| | Joined: May 2011 Posts: 287 Gold Member (200+ posts) | OP  Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: May 2011 Posts: 287 | My dad's PET/MRI report came and the cancerous growth is still there over the tumor bed now encasing carotid sheath and with new hot spot on right supraclavicular lymph node. Surgery is not an option anymore as cancer now involves parapharyngeal space. MO suggested Cisplatin with Erbitux as an option. We are not sure if we want to go ahead and further compromise on Quality of life - we'll decide over the weekend and meet MO on tuesday. Either way, we know that it is almost end of line.
Father; 67 yrs; RIP: 2012/05/26
TX:SCC pT2N1M0G2;Glossectomy+SND+CCRT(59.3Gy+6xCis.)[2009]
TX:Nodal Mets; 3xDCF[2011/05/05]
TX: RND + PMMC Flap[2011/07/11]
DX:SCC PNI+ECE
TX:Re-RT 60Gy[2011/09/21]
TX:Gefitinib 250mg[2011/12/18]
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 | Please don't give up. Christine here has had 3 recurrences. Others the same. Sorry this has happened... Can they surgically remove some of it and then chemo? Good luck... Whatever you decide.
Cheryl : Irritation - 2004 BX: 6/2008 : Inflam. BX: 12/10, DX: 12/10 : SCC - LS tongue well dif. T2N1M0. 2/11 hemigloss + recon. : PND - 40 nodes - 39 clear. 3/11 - 5/11 IMRT 33 + cis x2, PEG 3/28/11 - 5/19/11 3 head, 2 chest scans - clear(fingers crossed) HPV-, No smoke, drink, or drugs, Vegan
| | | | | Joined: May 2011 Posts: 287 Gold Member (200+ posts) | | OP Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: May 2011 Posts: 287 | Hi Cheryl, unfortunately surgery is not an option anymore due to several complexities. My father is on semi-solid/liquid diet these days and another surgery, chemo may further erode the quality of life. It is a hard decision that my father and I have to make.. Honestly speaking, I am at loss today and that is why we walked out of hospital to think over and decide.
Father; 67 yrs; RIP: 2012/05/26
TX:SCC pT2N1M0G2;Glossectomy+SND+CCRT(59.3Gy+6xCis.)[2009]
TX:Nodal Mets; 3xDCF[2011/05/05]
TX: RND + PMMC Flap[2011/07/11]
DX:SCC PNI+ECE
TX:Re-RT 60Gy[2011/09/21]
TX:Gefitinib 250mg[2011/12/18]
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,844 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,844 | Eshwar,
I'm saddened by your news my dear friend. Your father is fortunate to have such a loving, intelligent and devoted son, I can only hope my boys become such men.
I hope you and your father find peace in whatever path your father chooses, these things are never easy. Just know your OCF family is here for you both and share in your pain...it always makes it easier for me when I know I'm not alone.
Peace be with you both whatever happens.
Eric
Young Frack, SCC T4N2M0, Cisplatin,35+ rads,ND, RT Mandiblectomy w fibular free flap, facial paralysis, "He who has a "why" to live can bear with almost any "how"." -Nietzche "WARNING" PG-13 due to Sarcasm & WAY too much attitude, interact at your own risk.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 6 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 6 | Eshwar, I am very sorry your father is going thru this again. I know how difficult it is to find out everything your father has endured was not enough to rid him of the cancer.
I have gone thru oral cancer 3 times. I consider myself one of the very very lucky ones who has lived thru this. My last round I almost refused all treatments. I thought of my children and realized if I dont try for myself, at least I must try for them. It was very difficult but I got thru it.
Please weigh all options very carefully before making any decisions.
Best wishes!
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive  | | | | | Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 701 Likes: 1 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 701 Likes: 1 | Oh, Eshwar, I am so sad that your Dad is having a recurrence. It is heartbreaking. You have been and are a loving son to your Dad. I wish you both peace as you move forward.
With love,
Anita
Anita (68)
CG to husband, Clark, 79,
DX SCC 11/07, T4N0Mx, PEG 1/08, RAD, post rad infection 3/08,
HBOT 40 dives, ORN, Surg 11/09 mandibulectomy w/fibular graft.
