T1b of glottic

RoopaliSandeep

Hello, My father was daignosed with T1b cancer of glottic. He was daignosed with biopsy of vocal cord in Mar'15. As per staging he was asked for radical radiotherapy for 6 1\2 week for 5 days a week with cobalt -60. He underwent radiotherapy with few diificulties like swallowing, skin rashes. After radiotherapy his voice was normal but after 2 months his voice is again getting hoarse. He went for follow up check up for second month and doctor advised things are ok but he is seeing some congestion. He asked doctors if any scans are req for being sure that everything is fine. Doctor suggested that he does not want patient to be exposed to radiations anymore. I want to know shall we get some tests done to be sure if the disease has been treated or we need to wait for doctor's advise going ahead.Please advise. Thanks

Ladylacy

Tests

Radiation is the gift that keeps on giving and giving.   Generally tests like CT or PET aren't done for 3-4 months after radiation because of swelling.  My husband's first PET/CT scan after treatment was too soon and we were told everything looked clear.  No it wasn't.  Two months later he had to have another biopsy and a trach because of difficulty breathing.  We were then referred to a Head and Neck specialist.  The tumor was still there only much larger so he had to have surgery.

If you aren't satisfied with your doctor get a second opinion, even a third opinion, something in hindsight I wished we had done.

Wishing your family the best -- Sharon

ratface

Ladylacy said:

Tests

Radiation is the gift that keeps on giving and giving.   Generally tests like CT or PET aren't done for 3-4 months after radiation because of swelling.  My husband's first PET/CT scan after treatment was too soon and we were told everything looked clear.  No it wasn't.  Two months later he had to have another biopsy and a trach because of difficulty breathing.  We were then referred to a Head and Neck specialist.  The tumor was still there only much larger so he had to have surgery.

If you aren't satisfied with your doctor get a second opinion, even a third opinion, something in hindsight I wished we had done.

Wishing your family the best -- Sharon

Odd as it seems

It might well be the best course of action. From his staging his cancer was at a very treatable stage and the area in question is easily seen on a visual inspection. Read the Post on this same page about radiation and you will see it's a valid concern. I admire your doctor for being concerned about his patient and not covering his arse. Are you sure it was Colbolt radiation?

debbiejeanne

i agree with Sharon, get

i agree with Sharon, get another opinion.  it can't hurt that's for sure.

God bless you,

dj

RoopaliSandeep

Ladylacy said:

Tests

Radiation is the gift that keeps on giving and giving.   Generally tests like CT or PET aren't done for 3-4 months after radiation because of swelling.  My husband's first PET/CT scan after treatment was too soon and we were told everything looked clear.  No it wasn't.  Two months later he had to have another biopsy and a trach because of difficulty breathing.  We were then referred to a Head and Neck specialist.  The tumor was still there only much larger so he had to have surgery.

If you aren't satisfied with your doctor get a second opinion, even a third opinion, something in hindsight I wished we had done.

Wishing your family the best -- Sharon

Thanks Sharon. Tomorrow I

Thanks Sharon. Tomorrow I will be visiting doctor again. Lets hope for the best.

RoopaliSandeep

ratface said:

Odd as it seems

It might well be the best course of action. From his staging his cancer was at a very treatable stage and the area in question is easily seen on a visual inspection. Read the Post on this same page about radiation and you will see it's a valid concern. I admire your doctor for being concerned about his patient and not covering his arse. Are you sure it was Colbolt radiation?

Hi, I am sure it was cobalt

Hi, I am sure it was cobalt 60 radiation. 

hwt

debbiejeanne said:

i agree with Sharon, get

i agree with Sharon, get another opinion.  it can't hurt that's for sure.

God bless you,

dj

Tend to agree

I am on the 2nd opinion bandwagon if you are not comfortable with your current doctor's opinion.

wmc

Roopali Welcome to the Head & Neck group...

Welcome to the group and at the same time, sorry you need to be here. Mine was T3, N0, M0 SCC of the supraglottic just above the vocal cords. The tumor was 3cm x 2.5cm and pressing on my left vocal cord. 

The use of cobalt is old school but can be very good. They used colbalt on my Father many years ago. His was lungs and very bad as he was terminal and was given maybe six months. Now the only reason I mention this is not to scare you but to explain his tumor was the size of a tennis ball which is 6.5cm and it was at the top and spreading to his heart. They chose to use colbalt and we got six years instead of months. He was stage 4 and all the others as it spread.That was in 1978, and treatment has come so far. 

