HBO and hnc

Steve0
Steve0 Member Posts: 1
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
I'm new to the Forum and am posting for the first time.
I hope I'm posting correctly as I don't want to break any forum rules.
My oldest sister is a cancer survivor,She has the same H&Nc as the actor Michael Douglas is enduring, I say survivor loosely, because she was diagnosed last July. She has been through her chemo and radiation. It came back, as this type has a high rate of reoccurence. They had to remove her Vocal cords.
Now she has been started on the HBO treatments, which she is in the third week of.
She was doing fine BUT now she says her throat is very sore and under her chin the tissue and surrounding muscles etc. are very hard and distended.
Can anyone offer any advice? She is so frightened that this Dragon is coming back! They have told us that if it does reoccur, it's the end, because she has no further treatment options.

Please any advice is appreciated

Comments

  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #2
    Hi Steve
    I had NPC cancer and it came back three times and I survived it all three times, so never give up my friend. One thing I learned is not to keep worrying about your cancer coming back as it will make you sick. At first every little thing that was not right with me I would go running to the doctor only to find out it was nothing. Wait and see what your ENT tells you, then do everything you can to keep your body in good health, sometime you will have to change your life style. Keep posting and letting us know how the wife is doing.

    PS: Welcome to the family here on CSN
    Hondo
  • fisrpotpe
    fisrpotpe Member Posts: 1,349 Member
    #3
    Always
    There are always options, it might mean going to other doctors or trials but always options.

    Keeping a Positive Mental Attitude will help with knocking down and keeping the Dragon down.

    Welcome to a great place to get support and help.

    Prayers for your sister and family

    john
  • denistd
    denistd Member Posts: 597
    #4
    fisrpotpe said:

    Always
    There are always options, it might mean going to other doctors or trials but always options.

    Keeping a Positive Mental Attitude will help with knocking down and keeping the Dragon down.

    Welcome to a great place to get support and help.

    Prayers for your sister and family

    john

    You say she had her vocal
    You say she had her vocal cords removed, was this a laryngectomy? HBO treatments are usually to aid healing wounds or if you are going to have teeth removed, the reaction she is having should be noted by a doctor, the two times I had HBO a doctor was always on hand, the doctor should know if she is reacting negatively. Ask the doctor or call the oncologist or ENT doc, I would not delay in doing this, God bles you and we pray for your sister. Denis
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #5
    Too Many Factors Involved...
    Welcome Steve....

    I had similar also...STGIII SCC Tonsils (primary) HPV+ plus a single lymphnode (secondary) to MD...

    A combined sixteen weeks of four types of chemo and seven of those concurrent with 35 daily rads sessions.

    I don't know your sources, but I don't actually believe (in my opinion) there is necessarily a high rate of recurrence.

    Yes there is some that do have recurrence or mets to other areas...but based on the number that I have seen on here, I'd say the percentage is actually small.

    Of course it's still very scary and awful that it does happen.

    As for no options, there are always options, second opinions, alternative treatment and of course, never discount positive thought, prayer and miracles.

    I hope you find the answers you are seeking, and offer my thoughts and prayers to you, your sister and family.

    Thoughts & Prayers,
    John

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