Base of Tongue Cancer/Head Neck Cancer

24

Comments

  • Susana47
    Susana47 Member Posts: 1
    #22
    John oldtmr said:

    want to connect with you all.
    Just got diagnosed Fri.06/19, and just found this site and joined. All of you have helped so much. It is very scary but I've got to do what I've got to do. I'll try to get on here as I and my wife,Ruth, need all the help and info we can get. Thanks To All.

    Hello, I have just been diagnosed and intervened
    Hello all,

    I have undergone a tongue cancer intervention last week.
    Just as John, I was, and am, quite scared.
    I just want to say hello to you all, and to thank you for the advice you have shared. I'm from Buenos Aires, Argentina.
    Susana
  • BMC777
    BMC777 Member Posts: 1
    #23
    side effect drugs
    My husband age 60 was recently diagnosed with base of tongue neck cancer. Treatments start next week with radiation and chemo every day for 33 days, except weekends. He is very concerned about the drugs prescribed of side effects. It looks like they want him to start taking them even before the side effect occurs. Who has experience with this? Thanks, BMC
  • Landranger25
    Landranger25 Member Posts: 210 Member
    #24
    Pat_451 said:

    Husband and Base of Tongue Cancer
    My husband went in for what we thought was a routine surgery to have a cyst removed from his neck. This was on April 3rd 2009. When they opened him up his lymph node was full of squamish cell cancer. We have been through 7 weeks of radiation and 6 chemo treatments. We are not post treatment and will not know anything until the end of the 3 months when they are able to take a pet scan. Has anyone here had any experience with this?

    My dental hygenist found a
    My dental hygenist found a swollen lymph node when I had my 6 month dental exam. (May 2009) My family doctor couldn't figure it out and sent me to ENT. He assured me it was a cyst and that he could remove it easy. Took a needle biopsy pre surgery and found squamous cancer cells. Sent me to cancer ENT. (I was 48) Went through 33 rads and 3 weeks chemo last summer. Just had 6 month PET and was all clear. Treatment was not easy. PEG feeding tube and port installed beforehand. PEG gone, port goes the 24th of this month. I had option of surgery with chemo rads or just chemo/rads. Doc said in his opinion outcome would be identical whichever I chose. Opted for no cutting. One thing he said to me on very first visit to him was that 95% of patients he sees with what I had are still alive. (He gets 10 cases a year he told me) I just had my 6 month PET scan and it was clear. I saw the ENT a couple weeks ago and he said that he expects a very good outcome for me. I will continue to post this site and will answer all that I can. Good luck to your husband and I will be thinking of him as his PET nears.

    Mike
  • Lena Rose
    Lena Rose Member Posts: 73
    #25
    BMC777 said:

    side effect drugs
    My husband age 60 was recently diagnosed with base of tongue neck cancer. Treatments start next week with radiation and chemo every day for 33 days, except weekends. He is very concerned about the drugs prescribed of side effects. It looks like they want him to start taking them even before the side effect occurs. Who has experience with this? Thanks, BMC

    My 53 year old husband was
    My 53 year old husband was also recently diagnosed with base of the tongue cancer. He is now on his 3rd week of radiation (5 days a week) and chemo (1 day a week) for 7 weeks. Not sure what drugs you are talking about. The anti-nausea drugs (zofran and compazine) have been very constipating. Thankfully he also had a feeding tube put in before treatment-he started using it this week to supplement since it's very hard for him to eat and he's lost 8 pounds in only 2 weeks.
  • Pumakitty
    Pumakitty Member Posts: 652
    #26
    Lena Rose said:

    My 53 year old husband was
    My 53 year old husband was also recently diagnosed with base of the tongue cancer. He is now on his 3rd week of radiation (5 days a week) and chemo (1 day a week) for 7 weeks. Not sure what drugs you are talking about. The anti-nausea drugs (zofran and compazine) have been very constipating. Thankfully he also had a feeding tube put in before treatment-he started using it this week to supplement since it's very hard for him to eat and he's lost 8 pounds in only 2 weeks.

