Nasal pharyngeal carcinoma in adolescent males

Mom16
Mom16 Member Posts: 4
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

I am the parent of a 16 year old boy who has just been diagnosed with this type of cancer. Apparently it’s rare in this country for adults, but it’s extremely rare for kids. My son begins his first round of chemo next week with a 6 day hospital stay. This a child who has never been hospitalized until last week. So needless to say it’s a pretty stressful experience for us. I’m no stranger to cancer. My brother had leukemia in the 80’s. He passed away at age 15 in 1990. Any advice would be great appreciated. My son is 1 in a million kids that get this rare disease. 

Comments

  • Peneloppe
    Peneloppe Member Posts: 28
    #2
    Hi, my husband also have

    Hi, my husband also have nasopharyngeal cancer.  Sorry that your son has to go throught this so early in his life.

    Some people experienced problems in regard to feeding themselves after 3 weeks of treatment, I would tell you to encourage him to eat as much as he can now while he still enjoys his food, to gain some weight if possible.  Hydration is very important for them and makes a world of difference in their recovery.   

    the intensity of his treatment is based on the stage of his cancer, if it is limited to the nasopharynx or reached his lymph node, etc.  I wish that it was discoverd at an early stage and that he will breeze throught his treatment and be fast on the road to the recovery,

    best wishes

  • Mom16
    Mom16 Member Posts: 4
    edited February 2018 #3
    Peneloppe said:

    Hi, my husband also have

    Hi, my husband also have nasopharyngeal cancer.  Sorry that your son has to go throught this so early in his life.

    Some people experienced problems in regard to feeding themselves after 3 weeks of treatment, I would tell you to encourage him to eat as much as he can now while he still enjoys his food, to gain some weight if possible.  Hydration is very important for them and makes a world of difference in their recovery.   

    the intensity of his treatment is based on the stage of his cancer, if it is limited to the nasopharynx or reached his lymph node, etc.  I wish that it was discoverd at an early stage and that he will breeze throught his treatment and be fast on the road to the recovery,

    best wishes

    Nasal Pharyngeal Carcinoma

    Thank you for your reply. He has just completed the first round of chemo. He was in the hospital for 6 days and he will be out for 2 weeks and go back in for 6 days. There will be 3 rounds of chemo over a 9 week period. Sorry it took so long to answer. This has all been overwhelming. He is being treated at a Children's Hospital which is amazing. They make sure we have everything we need while we have to be there, which makes this journey a little more bearable. After chemo, the doctors will revaluate the cancer and decide on surgery or radiation with chemo. It was a while before we figured out what was going on. It all started with what we thought was fluid in the ear. It took us from November 6-January 22 to finally get moving in the right direction. The doctors told us he is one in a million children to be diagnosed with this.  You and your husband are in my prayers. 

  • Frances_S
    Frances_S Member Posts: 54
    edited February 2018 #4
    I'm Sorry

    I am sorry you and your son are going through this. My husband recently finished his treatment. It will be a very difficult road for the both of you, but stay positive it will all be behind you in app. three months.

    When you said, "rare in this country, for adults", did you mean the US or another country? Just curious because, I'm in the US and it seems that H&N cancer is very common here. 

    I wish you and your son all the Best. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your son.

  • Peneloppe
    Peneloppe Member Posts: 28
    #5
    Frances_S said:

    I'm Sorry

    I am sorry you and your son are going through this. My husband recently finished his treatment. It will be a very difficult road for the both of you, but stay positive it will all be behind you in app. three months.

    When you said, "rare in this country, for adults", did you mean the US or another country? Just curious because, I'm in the US and it seems that H&N cancer is very common here. 

    I wish you and your son all the Best. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your son.

    Nasopharyngeal cancer is rare

    Nasopharyngeal cancer is rare in north smerican .5 per 100,000.  Mostly encounter in Asia

  • Peneloppe
    Peneloppe Member Posts: 28
    #6
    Mom16 said:

    Nasal Pharyngeal Carcinoma

    Thank you for your reply. He has just completed the first round of chemo. He was in the hospital for 6 days and he will be out for 2 weeks and go back in for 6 days. There will be 3 rounds of chemo over a 9 week period. Sorry it took so long to answer. This has all been overwhelming. He is being treated at a Children's Hospital which is amazing. They make sure we have everything we need while we have to be there, which makes this journey a little more bearable. After chemo, the doctors will revaluate the cancer and decide on surgery or radiation with chemo. It was a while before we figured out what was going on. It all started with what we thought was fluid in the ear. It took us from November 6-January 22 to finally get moving in the right direction. The doctors told us he is one in a million children to be diagnosed with this.  You and your husband are in my prayers. 

    Wishing you both the easiest

    Wishing you both the easiest journey possible.

    Did they mention if his cancer is Epstein Barr Virus positive

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