Preparing for treatment

kingcole42005 said:

Btw, you did not have MEC you had SCC very
different cancers, very different treatments. Maybe she was referring to SCC as east tp treat. MEC is not so easy.

success rate
Kingcole, I definitely was referring to SSC because that is what Dana(the person who started this thread, remember)has been diagnosed with. I am so sorry if I offended you and I can only imagine what you are going through. I don't know why you thought I was referring to MEC. I guess these threads start with one topic or question and wind-up on others.
I am sorry if I offended anyone else, please forgive me. My onc never made me to believe this was going to be a "cakewalk". In fact, she told me she would be putting me through hell, and she did. I did not intend for any one to think any treatment is easy.
Maybe I should clarify. She said scc bot stage IV is one of the easiest cancers treatments to administer and has a very high success rate. She never said the treatment was easy for the patient, no treatment is. Gosh, I was just trying to re-assure Dana.
King, I apologize. Can we still be friends and team-mates?

Peace, Mark S.

yensid683 said:

New as well
Good morning everyone
Like Dana I too have been recently diagnosed with SCC base of the tongue with multiple left cervical lymph nodes involved.
I had a sore throat, or so I thought, visits to my primary had me referred to an otolaryngologist (Ear Nose and throat)who did a thorough exam and then pushed a laryngoscope through my nose and visualized what he said was likely a malignant tumor. He sent me for a neck CT with contrast and then scheduled a biopsy. I had hoped he was going to do a needle biopsy but instead had me under general anesthesia and did a punch biopsy. I woke up thinking that my tonsils had grown back and been removed again. The biopsy came back positive for scc and HPV, so I was referred to a medical oncologist who after measuring the nodes put me at stage IVa! Talk about scared!
Treatment will start in the next day of so with induction chemo (port placed last Friday) and I'm wonder what it feels like to get chemo? I read the side effects but what does it feel like as it enters your veins? I've had IV's before and it is always a bit chilling at first, but it soon fades. What does the chemo medication feel like?

Sorry to run on and rant, but I'm like Dana, unsure, frightened and wanting to learn more about what I have and what the treatments will be like. Right now it will be 3 cycles of induction followed by 7 weeks or combined chemo and radiation....

An advanced thank you to all that are here, I get good healing vibes from reading about others in my circumstances

Peter

veins/chemo
Peter, I was diagnosed with same condition, ssc bot 5 years ago.
Personally, I cannot remember any sensation what-so-ever when the chemo was applied. No heat, no cold, no burning, nothing. I have never known of any one having sensations with the actual injection, but, as you will learn on this site, each person reacts differently. Only issue I ever had was the port clogging a couple of times.
The side effects of the chemo being pumped into your body is a whole different story.
Good luck to you and best wishes.

Say no to google, say yes to csn
Hey Dana,
I'm new also, done with surgery, soon done with radiation, next chemo. Take'm as they come no matter what sequence. Do as the docs say and visit here everyday (well the docs might not actually tell you to come here....but do as they say anyway), I do and man (err no offense) does it take the edge off. These folks here dont pull no punches about how they felt or what was done, which is what I like about them, so yo know what to expect or maybe what not to expect. Everyone's reaction to each stage is different but you can easily be prepared for what comes next. I've put CSN head and neck on the top of my fav's list and visit it twice a day, some times three times a day if I play hookie from work (um...hope the boss don't read this site).

Hope you stay positive

Bill

kingcole42005 said:

Sorry Mark my bad.
I was getting the threads confused. I thought I was responding to another thread, what a dope. I feel very sheepish right now. I guess I'm a little sensitive right now. I apologize with my whole heart!

absolutely no apology needed
King. I am so relieved to clear this up. I was afraid I had made an offensive remark and I was realy worried about it. Your response lifted a big weight off my shoulders.
I wish only the best for you and yours. Now I can sleep tonight. Thank you.

Mark S.

Skiffin16 said:

History ~ Mark
It's cool, you haven't notice the comments of the many great MD's we have all spoke of being relatively new on the board. My ENT and Chemo MD are both awesome, as are the many nurses at my chemo center... I still stop in and say Heloo to all of them when I'm there for routine scopes an scans.

As for you thinking that you are the most fortunate on the board due to a successful treatment and recovery. I believe there are many on here that have had it equally as fortunate.