    Same here
    My dad is on his second week of rad and chemo. He does not have a feeding tube yet. Is still eating but starting to get difficult. He has lost 8 pound also. He also was given the same anti-nausea drugs. Have they helped with the nausea? The nurse told me to add some fiber powder to his water, while he is still able to drink. How much water did they tell your husband to drink after chemo?
  • astar
    astar Member Posts: 1
    #27
    Feeding Tube
    Get the Feeding tube and port put in before you start your treatments.
    I had base tongue cancer and got 42 radiation treatments and a chemo
    treatment every two weeks.I got my feeding tube in after I lost 25
    pounds. My last radition treatment was july 18 2009 I am cancer free
    Now and I am 57 years old and I feel great and back to work. My wife
    was my rock I don't think I could have done this without her.
    God bless you and your Husband take the pain meds morfine and
    Fitanal paches were mine.You can get there from here.
  • NW DINO
    NW DINO Member Posts: 31
    #28
    Base of Tongue Cancer/ Cisplatin & hearing loss
    Just found this site with your post from last year. Hope you and your husband are doing well! I too am a 58 year old male that was just diagnosed with SCC with primary at the base of the tongue. Have had one chemo treatment (Cisplatin) with 4 radiation treatments. Noticed a lump on the right side of my neck last January. My primary care doctor ordered a CAT scan that showed inconclusive results - he told me the lump was benign & due to a sinus infection. Gave me a nasal spray. Unfortunately he never referred me to an ENT or had a biopsy performed. I saw my dermatologist in September & she told me to see an ENT & get 2nd opinion asap! My ENT took a biopsy & the lump was suspicious for SCC. After removal of the lump the biopsy confirmed I had SCC. Did not know the primary site until a PET scan showed the base of tongue as the primary. Feel fortunate about knowing the primary source! Try not to get upset about losing nine months in the battle due to a misdiagnosis. Have a port & that seems the way to go without a doubt. Will have the PEG feeding tube put in on Tuesday. I too initially was not going to get the tube until reading everyone's replies. Meeting with my chemo doctor Monday morning as I am concerned about hearing loss. I have a slight hearing loss with ringing in the ears already - which intensified after only one treatment of Cisplatin. I definitely want to change to a different chemo treatment. From my research it seems like Cisplatin is not the right chemo if you are concerned with hearing loss(which my doctor knew about beforehand) Hope all is well & thanks to everyone on the site.
  • Moms son
    Moms son Member Posts: 5
    #29
    astar said:

    Feeding Tube
    Get the Feeding tube and port put in before you start your treatments.
    I had base tongue cancer and got 42 radiation treatments and a chemo
    treatment every two weeks.I got my feeding tube in after I lost 25
    pounds. My last radition treatment was july 18 2009 I am cancer free
    Now and I am 57 years old and I feel great and back to work. My wife
    was my rock I don't think I could have done this without her.
    God bless you and your Husband take the pain meds morfine and
    Fitanal paches were mine.You can get there from here.

    feeding tube
    My son was diagnosed Feb 9,2011. His feeding tube was put in March 14, after 2nd chemo treatment. He had 8 chemo treatments on Tuesdays, and 33 radiation everyday Mon thru Friday. He finished last treatment April 22, 2011. He was not happy about putting the feeding tube in at first, but now finds that it has saved him so much. He has not been able to eat anything by mouth since about 3rd week of treatment. He informs me that the foods have no texture or taste. But he does try to swallow water as much as possible everyday. Plus when they rinse out his feeding tube they put an extra water down it. The more water they get in their system the more it helps them. At least that is what his doctor told him. My son went into the doctors with a swollen right lymph node. He went to several doctor, several tests. He went from Hodkins, Lymphoma, to tonsil cancer. They took out his tonsils, No cancer in the tonsils, but they found a place at the base of the tongue. The treatments were done first to see how much they could shrink, or get rid of. He did get quite a burn on his neck that is healing quite well. His doctors seem to be happy where he is at this point. He has lost 33lbs. I am not happy about that. The doctors wanted him to get 7 cans of food down, but he seems to get only 4 - 5 cans. The weight loss is bothering me. He is very very positive as is the rest of our whole family. But, he pushes himself to keep going to a certain extent. I feel that if he listens to his body he will have to rest when it is needed. He is on morphine every four hours. He is 43, has a wonderful wife, and a 9 year old & 10 year old. He is so protective of his children, he didn't want them to know. He finally had to inform them, as I knew he would but he assured them their life and lifestyle would not be changed much except seeing Daddy laying around and sometimes not feeling well. He now awaits the doctors checkups. How long it will be, before he will be able to taste, and eat and get rid of the feeding tube. How soon life will get back to normal. Of course he is not working. And the first big thing, is the 90 day pet scan. You pray it comes back with everything gone and no surgery needed. As far as I can tell, You take each day at a time. You pray each day, not just for your family, but all the people & their families with cancer. And God willing you just keep going.

