SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA, HYPOPHARYNX

lightpulse
lightpulse Member Posts: 13
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

Hello everyone,

I've just joined and trying to feel out this org. Anyone with the above cancer? Just wanted to see if there were any members with the SCCH so that I maybe able to pick their non-cancerous brain. I'm just selfish that way. This is like a test post to see if it gets posted.

So anyone with SCCH?

Tak

Comments

  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,724 Member
    #2
    welcome

    Tak,

    Welcome to the H&N forum, sorry that you are here, but hopefully one of our non-cancerous brain H&N members can help you.

    There have been members who have made it through treatments for SCCH successfully.  The surgical side I am not very familiar with, but on the radiation side, lots of us can contribute to your knowledge base (as side effects are similar).

    Well you did get posted, I read it.  Now, we just have to wait to see if anyone meeting your criteria responds.  If you have general questions, almost any of us might be able to help.

    Matt

     

  • Engelsa
    Engelsa Member Posts: 50
    #3
    Welcome lightpulse

    My husband is presently being treated for NPC. Surgery is not an option. Treatment is seven weeks of chemo radiation. 

    S

  • lightpulse
    lightpulse Member Posts: 13
    #4
    CivilMatt said:

    welcome

    Tak,

    Welcome to the H&N forum, sorry that you are here, but hopefully one of our non-cancerous brain H&N members can help you.

    There have been members who have made it through treatments for SCCH successfully.  The surgical side I am not very familiar with, but on the radiation side, lots of us can contribute to your knowledge base (as side effects are similar).

    Well you did get posted, I read it.  Now, we just have to wait to see if anyone meeting your criteria responds.  If you have general questions, almost any of us might be able to help.

    Matt

     

    Thanks Matt

    Thanks Matt for your warm welcome. I'm glad you are a civil person. I prefer people that don't resort to violence. Surgery for my SCCH is only an option if it's life threatening. If I have surgery, I'll look like that lady on the TV commercial that has a hole in front of her throat and uses some kind of device to talk and she sounds like an alien.

    Tak...

  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,724 Member
    #5
    5:43 pm words of wisdom

    Tak,

    There are quite a few who have had a Tracheotomy and use Laryngectomee products for speech.  One H&N member in particular excels in doing the impossible (because he can).

    Where ever this hiccup leads you, there are others who have blazed the trail and are ready to share, if you want.

    Matt

  • DarcyS
    DarcyS Member Posts: 81 Member
    edited May 2017 #6
    Scc hypopharynx

    My husband had scc in this area.  More specifically in his piriform sinus and lympnodes.  His treatment consisted of chemo. for 6 weeks and then chemo with radiation.  Surgery was plan b if this treatment didn't work.  It did and he is now 4+ years post treatment, doing great with minimal side effects. This site is filled with helpful and friendly people who will be there for you and provide invaluable advice.

  • Noellesmom
    Noellesmom Member Posts: 1,859 Member
    #7
    Husband had hypopharyngeal

    Stage IV according to his ENT.

    Six years post-treatment. NED six years.

  • bild
    bild Member Posts: 3
    #8
    Hypopharyngeal Cancer

    I was diagnosed in the last three days of 2015 with SCC of the hypopharynx, had immediate trach and feeding tube, as the tumor was blocking my airway.  Then chemo and rads, followed by surgery.  I'm now trying to tie up loose ends (TEP problem and feeding tube site leakage) to try and find my new normal.  Pet scan in January was NED.

  • lightpulse
    lightpulse Member Posts: 13
    #9
    bild said:

    Hypopharyngeal Cancer

    I was diagnosed in the last three days of 2015 with SCC of the hypopharynx, had immediate trach and feeding tube, as the tumor was blocking my airway.  Then chemo and rads, followed by surgery.  I'm now trying to tie up loose ends (TEP problem and feeding tube site leakage) to try and find my new normal.  Pet scan in January was NED.

    No surgery for me

    Lucky for me, no surgery of the pharynx. How's your voice after the surgery? At the beginning of my disease, the ENT was telling me he will try to avoid surgery at any costs because the surgery usually causes loss of voice. Makes sense, no voice box, no voice. Only issue with my voice is I have to force a lot more air through the pharynx to talk near pre rad. And it's whispy and hoarse sounding. Good thing is that more I talk, the better my voice gets.

    Good luck bild,

    Tak...

  • lornal
    lornal Member Posts: 428
    edited May 2017 #10
    I had that

    I had hypopharnx cancer.  It was my second cancer - first was tonsil.

    For this one, I only had surgery (laryngectomy, neck dissection, reconstruction).

    I am 3 years out - doing well.  Even learning to talk without vocal cords or any other assistance.  Life is good.

    Lorna 2007 & 2014

  • silversword
    silversword Member Posts: 3
    #11
    lightpulse said:

    No surgery for me

    Lucky for me, no surgery of the pharynx. How's your voice after the surgery? At the beginning of my disease, the ENT was telling me he will try to avoid surgery at any costs because the surgery usually causes loss of voice. Makes sense, no voice box, no voice. Only issue with my voice is I have to force a lot more air through the pharynx to talk near pre rad. And it's whispy and hoarse sounding. Good thing is that more I talk, the better my voice gets.

    Good luck bild,

    Tak...

    In recovery, post-radiation, for Stage 1 laryngeal cancer

    Hi Tak,

    This is my first post. It sounds like we have things in common: Upon presenting with a persistent sore throat followed by diagnosis last October, my doctors also decided no surgery, just 30 radiation treatments for a small, solo tumor on one of my vocal chords. A piece of cake, they said, and it was! I could talk and eat (with pain meds) throughout the treatments. I was lucky, everyone said. Now, four months after last treatment, with residual, nearly constant pain/discomfort in my throat, I'm still taking various pain meds and carefully swallow liquids fearing coughing fits. My voice is low and gravelly, talking is an effort; and I wonder if this is the new normal. After I complained about the pain/choking feeling two weeks ago, a doctor admitted recovery can take a year, maybe more. I guess I thought the radiation would the worst of it, but recovery, when tender tissues are rebuilding themselves as best they can, is its own trial.  

    So, that's my story, and I'm hoping to read more, understand more, from others who've been through it too. I hope this info helps you. Good luck! (FYI: I was a lifelong on-and-off smoker.)

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