Introducing Myself

Chicklette

Hello, Everone,

I've been lurking for a few weeks now hoping I would not have a reason to join.  However, tonight we got the phone call confirming that my husband has SCC HPV+ with an unknown primary.  It's been around two months since my husband found a lump on his neck while shaving.  (Seems that a lot of these cancers are discovered in this manner).  His original FNA showed "atypical cells" as did a second FNA a few weeks later at Mass General Hospital in Boston. He had a laryngoscopy and tonsilectomy and no cancer was found.  When the HPV tests came back positive, it was confirmed to be cancer because of the atypical cells and the way it is presenting.  They are not going to do a neck dissection Because the doctor does not feel it is necessary since the chemo / radiation will eliminate any cancer cells in the neck. We will be meeting with the doctor later this week to figure out a treatment plan.  I'm sure it will be the standard chemo / radiation combination.

While I was hoping I would have no reason to join, I am so glad this forum exists.  Everyone is so supportive and informative as well as encouraging to the newbies.  I'm encouraging my husband to join as well and I think he will after this all sinks in.  We are in for a rough ride, but I know we will make it through to the other side.

Thank you everyone for being here to support us and we will do our best to support you as well.

 ~Chicklette~

 

 

swopoe

Sorry you have to join us,

Sorry you have to join us, but if you have to be here, it is a great place to be. My husband was diagnosed with SCC  HPV- of the tongue in Oct 2015. He did chemo and rads and surgery and has been clean ever since finishing treatment in Jan 2016. This board gave great advice and got us through tough times. It will do the same for you guys. The superthread is really helpful too. Wishing you a smooth journey. 

Kapital

Hi

Hi,

      You have most certainly found a very helpful sight. I believe that reading through posts, of those that have already been through this arduous process, helped us more than anything else.

     My husband was diagnosed 2 years ago with stage IV tonsil cancer, HPV +. He had 33 IMRT radiation treatments and three concurrent rounds of Carboplatin. So far, so good, no recurrence. He also had a hard time being diagnosed. He had found a large lump on the side of his neck while shaving. The fine needle biopsy was negative. No other symptoms. We were told it was a Branchial Cleft Cyst and not to worry about it. He had it removed a few months later and it turned out to be SCC. He then had a tonsil biopsy, which was negative, in an attempt to find a primary site. This was followed by surgery a month later, in an attempt to find the primary site, laryngoscope, tonsillectomy, multiple biopsies. It turned out that the cancer was behind his left tonsil.

    Through this website I found many helpful suggestions that made his life just a little bit better. It’s definitely not an easy journey, but many of the suggestions I found were extremely helpful.  Sometimes it’s just comforting to know that others have been through it and survived to tell the tale.

 

    Do look at the Super Thread, lots of great info. Do read the posts that are pertinent to your situation. Stay Hydrated!! It sounds like he has a great support system in his corner. Best of luck.

CivilMatt

welcome

Chicklette,

Welcome to the H&N forum, I held a mirror up to your thread and it was a reflection of what I would say.

It is safe to say, none of us wanted to be here, but the path is well worn, easy to follow with plenty of stops for advice, recommendations and commiserating.

The easiest and best advice I got from this forum was  to start drinking water and swallowing often, it pays huge dividens.

Matt

donfoo

Early days.

No sugar coating the shock in getting a cancer diagnosis. But every day forward, find the one thing that is positive. Today, you joined CSN. What a blessing for you and get your hubby to participate himself too. Best support available is right here. It is a rough trip but we all get through it and so will your hubby. Learn and get your own set of questions ready for each visit. Good luck.

Chicklette

Thank You

Thank you for the kind replies.  I told my husband to start drinking water now and that he will need to continue to do so all through treatment if at all possible. I sent him the link to this forum and I think he will likely join.  I find the posts here to be encouraging and I am sure I will be here asking a million questions while we go through this process.  Thank you all for your support.

We just got a referral from the doctor in Boston to get treatment more locally.  We are around 75 miles from Boston so it would not be feasible to drive there every day for treatments.  We are being referred to the Norris Cotton Cancer Center which has a treatment center close by.  It's cllose to work for both him and me so for as long as he is comfortably able, he can still work and do treatments.  (He knows not to push it too hard and if he needs to stop working he will)

~Chicklette~

donfoo

Seek the very best treatment

There are many options for treatment. The general advice is to seek and obtain the very best cancer specialists. Please get referred to one of the best known institutions unless your insurance or other circumstances prohibit that. Many travel and find accomodation while away; for example, Hope Lodges. Check over at OCF, those folks are up to date on the accomodations. 

Chicklette

donfoo said:

Seek the very best treatment

There are many options for treatment. The general advice is to seek and obtain the very best cancer specialists. Please get referred to one of the best known institutions unless your insurance or other circumstances prohibit that. Many travel and find accomodation while away; for example, Hope Lodges. Check over at OCF, those folks are up to date on the accomodations. 

It's highly rated

this is where he was referred ... it has a head and neck cancer center.  http://cancer.dartmouth.edu/stories/article/35220

BK64

I'm the guy she's talking about!

Hi Hunny! 

I joined like you said!