    Anyone reading this may think, "Mom" is writing this? Trust me, if I could have taken his place I would have, but that was not an option. A mother never stops loving her children no matter how old they are. God Bless You all. I have been reading this site for quite a while. My son & his wife wouldn't get on the computer for fear it would just upset them more. But this has helped me be prepared for a lot of the things that do come up. Thank you all!!
    Moms son
  • Jason1111
    Jason1111 Member Posts: 64
    #30
    Artray said:

    pennyn14,
    My husband went
    pennyn14,
    My husband went thru this from Dec 29 finishing 7 weeks of radiation/chemo on Feb 22nd. He did not start with surgery but we'll find out this week if that's needed for whatever remains.
    They insisted on putting the feeding tube in at the beginning and I was really against it but had not choice. IT WAS A SAVOIR! He started using it after 3 weeks of treatment and I could make certain that his meds, liquids and foods were administered, sometimes with alot of resistance and not always in the amounts I wanted but it was so easy on him to not have to fight to swallow anything.
    I won't kid you, there were times when he refused any more liquids and I had to force him to take the food (the VA supplied us with all the liquid nutrition and still does) but the tube made a huge difference!
    Even now, he tries to eat at least 1-2 meals a day but takes his pills and other meals thru the tube and he is able to maintain his energy levels and work physically about 70% of his former levels so I think that's great! Although we know that the tube can be a crutch, when it gets too difficult to swallow or his throat starts to swell and bleed he can resort to the tube for 1/2 a day and give his throat a rest.
    Not have to swallow all his nutrition and liquids I think really saved him from the pain we hear so much about...Best of luck to you!

    What did the VA supply you
    What did the VA supply you with? My father just completed the radical neck disection and we got home this past Sunday. i have bought 3 cases of Glucerna and a case of Juven to help with the recovery efforts. He has full VA disability benifits and was just curious as to what the VA will provide.

    Thanks
    Jason
  • Moms son
    Moms son Member Posts: 5
    #31
    base of tongue cancer/head and Neck Cancer
    Hi To you all,
    I have really positive news. My 43year old son started out going to Doctor's appointments Jan 14,2011.What brought his attention to the whole thing was his right lymph node was swollen. He had all the testing, several doctors appointments with Oncologist & Head & Neck doctors. He had his tonsils taken out Feb 4,2011 and found out he was positive for base of the tongue cancer on Feb. 9,2011. They started Chemo March 1st, 2011,once a week on Tuesdays, then Monday thru Friday radiation, also. He completed 8 chemo and 33 radiation by April 22, 2011. He did have a feeding tube put in March 14,2011. Thank God he did, he couldn't eat, taste anything and as the rest of you believe, it saved his life. He did swallow water everyday. He did have a lot of burns on his neck that scabbed over. His wife was very good about putting lotion on him constantly to try to keep down the scaring. He could only get down 4 cans of food in his feeding tube so he did loose 33 pounds. The doctors were unhappy about that but he said they just couldn't get anymore down it. It is strange, he lost a little hair in the base of the back of his hair. My son was born a blond. His hair after treatments has come in almost black. But, the doctors informed him that his hair would come back to the normal blond and would probably fill in the place where the hair is missing. It is May 25,2011. He is going back to work two days a week June 1st 2011. He has started eating all his food, although he said he doesn't quite have his taste back yet, he can at least eat it. Before he said it wasn't just the taste, it was that it hurt, the texture and no flavor or taste. I feel my son & his wife have just wanted their life back to normal so bad, I fear he is pushing himself getting back to his normal life. Our whole family, friends, everyone have prayed, been totally positive that he was going to beat this and be just fine. I have a fear he is going along almost to quickly. He was diagnosed stage 4. His doctors are totally pleased almost dancing around and say they feel nothing in his neck. Of course this is after his 4 week check up after last treatment. He does have the pet scan coming 90 days after the last treatment and he does have to go to his oncologist every two months,and the doctor will look with a scope in his mouth for two years. Then another outline until the 5 years come around. But, doesn't this sound like a dream and answer from God of the unreal outcome. I wanted my son to get his life back to normal, THANK GOD, But, I reserve a little fear of a setback. I choose to be positive and just happy at this moment and share it with you all. Hopefully this will give
    some of you a really positive view of this horrid base of the tongue cancer!

