Welcome to the H&N, and sorry you need to be here. At this stage, don't google, it's to easy to get the wrong sites. We have a Superthread at the top that is a read only [ Link to make it easy: http://csn.cancer.org/node/261072 ]

My first question is are you going to a local Dr or to a Major haspital for cancer and do this all the time. Depending where you live and how far you want to drive, it can matter. http://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/rankings/cancer .

You will want to go to someone who has done many of these and has a tumor board. [That is where all the Dr are together and all decide what it best. Radiologist; Surgen; Oncologist; pathologist; and even nutritionist].

Next: This is beatable and so many have before you. Stage two is good that means you cought it early. The removel of the lymph nodes is scarry, but it's not that bad. They took 86 out of me and I slept through it, The surgery as well. You wake up and it's over. You are going on a bumpy road, but you will make it. They want to remove it and they will rebuild it as well. 

When you go to your doctor please take someone with you just to help listen. They will say something and you will go blank, and might not hear it right. For your questions, write them down and hand them to the Dr. He should answer all of them for you. My Dr wrote the answere and handed it back.

There is many here that have had the same as you do, BOT. You will get answere and support you will need to get through this. Will add you to my prayer list. 

Mine was stage 3 T3,N0,M0 SCC of the larnyx, and had the tumor removed and 86 lymph glands, and my voice box. Had a Prosthesis put in [TEP]so I can still talk.  You will survive this.  

PS: It's ok to be scared, we all were too. Just take one day at a time, and only today matters.

Bill

hi, joy, and welcome to the family although it makes us sad each time we get a new member.  i'm so sorry you have to fight the fight but stay off google, it is not a good place.  you will find the best information right here because you get it from experienced cancer fighters/survivors!  when you look at your precious 2-yr old, tell yourseld, that is your reason to fight.  and you will win this fight.  it is not an easy road, but you will make it.  we will all be here for you to encourage you, pick you up when you're down, cry with you, laugh with you, celebrate small and large things with you, and cheer you on from the sidelines.  you've joined a good family since you needed one that knows and understands the journey you are about to embark on.  right now your head is spinning and you're trying to come to grips with the realization of what you've been told.  you will be strong once your head stops spinning.  but, anytime you need to vent, cry, hollar or whatever, you can do it here.  we understand.  i am praying for you Joy, and I hope your nerves will calm down some so you can think about this rationally.  check out the superthread at the top of "topic" list.  there is fantastic information in there about everything.  and feel free to ask any question here, nothing is off limits.  check back in and let us know how you are doing.  we will be waiting to hear.  in the meantime, please don't research on the internet, most of that info is very outdated.

God bless you,

dj

It is overwhelming but it is what it is and you need the mindset that it is time to do battle. I say it many times...................If I can do it so can you. I had stage 4 base of tongue, they took my epiglottis, part of my tongue, a few lymph nodes, and my uvula. I just celebrated 5 years of being cancer free last week after I visited my doc. I went to Philadelphia 75 miles away from home because that is where the local doc sent me.

There are many fine folks on this site that can get you through anything all you have to do is ask.  Ridgt now google is not your friend all you will find there is old news and bad news. Now if your looking for the latest fashions for your two year old google that.

Stay positive and stay strong............you found the best place on the web to help with your battle.

      Jeff

nobody wants to join, Joy.  There is not a person here who wasn't scared silly when they first got here....not a single one!  Everything was normal just a week ago, then boom!  we find ourselves caught in the center of a word we never expected to hear....CANCER!!  I remember well.....but like you, I found this group before I started treatment....I asked hundreds of questions....I let everyone know how I was feeling.....and I found not only great information here, but so much support and kindness.  Also, the people here are so smart....they know things even the Drs. don't know on how to make this journey even more doable than it already is.  You're going to be alright. I might add....the first thing I did was drop Google searches, as per the advice I got from here....and right away my life became easier. 