Your husband is T1b, Tumor involves both vocal folds and is smaller then 2cm at its largest point, this is why he is hoarse. With the treatment he is getting they are expecting to eliminate it all together and his odds are very good. Now I am no doctor, He might be hoarse for awhile but I would guess it will all come back, just give it time and try not to strain his voice and if it gets worse reduce his talking and try to talk in a lower volume to help them recover.

The treatment can be rough to go through but just take one day at a time. Try not to worry, I know which is not easy to do. To me, it sounds like he is in good hands with his doctors, and they expect as full recovery. I will add you both to my prayers and you both will be in my thoughts as well. Oh, also make you get some rest too. It is hard on the caregiver too.

Bill   Oct 2013

tommyodavey

wmc said:

Roopali Welcome to the Head & Neck group...

Welcome to the group and at the same time, sorry you need to be here. Mine was T3, N0, M0 SCC of the supraglottic just above the vocal cords. The tumor was 3cm x 2.5cm and pressing on my left vocal cord. 

The use of cobalt is old school but can be very good. They used colbalt on my Father many years ago. His was lungs and very bad as he was terminal and was given maybe six months. Now the only reason I mention this is not to scare you but to explain his tumor was the size of a tennis ball which is 6.5cm and it was at the top and spreading to his heart. They chose to use colbalt and we got six years instead of months. He was stage 4 and all the others as it spread.That was in 1978, and treatment has come so far. 

Your husband is T1b, Tumor involves both vocal folds and is smaller then 2cm at its largest point, this is why he is hoarse. With the treatment he is getting they are expecting to eliminate it all together and his odds are very good. Now I am no doctor, He might be hoarse for awhile but I would guess it will all come back, just give it time and try not to strain his voice and if it gets worse reduce his talking and try to talk in a lower volume to help them recover.

The treatment can be rough to go through but just take one day at a time. Try not to worry, I know which is not easy to do. To me, it sounds like he is in good hands with his doctors, and they expect as full recovery. I will add you both to my prayers and you both will be in my thoughts as well. Oh, also make you get some rest too. It is hard on the caregiver too.

Bill   Oct 2013

Hoarse

Just a quick note to mention that I get hoarse from time to time and I figure it's just the radiation acting up again.  A week later and I'm good to go.  The only thing it affected was my ability to speak/instruct on a regular basis.  So I'm going to change jobs that don't require talking.

 

I finished up my rads back in April of '12 and if some hoarseness is all I suffer from, so be it.  I'm am proud to be in the "I'm not supposed to be here club".

 

Tom

RoopaliSandeep

wmc said:

Roopali Welcome to the Head & Neck group...

Welcome to the group and at the same time, sorry you need to be here. Mine was T3, N0, M0 SCC of the supraglottic just above the vocal cords. The tumor was 3cm x 2.5cm and pressing on my left vocal cord. 

The use of cobalt is old school but can be very good. They used colbalt on my Father many years ago. His was lungs and very bad as he was terminal and was given maybe six months. Now the only reason I mention this is not to scare you but to explain his tumor was the size of a tennis ball which is 6.5cm and it was at the top and spreading to his heart. They chose to use colbalt and we got six years instead of months. He was stage 4 and all the others as it spread.That was in 1978, and treatment has come so far. 

Your husband is T1b, Tumor involves both vocal folds and is smaller then 2cm at its largest point, this is why he is hoarse. With the treatment he is getting they are expecting to eliminate it all together and his odds are very good. Now I am no doctor, He might be hoarse for awhile but I would guess it will all come back, just give it time and try not to strain his voice and if it gets worse reduce his talking and try to talk in a lower volume to help them recover.

The treatment can be rough to go through but just take one day at a time. Try not to worry, I know which is not easy to do. To me, it sounds like he is in good hands with his doctors, and they expect as full recovery. I will add you both to my prayers and you both will be in my thoughts as well. Oh, also make you get some rest too. It is hard on the caregiver too.

Bill   Oct 2013

Thanks

Hi WMC, Thanks for your encouraging words. Doctors again examined my dad they said that hoarse voice is the side effects of radiations. As u suggested we need to have patience. They said NED. Everytime I visit doctor for follow up I just keep my fingers crossed. Do I need to take extra care in any of the areas so please advise me. Another query which is the latest tech in radiotherapy. Please share.

Thanks

Roopali

wmc

RoopaliSandeep said:

Thanks

Hi WMC, Thanks for your encouraging words. Doctors again examined my dad they said that hoarse voice is the side effects of radiations. As u suggested we need to have patience. They said NED. Everytime I visit doctor for follow up I just keep my fingers crossed. Do I need to take extra care in any of the areas so please advise me. Another query which is the latest tech in radiotherapy. Please share.