    God Bless you all, I pray for you all to be recovered soon.

    Moms Son
  • Hedwig
    Hedwig Member Posts: 5
    #32
    Lena Rose said:

    My 53 year old husband was
    My 53 year old husband was also recently diagnosed with base of the tongue cancer. He is now on his 3rd week of radiation (5 days a week) and chemo (1 day a week) for 7 weeks. Not sure what drugs you are talking about. The anti-nausea drugs (zofran and compazine) have been very constipating. Thankfully he also had a feeding tube put in before treatment-he started using it this week to supplement since it's very hard for him to eat and he's lost 8 pounds in only 2 weeks.

    My hubby
    My hubby has just been diagnosed with head and neck scc. Lymph node on left side and left tonsil.we will meet the radiologist next week. We are overwhelmed with fear.any suggestions for us. He is 66years old. Thank you.
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    #33
    Hedwig said:

    My hubby
    My hubby has just been diagnosed with head and neck scc. Lymph node on left side and left tonsil.we will meet the radiologist next week. We are overwhelmed with fear.any suggestions for us. He is 66years old. Thank you.

    Hedwig
    Sorry that you find yourself in need of our group, but there is a wealth of info and there are some very caring people on this board that can help you with every step of this long journey. One good place to start may be to look at the HNC Superthread which can be found on the first page of this board. It says something like:

    HNC Superthread. A COLLECTION OF HELPFUL LINKS ONLY. (please post only informative links here) Help for some FAQ.

    It is filled with many links and helpful info from diagnosis through recovery and beyond. Maybe that can spark you to ask more focused questions that we can more easily answer for you. Just know that there are many survivors here and we are doing ok. I personally was SCC stage 4 and I am still here over two years later.

    Wishing you and hubby well.

    Blessings,

    Sweet
  • NW DINO
    NW DINO Member Posts: 31
    #34
    Moms son said:

    base of tongue cancer/head and Neck Cancer
    Hi To you all,
    I have really positive news. My 43year old son started out going to Doctor's appointments Jan 14,2011.What brought his attention to the whole thing was his right lymph node was swollen. He had all the testing, several doctors appointments with Oncologist & Head & Neck doctors. He had his tonsils taken out Feb 4,2011 and found out he was positive for base of the tongue cancer on Feb. 9,2011. They started Chemo March 1st, 2011,once a week on Tuesdays, then Monday thru Friday radiation, also. He completed 8 chemo and 33 radiation by April 22, 2011. He did have a feeding tube put in March 14,2011. Thank God he did, he couldn't eat, taste anything and as the rest of you believe, it saved his life. He did swallow water everyday. He did have a lot of burns on his neck that scabbed over. His wife was very good about putting lotion on him constantly to try to keep down the scaring. He could only get down 4 cans of food in his feeding tube so he did loose 33 pounds. The doctors were unhappy about that but he said they just couldn't get anymore down it. It is strange, he lost a little hair in the base of the back of his hair. My son was born a blond. His hair after treatments has come in almost black. But, the doctors informed him that his hair would come back to the normal blond and would probably fill in the place where the hair is missing. It is May 25,2011. He is going back to work two days a week June 1st 2011. He has started eating all his food, although he said he doesn't quite have his taste back yet, he can at least eat it. Before he said it wasn't just the taste, it was that it hurt, the texture and no flavor or taste. I feel my son & his wife have just wanted their life back to normal so bad, I fear he is pushing himself getting back to his normal life. Our whole family, friends, everyone have prayed, been totally positive that he was going to beat this and be just fine. I have a fear he is going along almost to quickly. He was diagnosed stage 4. His doctors are totally pleased almost dancing around and say they feel nothing in his neck. Of course this is after his 4 week check up after last treatment. He does have the pet scan coming 90 days after the last treatment and he does have to go to his oncologist every two months,and the doctor will look with a scope in his mouth for two years. Then another outline until the 5 years come around. But, doesn't this sound like a dream and answer from God of the unreal outcome. I wanted my son to get his life back to normal, THANK GOD, But, I reserve a little fear of a setback. I choose to be positive and just happy at this moment and share it with you all. Hopefully this will give
    some of you a really positive view of this horrid base of the tongue cancer!

    God Bless you all, I pray for you all to be recovered soon.

