cancer free. After surviving a stage four diagnosis and some aggressive treatments I'm disabled and a mere shadow of my former self in more ways than one. I have no more muscle mass. I'm only 5'8 but I lost over a hundred pounds during and after treatment. I'm still more than 50 pounds lighter than I was BC.…
PROTON THERAPY???
Having been recently diagnosed with SCCHN, I contacted one of the proton therapy centers here in town. All I had read said that SCCHN was one of the types which is successfully treated with proton. The response I received was that I am not a candidate because they have no protocol for tonsil cancer. Has anyone out there…
Caregiver stressed to the max
My husband was diagnosed with nasopharygeal cancer in February. Been through 6 weeks of radiation and 3 doses of cisplatin 3 weeks apart. He became depressed in March but didn't get help. Kept telling doctor he was okay. Made it through all treatments without peg and only 16 lb weight loss. Very last day of radiation found…
Done ... But far from over!
Been a few weeks since I have posted to this board. Last few weeks have been a little rough. I had my last Cisplatin dosage on 7/7/16 and it nailed me. The day after that dosage, it became very difficult for me to swallow effectively as the mucous seemed to have tripled in my entire oral cavity. My last radiation (# 33)…
Fourth week done
Well, I'm heading into the home stretch. Officially have fewer rads left what's behind me and that bell is getting closer and bigger. Finished up round two of Cisplatin this week and it's knocked me on my butt. Really not looking forward to that third and final treatment when my reserves are even less stable. All I've been…
anxiety over scan
Boy I have felt like a champ mentally and have already had one 3 month NED scan, but I am feeling the anxiety of having my 6 month scan on Monday. I guess that is all part of the fun.
PEG timing
At what point did you get your PEG? My husband only has 9 treatments left. He stated yesterday that maybe he should get a PEG because it is so hard to eat. He did great with just EnsuRe today. How long after radiation is over before you can eat again?
End of week four , please no more
Shirley here reporting at the end of week four. More of the same side effects, nausea mouth pain throat pain and narrowing. Still eating solids. Lost appetite though. The smell of the hospital makes me sick. Water taste weird. I'm tired but will try to hold on. The worst is yet to come week 5 and 6 here I come. Congrats to…
First food you could eat after treatments
I'm still on shakes and can't imagine what would work at this point. Do you remember the first food that worked for you post treatment?
Flavored water?
Headed into week four of rads and chemo and water tastes pretty salty. Did anyone have any success with flavoring their water to taste better? I'm thinking fruit, but seems unlikely I could taste the difference. I find if I drink cold water it tastes better, but I carry around my water all day and it tends to get down to…

Head and Neck Cancer

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