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Oral Surgery is over
Well they did the procedure to uncover my implant and put in temporary posts. Surgery went well but they did some additional work where they increased the area in front of my lower gums to allow a better fit of the implants. They cut between the lower gums in front and put in a skin graft from my leg. Then put a splint…
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One week down
I feel good just having finished a week without screaming when the mask is bolted down. No symptoms yet. I had fatigue from surgery which is improving, but still there, so not radiation related. Stilk eating well, and able to do some exercise. Enjoying life. Met some really nice people in the radiation waiting area.…
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Necrosis problems in jawbone
I am sorry to bring up a new situation since there are enough going on already during everyone's cancer treatment. I survived stage 4 throat cancer that was treated in Chicago and Munster, IN. Since then I've had many more medical situations including falling over and getting injured and then being diagnosed with vertigo.…
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My radiation journey - Week 3
I just completed 14 treatments out of 33 and here's my experience to date. Lost one day to the holiday last week. However, the radiation forgot to celebrate Memorial Day like the rest of us. Sores on my tongue, inside my cheeks, and one near my throat, got pretty serious. Although I'm still eating a regular diet, I have…
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Is one month too long to wait to see oncologist after biopsy results?
I just got my biopsy results on June 2, and my report was faxed to Johns Hopkins by my oral surgeon. JH called today and said the first available appointment for my consult with the specialist that my oral surgeon recommended is July 5. His office told me that he will see me that morning and decide which scans/tests to…
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Sinonasal adenocarcinoma
Hi everyone, I'm brand new here. I'm wondering if someone went through anything somewhat similar. So my husband, 44 yrs old, was diagnosed with sinonasal adenocarcinoma in March. He had surgery to remove it. his surgeon rec was to do radiation for 6 weeks and chemo once a week. We heard about proton beam therapy and we…
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Video: What to expect from head and neck cancer
Has anyone seen this video? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxjDHcCHHZg How did it compare to your experience? My husband has been diagnosed with HPV related Oropharangeal Cancer (which is what I think the gentleman in the video had) and he found and watched this video by himself. I've never seen him so scared. He's…
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teeth
I had tongue cancer 16 years ago. Been having a battle with my teeth ever since. I keep losing teeth and the dentist do not give me options to replace them. They make is sound like I can't have dental implants or dentures because of the radiation damage. I know many of you have dental issues and any ideas on what to do…
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It's the big day
we arrived in Houston on Sunday, and spent yesterday at Trader Joe's and SAMs club, a museum and using the small gym at the apartment complex. Why sit around getting anxious? Pointless. The info packet from radiologist's nurse mentioned nothing about face care or what to avoid as far as moisturisers and makeup. I'm…
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GU Energy Gel - did anyone try it/like it?
I completely forgot about this until just now. While I was in recovery...and feeling lower than low...a client sent me a box of GU Energy Gel in all the flavors. He is a marthon biker and bikers use them to refuel. Plastic envelope, tear off the top and swallow. It was pretty good, nothing I would buy now...but at the time…
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My radiation journey - Week 2
Just completed 10 treatments today. Seems to be going quickly. Ever notice the older you get, the faster time goes? Anyway. Sores are beginning to get serious. Still eating but getting a bit difficult. I'm noticing serious pain in my throat upon swallowing. No real fatigue to speak of. Treatment is an hours drive in the…
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Newbie - Need advice for my husband re PEG
I found this network by accident and have read many, many of the posts. Thank you for being here!! Brief intro: My husband is 66 years old and other than the recent news about cancer, he is healthy and physically fit. (Side note: 2 years ago he had a partial shoulder replacement and last year he had both of his knees…
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Info from others please
my husband was diagnosed with neck tumor along with lymph node in December 2015. Primary was never found. He finished chemo and radiation on 3/15. doctors were very positive when they could not feel tumor anymore. On 4/6 ct scan done on neck and lungs and only showed small lump left in neck. on 5/27 he had a restaging pet…
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2 days left of radiation and I'm so nauseous! Help
I only have two days left and I'm so nauseous haven't eaten all day. I do not have a feeding tube and I don't want. I've been drinking water all day. My throat is so swollen and tongue is full of sores. I keep reheating a bowl of puréed rice but can't seem to eat it.
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Anyone else mad as hell about what the docs didn’t tell us??
I’ll start right off by saying I am deeply grateful to both my surgeon and my oncologist and all the medical professionals who saved my life and continue to monitor my cancer. However, I gotta say that I have a lot of anger about the lack of information which was provided prior to surgery and radiation regarding the…
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The Biggest Loser?