    Moms Son

    Great news your son completed his treatments! I have a very similar history of dx and treatment for BOT SCC. I am about four months ahead of your sons schedule - had my last radiation Dec 15th. Feeding tube was a lifesaver - I also had four cans daily (Ensure) & lost 30 lbs. Tube removed Jaunuary 15th. Lost some hair on my beard & lower back neck - starting to come back now. Had the all clear PET on March 24th!!! I am back to work full time & feeling better every week. Taste buds have returned about 90%. Understand your son's motivation to get back to work & have a normal routine. Just let him know it takes time to regain strength & stamina after the treatments. He is now a survivor! Prayers for a speedy recovery
  • Moms son
    Moms son Member Posts: 5
    #35
    NW DINO said:

    Great news your son completed his treatments! I have a very similar history of dx and treatment for BOT SCC. I am about four months ahead of your sons schedule - had my last radiation Dec 15th. Feeding tube was a lifesaver - I also had four cans daily (Ensure) & lost 30 lbs. Tube removed Jaunuary 15th. Lost some hair on my beard & lower back neck - starting to come back now. Had the all clear PET on March 24th!!! I am back to work full time & feeling better every week. Taste buds have returned about 90%. Understand your son's motivation to get back to work & have a normal routine. Just let him know it takes time to regain strength & stamina after the treatments. He is now a survivor! Prayers for a speedy recovery

    Hi NW DINO
    I was glad to hear some response to my questions. I feel 6 weeks after his last treatment and he is going back to work full time June 1, 2011. His petscan is not for another 8 weeks(90 days) from his last treatment which was April 22, 2011. He doesn't have all his taste back, and said his doctor said it could be up to a year before that totally happens. He does still have the feeding tube, I am so happy for him, but I just don't want him to push himself to much and have any setbacks. Funny, my blond blue eyed boy has almost black hair. Some hair did come out in the back of his head but the doctors expect that to come back to the blond hair as he had eventually. He had a close friend that had a malinant brain tumor at the age of 16. He my son's age and has be very helpful to me as a mother. I know you cannot tell you 43 year old son what to do, but it is hard. All I can do is go with him for treatments and keep him company. He has a wife and children, and a very successful job. I believe he has been so positive as to not change to much of his family life, and his job was so busy, it was driving him crazy trying to stay at home. When he was on pain medicine, it pretty well made him get his rest. His friend just kept saying "Listen to your body" When you need rest. Just take it. It is your life. It sounds like you are doing quite well also, Thank God. Maybe this very up status will help some people just getting started. I have been reading this blog since the beginning and I expected my son to be down or off work from 9 months to a year. No such thing for him, at least now. He is always smiling. I will keep you and all I read or hear about on my prayer list. God be with you and I hope everything keeps going well.

    Thanks
    Moms Son


    ows my fears are those of a mother. Believe me, your Mom always thinks of you no matter what the age is as her son, Her little boy, even when you have grown up. This friend's best advice has been, Listen to your body. I keep saying that also. It was so nice to hear someone else doing so well. Thank you for responding. I pray all the time and I pray for anyone stricken with the nasty word, CANCER. God Bless and Take care,
    Moms son
  • Moms son
    Moms son Member Posts: 5
    #36
    NW DINO said:

    Great news your son completed his treatments! I have a very similar history of dx and treatment for BOT SCC. I am about four months ahead of your sons schedule - had my last radiation Dec 15th. Feeding tube was a lifesaver - I also had four cans daily (Ensure) & lost 30 lbs. Tube removed Jaunuary 15th. Lost some hair on my beard & lower back neck - starting to come back now. Had the all clear PET on March 24th!!! I am back to work full time & feeling better every week. Taste buds have returned about 90%. Understand your son's motivation to get back to work & have a normal routine. Just let him know it takes time to regain strength & stamina after the treatments. He is now a survivor! Prayers for a speedy recovery

