#17436 04-29-2005 07:15 AM | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 60 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | OP Supporting Member (50+ posts) Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 60 | Hi Jerry, We have an appointment on the 2nd, will post as soon as I get home Sammie
C/G to Husband Richard SCC Op 4/1/2005 T2N0M0,Neck disection, 35% of tongue removed. Reoccurance 3/2007,Lymph Node same side Positive SCC, Swelled to 2.5 inches. IMRT X35 Cis X3 Completed 33 IMRT Cis x2 carbo X1 MET to lungs post treatment 10/04/2007 Passed peacefully 31st July 2008.
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#17437 04-29-2005 09:36 AM | Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 90 Senior Member (75+ posts) | Senior Member (75+ posts) Joined: Nov 2004 Posts: 90 | Hi Sammie,
As the rest have said, if it is lymphedema, look into getting lymphatic drainage massage. My husband Ron had lymphedema under his chin and as it turned out, my facialist knows how to do that type of massage. Ron went several times and it helped tremendously! She even showed me how to massage Ron's neck so that I could help at home. He is 5 months post tx and the lymphedema is almost gone now. We also found that if he slept more propt up and not flat, that helped too. Best of luck.
Take care,
Shelley
Caregiver to husband, Ron. Throat cancer, Stage II. No Chemo or Surgery. Completed 35 Radiation Treatments in November 2004.
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#17438 05-04-2005 04:39 PM | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 60 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | OP Supporting Member (50+ posts) Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 60 | Sorry for not replying sooner but I couldnt find this post! (finally the penny dropped when I clicked on posts!) We went to the doctor and he said that Richard DID have lymphedema, and told him to massage the area, were you lot ever right!you guys are wonderful!
C/G to Husband Richard SCC Op 4/1/2005 T2N0M0,Neck disection, 35% of tongue removed. Reoccurance 3/2007,Lymph Node same side Positive SCC, Swelled to 2.5 inches. IMRT X35 Cis X3 Completed 33 IMRT Cis x2 carbo X1 MET to lungs post treatment 10/04/2007 Passed peacefully 31st July 2008.
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#17439 07-12-2005 09:01 AM | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 60 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | OP Supporting Member (50+ posts) Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 60 | Update............. Richard started going to have lymphatic massage, he said after the first visit that it was all a croc, and he was sore....but I pushed him to go twice a week every week and after a month admitted that he was starting to feel some benefit! (oh ye of little faith) The lady who does his lymphatic massage told us that she had to try and "encourage" the creation on the new drainage paths and steer them away from the shoulder/arm area as you have no "exit" for the fluids in your arm and could cause a build up. All in all he is progressing slowly but the tiredness is still there....he can drop off to sleep in the middle of a sentence.....Does this ever go away / improve at all? Many thanks As always Sam and Richard
C/G to Husband Richard SCC Op 4/1/2005 T2N0M0,Neck disection, 35% of tongue removed. Reoccurance 3/2007,Lymph Node same side Positive SCC, Swelled to 2.5 inches. IMRT X35 Cis X3 Completed 33 IMRT Cis x2 carbo X1 MET to lungs post treatment 10/04/2007 Passed peacefully 31st July 2008.
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#17440 07-12-2005 10:40 AM | Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 98 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | Supporting Member (50+ posts) Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 98 | Has he had his electrolytes checked? and blood drawn? And also his thyroid checked? If anything is a little off that could be making him sleepy.
Was Primary caregiver to my mom who had stage IV, SCC, Supraglottic with Mets to 4 nodes. Diagnosed Feb 04, died unexpectedly from complications from treatment December 17, 2004.
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#17441 07-13-2005 05:07 AM | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 | Sammie,
Glad to hear that Richard's lymphedema is better. You've heard the same things I did from my therapist.
I found that the more I did, the less tired I was. It took me about a week back at work,(on a limited schedule of patients) to really start feeling better.
Have you guys discussed this tiredness with the doctor? Seems like he should be less tired by now.
Jerry
Jerry
Retired Dentist, 59 years old at diagnosis. SCC of the left lateral border of the tongue (Stage I). Partial glossectomy and 30 nodes removed, 4/6/05. Nodes all clear. No chemo no radiation 18 year survivor.
"Whatever doesn't kill me, makes me stronger"
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#17442 07-13-2005 05:29 AM | Joined: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 | Defintely get a thyroid check and make them run the full check so you get his TSH level, T4 levels . Compare this against his TSH level before all this. You can still be in range of normal on the scale and not be normal for you. I find if my TSH is off slightly I start falling asleep and/or eating everything in sight. Is he eating well? Gte the dr on top of why no energy.
Take care, Eileen
---------------------- Aug 1997 unknown primary, Stage III mets to 1 lymph node in neck; rt ND, 36 XRT rad Aug 2001 tiny tumor on larynx, Stage I total laryngectomy; left ND June 5, 2010 dx early stage breast cancer June 9, 2011 SCC 1.5 cm hypo pharynx, 70% P-16 positive, no mets, Stage I
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#17443 07-13-2005 10:23 AM | Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 | Just a reality check for all patients - the NCCN oncology practice guidelines specify a TSH test every 6 months for anyone receiving radiation in the H&N area. They should have done a baseline TSH test prior to starting treatment as well (it's just a blood test).
Gary Allsebrook *********************************** Dx 11/22/02, SCC, 6 x 3 cm Polypoid tumor, rt tonsil, Stage III/IVA, T3N0M0 G1/2 Tx 1/28/03 - 3/19/03, Cisplatin ct x2, IMRT, bilateral, with boost, x35(69.96Gy) ________________________________________________________ "You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14 NIV)
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#17444 07-13-2005 10:45 AM | Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 98 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | Supporting Member (50+ posts) Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 98 | The only reason i mentioned the sodium test is because of what my mom experienced. That was not a test they routinely do, until they know you have a problem.
Was Primary caregiver to my mom who had stage IV, SCC, Supraglottic with Mets to 4 nodes. Diagnosed Feb 04, died unexpectedly from complications from treatment December 17, 2004.
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