There is SO MUCH HOPE!!  You're young, you're Stage II, you have much to live for.....that's just the bottom line of hope, with much more hope to add on to it.  Treatment isn't a walk in the park....but you will see as others pop in and talk, that there are many, MANY here who have been around for a long time after getting this disease and gettign through it.  My Dr. told me up front that I'd get over this.....that something else will cause my demise somewhere down the road.....but it won't be this.  I had Stage III, Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC in the venacular).  No surgery, but I was told if my lymph nodes didn't go down during rads and chemo I'd get surgery when treatment was over.  I am now 2 1/2 years out of treatment....three years next month I got the diagnosis.   

Pre surgery, eat all you can of whatever you want.....extra weight has now become your friend...the more fattening the better....how fun .  Once treatment starts rules are drink, drink, drink....eat, eat, eat.....rest rest rest.  You're going to make it through this, and out the other side.....you will live to see your baby grow up!!  All done with a "one day at a time" attitude....you can do this!!

There is at least one other person on here who went to Shands in Gainsville.....Krashpad....he doesn't post here often, but I see him a lot on Facebook.  I can introduce you if you want.

If you stick close to the group, tho.....I can attest that you have found the best Head and Neck Cancer group on the internet....there are so many smart, smart people here.

p

phrannie51 said:

Welcome to the club

nobody wants to join, Joy.  There is not a person here who wasn't scared silly when they first got here....not a single one!  Everything was normal just a week ago, then boom!  we find ourselves caught in the center of a word we never expected to hear....CANCER!!  I remember well.....but like you, I found this group before I started treatment....I asked hundreds of questions....I let everyone know how I was feeling.....and I found not only great information here, but so much support and kindness.  Also, the people here are so smart....they know things even the Drs. don't know on how to make this journey even more doable than it already is.  You're going to be alright. I might add....the first thing I did was drop Google searches, as per the advice I got from here....and right away my life became easier. 

There is SO MUCH HOPE!!  You're young, you're Stage II, you have much to live for.....that's just the bottom line of hope, with much more hope to add on to it.  Treatment isn't a walk in the park....but you will see as others pop in and talk, that there are many, MANY here who have been around for a long time after getting this disease and gettign through it.  My Dr. told me up front that I'd get over this.....that something else will cause my demise somewhere down the road.....but it won't be this.  I had Stage III, Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC in the venacular).  No surgery, but I was told if my lymph nodes didn't go down during rads and chemo I'd get surgery when treatment was over.  I am now 2 1/2 years out of treatment....three years next month I got the diagnosis.   

Pre surgery, eat all you can of whatever you want.....extra weight has now become your friend...the more fattening the better....how fun .  Once treatment starts rules are drink, drink, drink....eat, eat, eat.....rest rest rest.  You're going to make it through this, and out the other side.....you will live to see your baby grow up!!  All done with a "one day at a time" attitude....you can do this!!

There is at least one other person on here who went to Shands in Gainsville.....Krashpad....he doesn't post here often, but I see him a lot on Facebook.  I can introduce you if you want.

If you stick close to the group, tho.....I can attest that you have found the best Head and Neck Cancer group on the internet....there are so many smart, smart people here.

p

Phrannie:

I love your new picture.  You look so healthy and young.  Did you change your hair color?

I would echo your words to the new girl, but caution her to avoid sugar.  I knew I would need to gain weight when diagnosed and I immediately started eating sees candy and doghnuts.  I was later told that was the worst thing I could have done.  I should have known better but, oh well!

CONGRATULATIONS!  Almost three years.  You are home free.

Shirley

Sailor123 said:

Phrannie:
I love your new

Phrannie:

I love your new picture.  You look so healthy and young.  Did you change your hair color?

I would echo your words to the new girl, but caution her to avoid sugar.  I knew I would need to gain weight when diagnosed and I immediately started eating sees candy and doghnuts.  I was later told that was the worst thing I could have done.  I should have known better but, oh well!

CONGRATULATIONS!  Almost three years.  You are home free.

Shirley

but since I've been keeping it short, it looks darker (except all the grey of course).  Thanks for making me feel SO GOOD!!  Wrinkles are all still there, but I've gained 3 lbs, and pushed them out a little...LOL. 

