SWALLOWING ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE AFTER IMMUNOTHERAPY

tigran81
tigran81 Member Posts: 17
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

MY FATHER TOOK HIS HIS SECOND IMMUNOTHERAPY AND HARDLY SWALLOWS. BASE OF TONGUE CANCER. ANY SUGGESTIOND PLEASE. HE HAD 2 SURGERY, CHEMO AND RADIOLOGY. DOES THID MEAN DISEASE ADVANCES OR IMMUNO EFFECT ? LITTLE EARLY TO DO CT SCAN WAS TOLD TO SEE PROGRESS. THANK YOU.

Comments

  • corleone
    corleone Member Posts: 312 Member
    edited July 2018 #2
    If this is caused by the side

    If this is caused by the side effects from previous treatments, or caused by the enlarged tumor, no one can tell for sure, without any objective measurements (CT imaging and such). You have to wait until the first CT scan to have a better idea.

    In case the first CT scan shows progression: be warned that Immunotherapy is known for so called pseudo-progression, where the tumor appears enlarged, but it is so because it is infiltrated with a large number of white cells (Tumor infiltrating lymphocytes TIL - which would be a good thing, it shows it’s working). Only a second scan would confirm if it’s real progression or not.

  • tigran81
    tigran81 Member Posts: 17
    edited July 2018 #3
    corleone said:

    If this is caused by the side

    If this is caused by the side effects from previous treatments, or caused by the enlarged tumor, no one can tell for sure, without any objective measurements (CT imaging and such). You have to wait until the first CT scan to have a better idea.

    In case the first CT scan shows progression: be warned that Immunotherapy is known for so called pseudo-progression, where the tumor appears enlarged, but it is so because it is infiltrated with a large number of white cells (Tumor infiltrating lymphocytes TIL - which would be a good thing, it shows it’s working). Only a second scan would confirm if it’s real progression or not.

    Thank you so much for your

    Thank you so much for your response. He got scheduled next wednesday for ct scan. He received only 2 immuno yet. They were going to do ct scan after 4th, but i think i called and addressed the especially swalloing pain, problems too much,so  they got worried and  scheduled earlier. Hopefully it will show good results. Thank you again for response.

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