Carcinoma Perifora fossa T3N2M0 of my father

hope3210
hope3210 Member Posts: 27
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

Hi All,

 

After reading these discussions found this site very helpful during this drastic situation.

 

My father 53yrs getting treated with carcinoma periforafossa T3N2M0 doctor suggested for ChemoRadiotherapy.Completed 2 chemo cycle 27 sitting of radiation.Now we are struggling with the bad side effects of Radiation.But He is able to drink liquid food with little pain.till now havn't inserted the PEG tube,We have one more week of radiation.During radiation Doctor HAs given 3 weekly EGFRs and tomorrow having another EGFR. He has tumer on his opening of food pipe with Lymph nodes involoved.After all these radiation last week Radiation doctor told after X-Ray that primary tumor has reduced by 60% but the lymph nodes has reduced by 30%. Does those lymph nodes shrinka fter radiation?

 

Comments

  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #2
    Hi Hope...

    and welcome to the club nobody wants to join.  You did happen upon the best and most supportive group on the internet, tho :).

    To answer your question, yes....the lymph nodes will still be shrinking after rads are over.  He still has one week of them to go, plus we keep on "cooking" for at least another 2 weeks after they are over.  Chances are, at 3 months post treatment they will scan him, and that's when they'll know if anything lights up.  It is also not unheard of to do a neck dissection after treatment is over, and take out lymph nodes.

    At this junction, it sounds to me like he's doing very well.

    p

  • longtermsurvivor
    longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,842 Member
    #3
    Hi Hope

    To answer your question, yes, nodes continue to shrink after radiation.  It can take six months for this to occur which is one of the reasons follow up is so important.  His cancer is a squamous cancer just located in a tough spot, the pyriform fossa.   That is a subset of hypopharyngeal cancer, which is harder to treat than some, but not impossible.  Best wishes to him.

     

     

    Pat

  • hope3210
    hope3210 Member Posts: 27
    #4
    longtermsurvivor said:

    Hi Hope

    To answer your question, yes, nodes continue to shrink after radiation.  It can take six months for this to occur which is one of the reasons follow up is so important.  His cancer is a squamous cancer just located in a tough spot, the pyriform fossa.   That is a subset of hypopharyngeal cancer, which is harder to treat than some, but not impossible.  Best wishes to him.

     

     

    Pat

    Thank you pat and

    Thank you pat and phrannie,

     

    Thanks for your supporting words which gave me some confidence in fighting with this beast.Today i went to my medicine oncologist and Radiologist.

    Medicine doctor told he was expecting response from all these nodes quickly.In his medication he has give 2 cycles of chemo(cysplatin ,Mesna).and after that Monolythic Anti body(MAB) weekly for 4 weeks.Today we had one dose of MAB.He told after radiation take a rest for 15days then if lympnodes are not going they will do re biopsy then decide whether to do surgery or any other treatment.

     

    the radiation onocologist has given IMIRT for 6weeks and the dose is below 60GY(53,58).The actual tumor has gone only 60% that means my father is having that bug in him now.Does that not got removed because of low dose of radiation?

     

    Thanks

  • longtermsurvivor
    longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,842 Member
    #5
    hope3210 said:

    Thank you pat and

    Thank you pat and phrannie,

     

    Thanks for your supporting words which gave me some confidence in fighting with this beast.Today i went to my medicine oncologist and Radiologist.

    Medicine doctor told he was expecting response from all these nodes quickly.In his medication he has give 2 cycles of chemo(cysplatin ,Mesna).and after that Monolythic Anti body(MAB) weekly for 4 weeks.Today we had one dose of MAB.He told after radiation take a rest for 15days then if lympnodes are not going they will do re biopsy then decide whether to do surgery or any other treatment.

     

    the radiation onocologist has given IMIRT for 6weeks and the dose is below 60GY(53,58).The actual tumor has gone only 60% that means my father is having that bug in him now.Does that not got removed because of low dose of radiation?

     

    Thanks

    that's pretty aggressive treatment

    And I can understand it under the circumstances.  they are shooting for a cure, not just fooling around.  Even if the tumor is still present, that doesn't mean it is alive.  That is sometimes only discerned by pathology.  It is interesting they haven't gone farther with the radiatioin.  standard doses, as you know, are somewhat higher than 60GY, generally about 70GY.  Do you know why this is?

     

    Pat

  • hope3210
    hope3210 Member Posts: 27
    #6
    Hi Pat,
    Thank you very much

    Hi Pat,

    Thank you very much for your reply.

    I haven't asked the doctor why she choose below 60GY.But i can guess as my fater is 53yrs height is 5' 7" but his body weight is only 47KG.This might be one reason behind choosing low does.Doctors are very much supportive.Thats why i have hope that one day my father will be free.

     

    Lets pray to god.

    I have one question,My Medicin onocologist told that he will again do biopsy of Lymph nodes to confirm whether those are because of cancer or any other dieses like TB.I didint understand why he told about TB? But lets see.Our Radiation will be over by next week.

     

    Thanks & Regards

    Alok

  • longtermsurvivor
    longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,842 Member
    #7
    hope3210 said:

    Hi Pat,
    Thank you very much

    Hi Pat,

    Thank you very much for your reply.

    I haven't asked the doctor why she choose below 60GY.But i can guess as my fater is 53yrs height is 5' 7" but his body weight is only 47KG.This might be one reason behind choosing low does.Doctors are very much supportive.Thats why i have hope that one day my father will be free.

     

    Lets pray to god.

    I have one question,My Medicin onocologist told that he will again do biopsy of Lymph nodes to confirm whether those are because of cancer or any other dieses like TB.I didint understand why he told about TB? But lets see.Our Radiation will be over by next week.

     

    Thanks & Regards

    Alok

    aha

    I am dumb.  Where do you live?

     

    Pat

  • hope3210
    hope3210 Member Posts: 27
    #8
    longtermsurvivor said:

    aha

    I am dumb.  Where do you live?

     

    Pat

    Hi All,
     
    I am too worrid

    Hi All,

     

    I am too worrid Radiation doctor is telling Radiation is not responding to lymph nodes as dieses is advance.Need your prayer.

  • debbiejeanne
    debbiejeanne Member Posts: 3,102 Member
    #9
    hope3210 said:

    Hi All,
     
    I am too worrid

    Hi All,

     

    I am too worrid Radiation doctor is telling Radiation is not responding to lymph nodes as dieses is advance.Need your prayer.

    hope, saying prayers for the

    hope, saying prayers for the tx to start shrinking the tumor and for your dad to get better.  praying for strength for you both.

    God bless you,

    dj

  • hope3210
    hope3210 Member Posts: 27
    #10
    debbiejeanne said:

    hope, saying prayers for the

    hope, saying prayers for the tx to start shrinking the tumor and for your dad to get better.  praying for strength for you both.

    God bless you,

    dj

    Thank you for your

    Thank you for your prayer.

     

    3 more days to complete the treatment of 7weeks of radiation.

     

    Thanks All

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