Nasopharynx is....

phrannie51
phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

....clear!  Whoo Hoo....Yippie Ki Yi.....Woopie.....Hallaluah....!!!!  Dr. called a little while ago with the biopsy results.  He took several biopsies of the nasopharynx, all of them were clear.  Ended up with 3 nodes with cancer, not just the two that we saw on the PET scan.....one is excapsulated, so that means chemo again as well as radiation.  Will be talking to the Rad Onc tomorrow....the Oncologist the 24th to get a plan together. 

Ok....so I have to redo treatment, but because my nasopharynx is clear, it won't be as long as last time...I hope, anyway.  And I'm thinking they can't use Cisplatin again....anybody know on the chemo, if they use the same stuff twice?

For now...thank you for all the support, the prayers, the good mojo, the pocket tuckings...I needed them all, and they worked....I am more than relieved.

p

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Comments

  • MrsBD
    MrsBD Member Posts: 617 Member
    #2
    Phrannie, you took all my

    Phrannie, you took all my words! Wonderful news! There are several new treatments,  so I'm sure your oncologist will have something up his sleeve. (He can't have it in his pocket because that is where he keeps patients.☺) Sleep well!

  • swopoe
    swopoe Member Posts: 492
    #3
    Great news

    Phrannie! I am very happy you got clear results. Wishing you all the best with your treatments and continuing to send lots of love.

  • wmc
    wmc Member Posts: 1,804
    #4
    Oh Phrannie that is sooo good to hear.

    So glad the nasopharynx is all clear. That has to be such a relief it is clear.

    Bill

  • donfoo
    donfoo Member Posts: 1,773 Member
    #5
    Yeah!

    Such wonderful news and I know you taking some deep breaths.

    Treatment will surely present fewer side effects this time around. I've not read reports where chemo could not be used again in recurrent cases. I'm sure it happens but it seems pretty rare.

     

    Happy for you!

     

    Don

  • hwt
    hwt Member Posts: 2,328 Member
    #6
    donfoo said:

    Yeah!

    Such wonderful news and I know you taking some deep breaths.

    Treatment will surely present fewer side effects this time around. I've not read reports where chemo could not be used again in recurrent cases. I'm sure it happens but it seems pretty rare.

     

    Happy for you!

     

    Don

    Elated

    So happy for you!!!! I had cisplatin the first go round 2011.  Second time was Erbitux and taxol. I am happy to tell you that second time around was easier on me by far. Curious. if they removed nodes why they would radiate again. I had the SBRT because my tumors were inoperable. They did the chemo because they had determined there were rogue cells still raomimg around. It has worked because scan results today were clean again :-)

    It is a good news day! 

  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #7
    hwt said:

    Elated

    So happy for you!!!! I had cisplatin the first go round 2011.  Second time was Erbitux and taxol. I am happy to tell you that second time around was easier on me by far. Curious. if they removed nodes why they would radiate again. I had the SBRT because my tumors were inoperable. They did the chemo because they had determined there were rogue cells still raomimg around. It has worked because scan results today were clean again :-)

    It is a good news day! 

    Candi...they are radiating again

    because one of the nodes was excapsulated....beginning to spill it's contents into my body.  Had they all been encapsulated, I probably would have got away with no rads or chemo. 

    p

  • josh r.
    josh r. Member Posts: 264 Member
    #8
    Fear got beat up again!

    Hi Phrannie51, Great news! All the best. josh r.

  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #9
    Saw the Radiologist today.....

    He is pretty sure that the radiation is below the last rads, but says he won't know for absolutely sure until they do the simulation to make sure there is no overlapping.  If that was the case, he won't treat me.....but again, he's pretty sure, so I'm not going to worry about that.

    They have a new IMRT machine as well as the SBRT.....I will be having IMRT again, but treatment will be 20 to 25 sessions....guess this gets the work done quicker.  He said the new rad range is well below my saliva glannds, so I won't be needing Amifostine again....thank you God!  Also, won't lose my tastebuds again, either.  I asked about my esophagus.....he said that the rads might clip it a tiny bit, but not enough to cause problems....uh huh....we'll discuss this part again.  I should be able to get done in 20 to 25 sessions....oh, and I have to do the mask again....ewwwww.  So again, I will be the Ativan queen....but with no Amifostine, I'll just have to go to rads, no stopping by the Onc's office for 2 1/2 hours prior to rads.....If I could figure out how to do the mask with Ativan, I could even drive myself for the first couple of weeks....but I never figured that out the last time.

    Love you guys....you know you'll start hearing from me daily.....I huddle in with my HNC family, and don't come out till it's over.

    p

  • Laralyn
    Laralyn Member Posts: 532
    #10
    I only have one thing to say...

    YES

  • Barbaraek
    Barbaraek Member Posts: 626
    #11
    Courage

    I have been offline for a few days and i was almost afraid to open your message...I know I was holding my breath. Thank God for a good result! I know you will have the courage and fortitude to check off those radiation treatments and chemo. Not trying to be too gushy...but Phrannie you are so inspirational to me! You know that all of here on CSN H&N will be holding your hand while you're wearing that mask and tucking you in our pockets during the chemo.

    You better post, so we can walk with you and cheer you on.

    Barbara

  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,724 Member
    #12

    P,

    It is good news with a good plan.  Be strong, take it as it comes and it will be over soon!