Plastic Surg 4/10, 12/10, 3/11, 10/11, 4/12, 10/12. All PETS clear,
PEG out 1/11. 6/11 non union jaw fracture
Fractured jaw w/surgery 7/14
Aspiration pneumonia 7/21, 10/22
PEG 7/21
Botox injections
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 618 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 618 | Eshwar,
I am very sorry to hear the news. I am currently battling lymph tumor in same area that has wrapped around carotid. I am ending week 6 of chemo and radiation as surgery is not an option when the carotid is involved. I may have a slight chance at surviving even if the radiation does not kill the whole tumor but only if it moves off the carotid and surgery can remove the rest (a long shot at best).
The news you just received is the news I fear the most. I can still feel my tumor with only one week of treatment left so I am a bit worried even though I know the rads keep working for three more weeks after treatment. If your father has not received rads specific to this area it may be an option. I received a full dose to my original site (soft palet) two years ago and am getting a full dose to this area (70gy) this time around. It is rare they do this but my docs at U of M have 82 cases of re-radiation to tumors that have encapsulated the carotid and some success with it (33-50% survival rate). I'll have to wait to march to get the PET to see if the radiation killed the tumor or if not, the tumor has moved away from the carotid to allow surgery.
I don't know if your dad would be a candidate for further radiation, but you may want to have your doctors� check with U of M and see what they have experienced in cases like this.
My prayers are with you and your father today.
Best,
Kelly
Male
48, SCC (Soft Palet) Rt.,
Stage 1, T3n0m0,
Dx, 8-09, Start IMRT 35 9-2-09 end 10-21-09
04-20-10 NED
8-11 recurrence, node rt. neck N2b
10-11 33 IMRT w/chemo wkly
3-12-12 PET - residual cancer
4-12 5 treatments with Cyberknife & Erbitux
6-19-12 Pet scan CLEAR
12-3-12 PET - CLEAR
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 571 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 571 | Eshwar, I am deeply sorry that your father is having to weigh the options of treating or not treating. I can only imagine how painful this decision must be for your father, for you, and for your family.
I'll keep you and your father in my thoughts for peace with whatever is the decision.
You are an amazing caregiver. Your father is blessed to have your help and love to see him through it all. I hope you take comfort in knowing you made a big difference in the quality of his care and his life.
Sending a hug,
Sandy
xoxox
Ex-spouse MISDIAGNOSED with SCC-HN IVa 12/10. Tonsils out 1/11. 4 teeth out 2/11. TX Erbitux x2, IMRT x2 2/11. 2nd opinion-benign BCC-NOT CANCER 3/11. TX stopped 3/11. New doctors 4/11. ENT agrees with 2nd opinion 5/11. ENT scoped him-all clear 7/11. Ordered MRI anyway. MRI 8/22/11 Result-all clear.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 188 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2011 Posts: 188 | Eshwar, we are in the same boat as you and we both continue to steer as caregivers. There is a clinical trial at University of Pennsylvania combining two traditonally administered breast cancer chemo drugs taken orally, my Dad just started it with the goal of stopping further mets and shinking the existing mets. He is not going to the center daily like before, just once a month and I can report he has energy, quality of life, and no side effects yet. scans a end of january to check progress. pm me if you want more info.
Last edited by Caco; 12-16-2011 05:06 AM.
Caco
CG to Dad. Biopsy 5/11 non-op, SCC stage IV poorly dif at base of tongue with nodes, quit smoking in '85, ChemoRad began 8/2/11 ended 9/22/11 with NED. Distant mets 11/11, clinical trials. War raging on!
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 | Fingers crossed for both of you!!!!
Cheryl : Irritation - 2004 BX: 6/2008 : Inflam. BX: 12/10, DX: 12/10 : SCC - LS tongue well dif. T2N1M0. 2/11 hemigloss + recon. : PND - 40 nodes - 39 clear. 3/11 - 5/11 IMRT 33 + cis x2, PEG 3/28/11 - 5/19/11 3 head, 2 chest scans - clear(fingers crossed) HPV-, No smoke, drink, or drugs, Vegan
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