    Hi NW DINO
    I was glad to hear some response to my questions. I feel 6 weeks after his last treatment and he is going back to work full time June 1, 2011. His petscan is not for another 8 weeks(90 days) from his last treatment which was April 22, 2011. He doesn't have all his taste back, and said his doctor said it could be up to a year before that totally happens. He does still have the feeding tube, I am so happy for him, but I just don't want him to push himself to much and have any setbacks. Funny, my blond blue eyed boy has almost black hair. Some hair did come out in the back of his head but the doctors expect that to come back to the blond hair as he had eventually. He had a close friend that had a malinant brain tumor at the age of 16. He my son's age and has be very helpful to me as a mother. I know you cannot tell you 43 year old son what to do, but it is hard. All I can do is go with him for treatments and keep him company. He has a wife and children, and a very successful job. I believe he has been so positive as to not change to much of his family life, and his job was so busy, it was driving him crazy trying to stay at home. When he was on pain medicine, it pretty well made him get his rest. His friend just kept saying "Listen to your body" When you need rest. Just take it. It is your life. It sounds like you are doing quite well also, Thank God. Maybe this very up status will help some people just getting started. I have been reading this blog since the beginning and I expected my son to be down or off work from 9 months to a year. No such thing for him, at least now. He is always smiling. I will keep you and all I read or hear about on my prayer list. God be with you and I hope everything keeps going well.

    Thanks
    Moms Son


    ows my fears are those of a mother. Believe me, your Mom always thinks of you no matter what the age is as her son, Her little boy, even when you have grown up. This friend's best advice has been, Listen to your body. I keep saying that also. It was so nice to hear someone else doing so well. Thank you for responding. I pray all the time and I pray for anyone stricken with the nasty word, CANCER. God Bless and Take care,
    Moms son
  • Hedwig
    Hedwig Member Posts: 5
    #37
    Just starting this journey
    My hubby age 66 noticed a lump on the left side of his neck,biopsy proved positive,cy scan, another area noted at tonsil area,
    Then surgery to remove tonsil and did some biopsies,now scheduled for chemo and radiation. We has a dental checkup and dep cleaning,and flouride trays made to use every day. We met the chemo doc, very scary to hear about the drug and side effects (cisplatin). We mee the radiation doc this week and have a swallowing study. It sounds like 5 days of radiation and one day of chemo.I am researching every thing I can to help him. I have stopped all outside activities and it is strictly focusing on him. We did buy a juicer and trying to get used to that. He is just starting to eat after the tonsillectomy. The docs seemed all so casual about or maybe it is just my anxiety getting the best of me. We are both retired and have lived such a simple life and that was just fine with us. I am praying and have a few friends praying for us. We have only shared this with a few people cause we want to stay positive. Thanks for listening and hope to share our story to help others and pick up some hints from all of you. Gob bless.
  • Hedwig
    Hedwig Member Posts: 5
    #38
    sweetblood22 said:

    Hedwig
    Sorry that you find yourself in need of our group, but there is a wealth of info and there are some very caring people on this board that can help you with every step of this long journey. One good place to start may be to look at the HNC Superthread which can be found on the first page of this board. It says something like:

    HNC Superthread. A COLLECTION OF HELPFUL LINKS ONLY. (please post only informative links here) Help for some FAQ.

    It is filled with many links and helpful info from diagnosis through recovery and beyond. Maybe that can spark you to ask more focused questions that we can more easily answer for you. Just know that there are many survivors here and we are doing ok. I personally was SCC stage 4 and I am still here over two years later.

    Wishing you and hubby well.

    Blessings,

    Sweet

    Just saw your note
    Thank you for your reply added some info today with our treatment plan so far. I truly believe this site will help and would appreciate any help from all of you. You and the rest of those in this chat room will be in my prayers. I hope everyone can enjoy this weekend in some small way and thank all the veterans who sacrificed for all of us. God bless you.
  • Lynlls
    Lynlls Member Posts: 3
    #39
    treatment
    I so sorry you have to go through this. My husband had the same time of base of tongue and lymph node cancer. His treatment was finished about five months ago. He had chemo once a week and radiation six times a week twice on friday for six weeks. The cancer center insisted he have the feeding tube placed before the treatment began also he had a dietitian and a speech therapist right from the start. The speech therapist is the swallowing person to help with keeping the swallowing muscles active.
    My husband only lost 20 pounds and the feeding tube saved his life, it is easier (explained to us) to have he tube put in before radiation starts because the tube is placed down your throat. I am sorry to say that every cancer patient is different how they heal and the stage of the cancer effects the recovery.

    I am happy to report that the cancer on the tongue is gone and he had a neck disection of lymph nodes removeing 42 of them there was no cancer in the nodes but it showed where it was at. But he still can't eat like befoe he gets 6 cans of liquid food through the tube still, but he can eat a little yogurt or ice cream bar, liquid soup. This takes a lot of time to heal his esophagus is still swollen. He will be going to the ENT doctor they may stretch his throat to help him better I just don't know. He also will have a PT scan next month. He had a PT scan before treatment began and it showed the only area the cancer was in was the the two places.