So sad reading about the newbies suffering with mouth sores, pain and weight loss...brings it all back. I'm a year out now and life is very much improved. How much weight did you lose in total during the first year/healing process? I'm 5'4", started out around 140 (a weight I was comfortable with) and dropped to 105 at my…
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Surgery included bone from leg placed in jaw
hi I had bone put in my jaw 3/2014. Friday 5/27/16 surgical proceedure schedule to remove hardware that was used as support of bone replacement. Anyone relate?
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Introduction
Hello everybody.... I am new in here and unfamiliar with the protocol. I thought I'd start here with an introduction. I'm Sam from Columbia, SC (actually relocated here in 2002 from NY). I had stage 4 head and neck cancer, originally diagnosed Oct 2015. Travelled to NYC for surgery/treatment at Memorial Sloan Kettering and…
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Burning & Stinging when Eating
Hi, I'm Lisa. I am 1 month out from treatment for tonsil cancer. I had a PEG tube put in at the 3rd week of treatment due to horrendous mouth sores/Mucusosis. At one point, I could not even drink water. Since finishing treatment ( 7 wks Radiation, 6 chemo) I have been trying hard to introduce foods and drinks by mouth to…
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Caphosol and/or Muguard?
For those who used these products, were they helpful? Did you use both? Or is only one necessary? I was trying to find the ingredients to make sure I'm not allergic to anything in them. Please share your experiences. Also, did insurance cover these Meds?
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Cancer with no insurance
I have great insurance through my employer. I'm lucky. After a $3,000 deductible, I am covered 100%. So far, my insurance has been billed $88,000 for treatments and surgery before radiation. Those treatments are $4,500 each, times 30, bringing the total to over $200,000. I know the insurance will knock the price down some,…
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Expressions - - - They are gone!! They're BACK
I know many of us have done the "Expressions" and have spent hours on them and over the years with all the dates and times of our journey. They help tell our story and have photos and videos even. They are all gone. I wrote CSN and waiting for a reply. You might want to send them a message also. Bill
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You can drink too much water, so have your blood sodium checked..
You can drink too much water; Just an FYI, or Did You Know? We didn't. As far as hydration and how much to drink or take in, the rule of thumb is half your weight in ounces. If you weigh 100 lbs it is 50 oz, if 200lbs you need 100 oz of water. Then there are some meds that might require you to do more or less. You can take…
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Non healing ulcer in throat after radiation tx
Sorry in advance for the long post. I finished my treatment on November 5 of last year with 35 rounds of radiation and 6 rounds of Erbitux for Tonsil cancer- primary tumor was in tonsil and had spread to a few lymph nodes on both sides. Everything during the treatment went good except the radiation doctor at MD Anderson…
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Cetuximab
So I got fitted for my radiation mask. Thank God I'm not claustrophobic! I don't how those folks deal with that confinement. Anyway, my radiologist says I'm on the fence in terms of needing chemo. So she gave me information on Cetuximab as clinical trial, vs. regular chemo. She says it's less toxic. Has anyone been on this…
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Cetuximab and Radiation
This is my first post, primarily because I have not found a kindred spirit on this discussion board. On February 26, I had a cancerous (SCC) removed from my cheek. It was not in the parotid gland, but near the duct. There was no evidence of a primary source The tumor was sitting on the facial muscle, and was discreet.…
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Recurrence + Checking In
Hi all, Thought I would say hi plus give an update. Prior to my 3 year scans in March I was suffering back pain and signs of just being unwell. My oncologist booked me in for a PET scan and unfortunately I lit up like a Christmas Tree. Tumours were identified in my spine, lumps in my lungs and kidneys plus a mass on my…
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Expat living in India when diagnosed for scc tongue cancer
Dealing with the realization that my ulcer was malignant was definitely one of the hardest moments of my life. It was my first year in this new teaching job and I couldn't have picked a more caring group of administrators, colleagues, parents, and students. Immediately after revealing my condition I had a team of caring…
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My radiation journey
Hello everyone, I posted earlier about starting rads with no feeding tube. I started week #1 of 6 on May 16th and thought I would journal my progress here with you. So far, the first 5 treatments have been largely uneventful. I am experiencing the onset of dry mouth and a slight loss of taste. Water tastes a little like…
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Radiation
My path report, which is still confusing after meeting with the oncologist and surgeon's PA (he's almost always away!), says the following: Metastatic scattered viable squamous carcinoma clusters in one lymph node. Extracapsular extension. Rare atypical sub mucosal squamous clusters, squamous mucosa and submucosa with…