I'm still eating ice cream everyday....a little sugar isn't going to hurt anything....and if there's a way to pack in a whole lot of calores with just a few bites, it's ice cream!!  

p

phrannie51 said:

Welcome to the club

nobody wants to join, Joy.  There is not a person here who wasn't scared silly when they first got here....not a single one!  Everything was normal just a week ago, then boom!  we find ourselves caught in the center of a word we never expected to hear....CANCER!!  I remember well.....but like you, I found this group before I started treatment....I asked hundreds of questions....I let everyone know how I was feeling.....and I found not only great information here, but so much support and kindness.  Also, the people here are so smart....they know things even the Drs. don't know on how to make this journey even more doable than it already is.  You're going to be alright. I might add....the first thing I did was drop Google searches, as per the advice I got from here....and right away my life became easier. 

There is SO MUCH HOPE!!  You're young, you're Stage II, you have much to live for.....that's just the bottom line of hope, with much more hope to add on to it.  Treatment isn't a walk in the park....but you will see as others pop in and talk, that there are many, MANY here who have been around for a long time after getting this disease and gettign through it.  My Dr. told me up front that I'd get over this.....that something else will cause my demise somewhere down the road.....but it won't be this.  I had Stage III, Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC in the venacular).  No surgery, but I was told if my lymph nodes didn't go down during rads and chemo I'd get surgery when treatment was over.  I am now 2 1/2 years out of treatment....three years next month I got the diagnosis.   

Pre surgery, eat all you can of whatever you want.....extra weight has now become your friend...the more fattening the better....how fun .  Once treatment starts rules are drink, drink, drink....eat, eat, eat.....rest rest rest.  You're going to make it through this, and out the other side.....you will live to see your baby grow up!!  All done with a "one day at a time" attitude....you can do this!!

There is at least one other person on here who went to Shands in Gainsville.....Krashpad....he doesn't post here often, but I see him a lot on Facebook.  I can introduce you if you want.

If you stick close to the group, tho.....I can attest that you have found the best Head and Neck Cancer group on the internet....there are so many smart, smart people here.

p

Phrannie:

Can you taste ice cream?  I would eat it all day long if I could taste it.  Can you taste most things?  Hows your saliva production.  I've been getting accupuncture and its helping with both but ever slowly.  Have you had any dental issues?  Maybe I should have private messaged you.

Shirley

wmc said:

Why remove Lymph glands in neck...

There is somewhere between 200 to 300 depending where you get the informatinn from. I had 86 total removed. 48 on my left and 38 on the righ side, none were swollen and all were checked and were clean. Mine was done as a precaution that if the cancer came back[ very small chance of returning] it would not be able to go and spread to my glands, because there gone. Just a precaution for me. Canser can spread through the blood or the lymph system. There is a side effect that my neck is sore and the muscles are tight but i'm safer that way. Remember mine was just above my vocal cords and my larynx had to be removed is also why my neck is sore. I was cut fron ear to ear, and only have a small scar on the left side. I never had radiation. When they were doing the surgery there was a patholigest their testing as they came out. That way they new I was clean. That is an advantage of having a tumor board. All done at one surgery. When I woke up I was in a regular room, never went to ICU. With all that and having to learn to talk and swallow, I was back full time at work where I have to use the phone and talk all day, in 10 weeks. You get the attitude you can and will beat anything they throw at you......And YOU WILL.

Bill

Rememeber everyone is different. I was originally diagnosed T4,N2c, then i went to Stanford like Bill (430 miles and worth it). They downgraded it to T3, N2b MO whatever that is. SCC right tonsil and BOT HPV+, multiple lymph nodes in neck and shoulder as well.  I had simultaneous chemo and radiation but no surgery at Stanford, stayed in the same Apt as Bill accross the street. I still question the no surgery but I don't doubt the doctors. It has been almost 5 years now NED. My Doctors and many others at Stanford are part of many on going studies about this and they said/claimed based on studies that the results for overal survivablility and re-occurrence were the same for me regardless of surgery. Those studies and many more are all there on the Stanford website. Check them out

One thing for sure, there is a ton of great people on this board and great resources here as well that definatley make your journey better. I do not post much but I read a lot and this board is really really helpful.

Mark

Welcome to the family here on CSN H&N, as you can see you are not alone and you already have many friends here that can give you help and support. We were all like you at one time so it is normal to feel the way you’re feeling. Just hand in there C happens to people every day, the good news is that you can beat it.

Tim Hondo