    He is driving the car and talks well. he has constant dry mouth but the pain in is tongue is gone. He still has a problem with mucus but not as much. This really is a one day at a time situation. You will see a lot of brave people going through a lot of different cancers old and young. It makes you brave enough to go through the treatment to see the bravery of others. You talk to them, we had a man going through the same type of cancer we talked to him when we were getting treatments. We saw the docs everyday while treatment was going on or their nurses to ask any questions we needed. Blessings to you keep up the fight.
  • Lynlls
    Lynlls Member Posts: 3
    #40
    treatment
    I so sorry you have to go through this. My husband had the same time of base of tongue and lymph node cancer. His treatment was finished about five months ago. He had chemo once a week and radiation six times a week twice on friday for six weeks. The cancer center insisted he have the feeding tube placed before the treatment began also he had a dietitian and a speech therapist right from the start. The speech therapist is the swallowing person to help with keeping the swallowing muscles active.
    My husband only lost 20 pounds and the feeding tube saved his life, it is easier (explained to us) to have he tube put in before radiation starts because the tube is placed down your throat. I am sorry to say that every cancer patient is different how they heal and the stage of the cancer effects the recovery.

    I am happy to report that the cancer on the tongue is gone and he had a neck disection of lymph nodes removeing 42 of them there was no cancer in the nodes but it showed where it was at. But he still can't eat like befoe he gets 6 cans of liquid food through the tube still, but he can eat a little yogurt or ice cream bar, liquid soup. This takes a lot of time to heal his esophagus is still swollen. He will be going to the ENT doctor they may stretch his throat to help him better I just don't know. He also will have a PT scan next month. He had a PT scan before treatment began and it showed the only area the cancer was in was the the two places.

    He is driving the car and talks well. he has constant dry mouth but the pain in is tongue is gone. He still has a problem with mucus but not as much. This really is a one day at a time situation. You will see a lot of brave people going through a lot of different cancers old and young. It makes you brave enough to go through the treatment to see the bravery of others. You talk to them, we had a man going through the same type of cancer we talked to him when we were getting treatments. We saw the docs everyday while treatment was going on or their nurses to ask any questions we needed. Blessings to you keep up the fight.
  • Ruprecht
    Ruprecht Member Posts: 1
    #41
    Hedwig said:

    Just starting this journey
    My hubby age 66 noticed a lump on the left side of his neck,biopsy proved positive,cy scan, another area noted at tonsil area,
    Then surgery to remove tonsil and did some biopsies,now scheduled for chemo and radiation. We has a dental checkup and dep cleaning,and flouride trays made to use every day. We met the chemo doc, very scary to hear about the drug and side effects (cisplatin). We mee the radiation doc this week and have a swallowing study. It sounds like 5 days of radiation and one day of chemo.I am researching every thing I can to help him. I have stopped all outside activities and it is strictly focusing on him. We did buy a juicer and trying to get used to that. He is just starting to eat after the tonsillectomy. The docs seemed all so casual about or maybe it is just my anxiety getting the best of me. We are both retired and have lived such a simple life and that was just fine with us. I am praying and have a few friends praying for us. We have only shared this with a few people cause we want to stay positive. Thanks for listening and hope to share our story to help others and pick up some hints from all of you. Gob bless.

    Just starting this journey
    I'm 66 also and only 5 mos. out from treatment for the same cancer in the same area. The Docs may seem casual, but they are really focused and concerned that your husband gets the right combination of treatments. I was treated with concurrent Chemo-(Cisplatin) and radiation over a period of 7 weeks. It was tough, but I'm sure he'll be fine. It worked for me (and a whole bunch of other patients) and it should work for him too. I had my Pet Scan last week and I am clear (without surgery). Rather than isolating myself, I went the other way and freely discussed my predicament with family, friends and co-workers. You really should be open about your situation and let others express their understanding and heartfelt support for you and your husband. It's really awkward for people who have heard about your situation from others but are afraid to express their support because you haven't opened up. As you begin your treatment you'll meet other families that are going through the same routine over the next several weeks. You'll be surprised at the cheerfulness and openness, especially in the Chemo infusion room. I'm happy to continue sharing my thoughts with you as you go through your treatments.

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