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Head and Neck Cancer

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…
D day for me - last radiation!!
I used to imagine what the last day would feel like. I also used to think it would never come. I read all about symptoms and other reactions to radiation and was a pack of nerves at first...then I let go of fear and took it a day at a time. The best advice I got from so many sweet and thoughtful people here. People who had…
getting started
HI everyone Hubby has been diagnosed with base of tongue cancer and I have avidly been reading this site, which is very helpful. I thought I would get started by getting started. We are now in the process of first oncology visits and the radiation oncologist tomorrow. I'm sure we will have many questions and/or thoughts…
getting started
Hi everyone! Hubby has recently been dx with base of tongue cancer and freely admits he is in denial, so I have become the designated reseacher and found this site, which i have been reading for several weeks. We are now at the first oncologist visit and meeting with the radiation oncologist tomorrow. I plan on using this…
Has anyone dealt with cancer in the gingiva (gums), upper back? What to expect?
I was wondering if anyone had cancer in the upper jaw, at or near the back molars? My surgeon extracted 3 molars and the canine tooth on the left side. Although I had surgery at the end of June, the post-op pathology report is not back, but he said that since there was some bone involvement, the tumor board would probably…
My radiation recovery - Week 1
I am officially 9 days post rad and here's my progress, thus far. Mouth sores - they are beginning to heal. Brushing my teeth is much easier the past few days. I've noticed I'm not looking to rinse as much as before. My mouth feels cleaner each day. Mucous - still there, but diminishing. Taking Mucinex to help move it…
Week 3 almost done (Monday)
Having a rough time with this last chemo. I am really annoyed and going to get in touch with the coordinator who we met at my first chemo and said if we had any problems to call him. I had chemo tues and was fine wed. Thurs I felt lousy. I threw up my protein drink and was so tired went back to bed. I woke up at…
Treatment far from home?
I live in Chicago suburbs, receiving treatment for recurrent SCC of the tongue. My tumor(s) have failed to respond to a Carboplatin/Abraxane regimen at the University of Chicago, and so far it looks as if my options there are palliative care or total glossectomy/reconstruction, neither with great survival rates. It's been…
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Jawbone Replacement due to disintegration of radiated jawbone
I have done tons of research on the best doctor and the best medical facility to have this procedure done. I have very strong opinions about this but hoping not to offend anyone would be willing to share them if there is interest. I was initially diagnosed with Stage 4 oral cancer of the tongue in 2002, I have had 5…
Week Three- Finis
Today is the end of week three. I am halfway through. I wish the next three didn't seem like an eternity away. I felt my worst so far going in for the zaps today. It was meet with the doc day and I burst into tears (which is always a good look). I told her of my throat, mouth and ear pain. She gave me some liquid morphine.…
My radiation recovery - Week 2
It's hard to believe I'm 16 days past my last treatment. My recovery seems to be going well, just slow as expected. But, I think I've turned the corner, at this point. I'm staying on liquids through July. The salty taste is just too much to attempt solids. Amazingly, I am still maintaining my weight with just 2 shakes a…
Acupuncture Question
For those of you who had acupuncture to reduce or alleviate dry mouth....how often did you have it and for how many sessions? We tried the ALTENS clinical study which is supposed to simulate acupuncture but it had no effect. We'd like to try the real deal now. Hopefully a year out we can still reap some benefit. I know…
After Surgery
Hi everyone.I went in and my a splint wired into jaw and he also trimmed gum lines as he did.He also from what I was told relexed my tounge flap somewhat.He also ran a tube down my nose to stomach so I get to eat that way again for a week or so.I found that I can't get implants do to the high radiation treatment as the…
Week Three Done
Hi Everyone, Just checking in after completing my third week of rads yesterday. The fatigue is definitely starting to catch up with me and after each treatment my mouth feels a little sore for a while, but then it fades away by the morning. I have my magic mouthwash at the ready, but haven't had to use it so far. I've got…

Head and Neck Cancer

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