Web chat on HPV/Head and neck cancer

katenorwood

Hello everyone,

Saw this on cancerquest.  It will be on January 24th at 12:00 p.m.  A Dr. Mark El-Derry of the Emery Winship Cancer Institute will be having an online web chat about HPV and H/N cancer.  Sounds like there will be a chance for asking questions and getting them answered.  The link is below

http://www.emoryhealthcare.org/doctor-chats/hpv-head-neck-cancer-chat-signup.html

I hope some can benefit from this....I may pop in even though my dx is different.  Have a great day everyone !  Katie

blackswampboy

thanks!

would love to hear what he has to say about HPV testing.

wonder if they'll post a transcript?

cureitall66

blackswampboy said:

thanks!

would love to hear what he has to say about HPV testing.

wonder if they'll post a transcript?

Listened in and posted...

BSB,

I was able to listen in on the chat and submitted a few questions. Weren't as many questions posted as I would have thought. They will be emailing us (that provided their email) a copy of the blog/chat in the next week. I will PM you with the link and post here when I get it.

~C

laz

my name is Laz and I was diagnosed with head and neck cancer . I did 7 weeks of chemotherapy and radiation. Now I’m scared that I might still have it .. I’m not eating and I think I might need a feeding tube

wbcgaruss

Hello, laz, and welcome to the CSN H&N discussion forum.

First of all this is an older post from 2013.

I would recommend you make a new posting of your own that will stand out more and have it's own headline on the forum.

In dealing with H&N cancer, this is the tough part that many run into.
Not tough treatment-wise because they have already killed your cancer and you are cancer free.
It is tough mentally not to wonder and worry a bit about it when something a little different just doesn't feel right.
But don't worry.
Your cancer team has already given you a plan of treatment custom-designed for your situation and it was created to wipe your cancer out with no question whatsoever.
So relax, your cancer is gone.
If you are confident in your care team, be assured about what they say and run this by them to get assurance; don't sit in worry.

You don't say why you think you still have cancer so maybe you would make a new post of your own and lay out your situation, how it started, your diagnosis and treatment, and where you got treated, and anything else you would like to share.

Trust me your cancer is gone. I have felt the same way among probably everyone on here.

Are you set up with your care team for follow-ups.

H&N treated people usually have follow up visits the first year at 3 months and 6 months or more.

Everyone's case is different though.

The first year for me I was seeing my ENT for follow-ups every month till finally he stretched it out to 2 months then every 3 months and 6 months and so on.

You should be set up for follow-up visits and eventually follow up scans.

You should be assigned a speech therapist who assists you in all things head and neck like swallowing, eating, breathing, speech, and any other problem you are having.

Laz get hold of your ENT or someone on your care team right away.

Tell them what is going on with you, your fears, cancer is still there, and the fact that you are not eating, and anything else that concerns you, you have to eat and it is even more important now because the nutrition will help you heal and recover from the treatment.

Absolutely, you need a feeding tube to get food into you and hydration and any meds you need can be ground up with a pill grinder or a capsule can be opened up.

Do not wait, this is very important, contact your care team. You need nutrition and hydration every day, very important to live and recover.

Do not fear the feeding tube, I have had at least 3 and I consider a feeding tube my life saver and friend while I needed it.

After all the swelling goes down from the radiation and you can start getting food through again the feeding tube is easily removed.

So, no. 1, contact your ENT, and no. 2, get a speech therapist assigned to your case.

If you have any other questions, please ask.

Our Motto here is NEGU (Never Ever Give Up)

Wishing You The Best

Take Care, God Bless

Russ

I would also recommend you check out the Superthread at the top of the head and neck home page there is loads of information in there with links and you will find it helpful.

Swallowing and Speech Rehabilitation for Head and Neck Cancer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4mGbLQiL3g

They may also give you a swallow test to have a baseline and also to see how everything is functioning…

What happens during a swallow test?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kkF6bEtRZY8

Vagabond37

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/1724306#Comment_1724306

Hey Laz,

My name is Lloyd. I completed the treatments (chemo/radiation) in January. I also had surgery. It’s almost 9 months & my appetite is still low & I don’t care to eat. Protien drinks, smoothies, fresh fruits & veggies are all that interest me. I lost 70 lbs total but have stabilized it. Recovery is a long process but things gradually ease. Talk to your care team. As already pointed out - we all wonder if we still have cancer somewhere. Some people like the feeding tube and some don’t . I don’t care for it and fought it for my own reasons. Even with it, at some point you have to resume eating. As I read through survivors stories I learn that my eating habits, tastes, and desires are likely changed permanently. I’m adapting. Again - care team and docs will know best. I particularly recommend picking the nurses minds. They have tips and tricks and time to help you.

Fight on - it will get easier.

Lloyd