    Matt

     

    image

  • donfoo
    donfoo Member Posts: 1,773 Member
    #13
    phrannie51 said:

    Saw the Radiologist today.....

    He is pretty sure that the radiation is below the last rads, but says he won't know for absolutely sure until they do the simulation to make sure there is no overlapping.  If that was the case, he won't treat me.....but again, he's pretty sure, so I'm not going to worry about that.

    They have a new IMRT machine as well as the SBRT.....I will be having IMRT again, but treatment will be 20 to 25 sessions....guess this gets the work done quicker.  He said the new rad range is well below my saliva glannds, so I won't be needing Amifostine again....thank you God!  Also, won't lose my tastebuds again, either.  I asked about my esophagus.....he said that the rads might clip it a tiny bit, but not enough to cause problems....uh huh....we'll discuss this part again.  I should be able to get done in 20 to 25 sessions....oh, and I have to do the mask again....ewwwww.  So again, I will be the Ativan queen....but with no Amifostine, I'll just have to go to rads, no stopping by the Onc's office for 2 1/2 hours prior to rads.....If I could figure out how to do the mask with Ativan, I could even drive myself for the first couple of weeks....but I never figured that out the last time.

    Love you guys....you know you'll start hearing from me daily.....I huddle in with my HNC family, and don't come out till it's over.

    p

    nice

    The RO stating he won't treat if any overlap? The general opinion is radiating the area once is the limit. You know others that have been radiated multple times on and around the previous areas, so do seek a second opinion if that should arise.

    Maybe you can endure the mask better this time as it will be a lot more familiar. 

    Lastly, start hitting the local buffets everyday! You gotta bulk up just in case but it seems like your throat and mouth are getting a rest this time.

     

     

    How's the healing of the surery going?

    Don

  • wmc
    wmc Member Posts: 1,804
    #14
    Good news.......I think

    You might save this mask and fill it with paper mache and plaster. It can be a nice bust and maybe paint it as well. Maybe do a clay sculpture.  Nothing but good mojo for you.

    Bill

  • Grandmax4
    Grandmax4 Member Posts: 723
    #15
    I'm In!!

    image

  • lifeisDHA
    lifeisDHA Member Posts: 64
    #16
    I am so relieved.

    This is great! It's good to know that the additional radiation won't be as bad as first time. How about the chemo treatment. Has the oncologist decided what to do? I was hoping my boyfriend could get additional treatement after neck dissection but we are doing the ''wait and see" approach. He will get another scan in January. I am so nervous.

  • GavinP
    GavinP Member Posts: 118
    #17
    Great to hear...

    That the nasopharynx is clear. Wonderful news.

    Hopefully you won't need too much treatment to get rid of any remaining nasty cells in the lymp and you'll be able to close the door on this latest chapter.

  • kdot2003
    kdot2003 Member Posts: 143
    #18
    So happy for you!!!!!!!!!!!!

    So happy for you!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • ditto1
    ditto1 Member Posts: 660
    #19
    kdot2003 said:

    So happy for you!!!!!!!!!!!!

    So happy for you!!!!!!!!!!!!

    So happy your happy

    Diane and I went around and turned off all the ceiling fans, no need for them now.  We then went thru all our pockets to make sure you did not bump into anything.  You are a amazing woman, 3 years ago we were scared beyond what we thought we could handle, and look at you now a WARRIOR, you just sense it in your post.  You are special but we all know that.  How about a LIMO this time around vs. the old Bus?  You can even stock the bar with coca cola and Ativan................Doug

  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #20
    ditto1 said:

    So happy your happy

    Diane and I went around and turned off all the ceiling fans, no need for them now.  We then went thru all our pockets to make sure you did not bump into anything.  You are a amazing woman, 3 years ago we were scared beyond what we thought we could handle, and look at you now a WARRIOR, you just sense it in your post.  You are special but we all know that.  How about a LIMO this time around vs. the old Bus?  You can even stock the bar with coca cola and Ativan................Doug

    Why not a Limo!!

    I think Joe would appreciated a Limo....and Laralyn and I can keep the bar stocked with Coke, 7-Up, and Boost....LOL.  I'm pretty happy, considering.....that little voice on my shoulder niggles me here and there, and trys to get a conversation going about how I'm not out of the woods yet....but I have been flicking her off, and telling her to take a hike. 

    I'm going to do what I can to boost my immune system, too.....I think Squamous Cell has taken enough rides in this body (2 skin cancers and 2 throat cancers)....enough is enough.

    p

  • Barbaraek
    Barbaraek Member Posts: 626
    #21
    phrannie51 said:

    Why not a Limo!!

    I think Joe would appreciated a Limo....and Laralyn and I can keep the bar stocked with Coke, 7-Up, and Boost....LOL.  I'm pretty happy, considering.....that little voice on my shoulder niggles me here and there, and trys to get a conversation going about how I'm not out of the woods yet....but I have been flicking her off, and telling her to take a hike. 

    I'm going to do what I can to boost my immune system, too.....I think Squamous Cell has taken enough rides in this body (2 skin cancers and 2 throat cancers)....enough is enough.

    p

    Save those empty Boost cans

    to tie on the back of the limo to celebrate the end of treatment this time around. I'll supply balloons...

    Barbara

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