Thanks

Roopali

Time will heal, just give it time.

I never had chemo or radiation. I just had my larynx removed. My lungs were bad and that was my only option. I would sah your father is in good hands. His treatment was tailered just for him and seems to be the right one. He will heal but it can be slow so give it time. If you ever think there might be something just call the doctor and let them know your concerns. I can only guess from what I have learned from all the ones here that had radiation, is there can and will be some side effects. He may get hoarse from time to time, and the skin can get like leather feeling. You can get some better explaniton is you go to the Supertread and scroll down to radiation. Be understanding, as he too is scared and it may take time for him to adjust to so much being different. Just remind him that he is NED, and there is no sign of the beast called cancer. You both have fought and won. I know i'm so thankful for my second chance as he too will be. I will keep you both in my thoughts and prayers. Please post from time to time and let us know how you both are doing, your family now. We are survivors, and never give up.

Bill   Oct 2013

MrsBD

RoopaliSandeep said:

Thanks

Hi WMC, Thanks for your encouraging words. Doctors again examined my dad they said that hoarse voice is the side effects of radiations. As u suggested we need to have patience. They said NED. Everytime I visit doctor for follow up I just keep my fingers crossed. Do I need to take extra care in any of the areas so please advise me. Another query which is the latest tech in radiotherapy. Please share.

Thanks

Roopali

Hoarseness

Hoarseness is definitely a side effect from radiation. Drinking plenty of water can help and so can avoiding irritating food and drink. Spicy, salty, cold, or sour items still bother me, but it is getting better. As far as taking care of the radiated area, sunscreen is recommended and so is seeing a dermatologist once a year to check for possible skin cancer. Neck and shoulder exercises can help prevent fibrosis from causing limitations. Very good tooth care and oral hygiene are important too. As time passes, your life will no longer focus on cancer as it has for the last few months. You will get used to any changes and adapt to them. I am happy to hear of your father's NED and wish him many more.

RoopaliSandeep

MrsBD said:

Hoarseness

Hoarseness is definitely a side effect from radiation. Drinking plenty of water can help and so can avoiding irritating food and drink. Spicy, salty, cold, or sour items still bother me, but it is getting better. As far as taking care of the radiated area, sunscreen is recommended and so is seeing a dermatologist once a year to check for possible skin cancer. Neck and shoulder exercises can help prevent fibrosis from causing limitations. Very good tooth care and oral hygiene are important too. As time passes, your life will no longer focus on cancer as it has for the last few months. You will get used to any changes and adapt to them. I am happy to hear of your father's NED and wish him many more.

Thanks for your support and advise

Hi,

Thanks everyone for all your support and advise. It's just like family to me. Thanks.

Roopali

RoopaliSandeep

RoopaliSandeep said:

Thanks for your support and advise

Hi,

Thanks everyone for all your support and advise. It's just like family to me. Thanks.

Roopali

Thanks

Hi,

Thanks everyone for your valuable advise and support. Next appointment with doctor is on 23rd Oct'15. I have 1 query, after how many months the scan should be done after radiotherapy. My dad's radiotherapy was completed in mid may'15.

Thanks.

Roopali

MrsBD

RoopaliSandeep said:

Thanks

Hi,

Thanks everyone for your valuable advise and support. Next appointment with doctor is on 23rd Oct'15. I have 1 query, after how many months the scan should be done after radiotherapy. My dad's radiotherapy was completed in mid may'15.

Thanks.

Roopali

Scans

My understanding is that a PET scan should not be done too soon after the end of treatment because radiation keeps working and the cancer continues to die for several weeks. If done too soon, the scan may light up with false positives. Most of the information I've seen suggests that at least three months should elapse. That advice would be different for other types of scans. I hope your father is beginning to feel better. 

RoopaliSandeep

MrsBD said:

Scans

My understanding is that a PET scan should not be done too soon after the end of treatment because radiation keeps working and the cancer continues to die for several weeks. If done too soon, the scan may light up with false positives. Most of the information I've seen suggests that at least three months should elapse. That advice would be different for other types of scans. I hope your father is beginning to feel better. 

Thanks MrsBD for your valuable advise

Hi MrsBD,

Thanks for your valuable advise. My father seems to be better but his voice is still hoarse but as suggested by doctors these are few of the side effects of radiotherapy. Doctors have suggested to wait for atleast 6 months for the scan. Next appointment with doctor is end Oct'15.

Roopali