My self being one..., I didn't have a PEG (not prescribed), I never got sick, other than a fever once from the Amifostine. I never had problems with phlegm, sores, burns, etc... I have regaied all of my taste and nearly all saliva other than a little at night.

Equally there are many on here that are 10 - 15 years plus out post treatment...now that's a success story.

Anyways, you are not alone...a lot here are equally as blessed.

Best,
John

success stories
John, first of all thanks for the link to the map. It is really nice.
Second, thanks for the re-assurance that I am not in the minority as far as successes.
I was feeling a little guilty I guess. I only had 2nd degree neck burns, severe sore throat, one trip to the emergency room, and basically the overall feeling of having the Hong Kong, Asian, and Swine flu all at the same time. I'm sure we all felt that way.
My recovery was almost immediately and totally successful. Only have a little dry mouth in winter at night(electric furnace).
I mainly want people on this site to know that complete recovery is possible if the have had the same diagnosis I had.
I really enjoy your sense of humor and I'm glad you accepted me as one of your friends.

Mark S.

we have things in common
Hi Dana my name is Matt i to was diagnosed on April 2 with Squamous cell carcinoma stage 3 i have it on my R tonsil and my R lymph node i have not started treatment either i'm really amazed your close to my age 29 and we both have the same cancer they told me this was a smokers cancer but i have never smoked before so not sure how this relates but i'm very sorry to hear your having to deal with this as well i have not started treatments either i'm still looking at my options if you hear of anything that might help please let me know and i'll do the same i hope to talk to you soon.Thank You

yensid683 said:

New as well
Good morning everyone
Like Dana I too have been recently diagnosed with SCC base of the tongue with multiple left cervical lymph nodes involved.
I had a sore throat, or so I thought, visits to my primary had me referred to an otolaryngologist (Ear Nose and throat)who did a thorough exam and then pushed a laryngoscope through my nose and visualized what he said was likely a malignant tumor. He sent me for a neck CT with contrast and then scheduled a biopsy. I had hoped he was going to do a needle biopsy but instead had me under general anesthesia and did a punch biopsy. I woke up thinking that my tonsils had grown back and been removed again. The biopsy came back positive for scc and HPV, so I was referred to a medical oncologist who after measuring the nodes put me at stage IVa! Talk about scared!
Treatment will start in the next day of so with induction chemo (port placed last Friday) and I'm wonder what it feels like to get chemo? I read the side effects but what does it feel like as it enters your veins? I've had IV's before and it is always a bit chilling at first, but it soon fades. What does the chemo medication feel like?

Sorry to run on and rant, but I'm like Dana, unsure, frightened and wanting to learn more about what I have and what the treatments will be like. Right now it will be 3 cycles of induction followed by 7 weeks or combined chemo and radiation....

An advanced thank you to all that are here, I get good healing vibes from reading about others in my circumstances

Peter

Peter...new
Peter
Like you I had base of tongue cancer with three lymph nodes involved. Stage 4 and it was one nasty **** mass on my tongue. My ENT didn't give me any hope at the time (he never ever expressed that to me until 1 year out from treatment, for which I am glad!)
I turned down the surgery and had 7 chemos and 25 radiations. I am a small woman who became smaller with the side effects but all in all it wasn't bad. I never had any chemo issues. Never felt it going in. My only issue was I have small veins to begin with and they got smaller with the chemo and radiation. I learned who was good with the stick and who wasn't and I would always ask for the two were had it down as a fine art. (I did not have a port).
Fear of the unknown is normal. I learned to ask alot of questions from the docs and nurses and yes, stay off google. I didn't know about this board or I would have camped out here!
I am 16 months out and doing well. Smoking was the cause of my cancer and it was also found to have HPV in it which raised my survival chances to 80%. Smoking alone stats sort of suck.
My doc told me yesterday they are on the trail that some with HPV are perhaps carriers and never end up getting the cancer. Alot to be learned.
Anyway, stay strong, ask your family and friends for help and get well. That should be your focus for now...Don't dwell on anything negative, meditate, listen to music, watch comedies, anything you enjoy to help you get on with this journey.
I am a big wimp and I have to say I even amazed myself that I stayed so strong. But it is your life...no 2nd chances.
Will be thinking of you and sending good vibrations your way....
Peace
Nancy