Salivary gland cancer stage 4

S_bush4
S_bush4 Member Posts: 4
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

Hi, my dad was diagnosed with stage 4 salivary gland cancer he had an 11 hour surgery at UCLA to remove the tumor. He had 7 weeks of Monday - Friday radiation... he had been cancer free for almost a year, we just found out a few weeks ago that his cancer spread it's near his eye on the bone and also back of his skull, they are very small ... he had a pet scan and it turns out its on his right rib very very small... they have him on pills, afatinib is the name of the medication, he's on the strongest dose, doctors want to see him again in a month! Seems too long right? I mean if it spread why not do radiation or chemo asap and take care of this!? My dad is 58 other than this he was super health! Never smoked a day in his life... had anyone else expirenced this? Stage 4 vary gland cancer spreading? Please any expirences would help! 

Comments

  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,724 Member
    #2
    cancer can grow slow....

    S_bush4,

    I am the poster child for nonsmoking, I had stage IVa, scc,bot, 1 lymph node (surgery, rads & Erbitux).  It just is.

    Have they confirmed that the growths are cancer?  I do not know their plan, but it is probably to get a base line on this thing before committing too much resource.  Once the month is up, they will likely develop a plan tailored to your Dad which will hopefully kick a _ _.

    Matt

  • S_bush4
    S_bush4 Member Posts: 4
    edited March 2017 #3
    CivilMatt said:

    cancer can grow slow....

    S_bush4,

    I am the poster child for nonsmoking, I had stage IVa, scc,bot, 1 lymph node (surgery, rads & Erbitux).  It just is.

    Have they confirmed that the growths are cancer?  I do not know their plan, but it is probably to get a base line on this thing before committing too much resource.  Once the month is up, they will likely develop a plan tailored to your Dad which will hopefully kick a _ _.

    Matt

    Thank you for responding! I'm

    Thank you for responding! I'm sorry to hear you to have had to deal with this cancer. How long ago were you diagnosed? 

     Yes they confirmed that it's  cancer. I'm an only child and so close with my parents. This is all so overwhelming.. it's all I can think about 

  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,724 Member
    #4
    life

    S_bush4,

    My journey stared in November 201, with treatments during January, February and March 2012.

    I was very close to my parents and had dinner (so called, and modified) every Sunday. 

    Cancer starts out overwhelming and shifts into a new normal as time goes by.

    Matt

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