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#171272 09-18-2013 05:52 PM
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 2
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 2
Hi Everyone, I just wanted some advice. My lovely mom was sadly diagnosed with Throat Cancer back in 2009. She had cancer in the tonsils and tongue with 1 lymph gland. She had 4 weeks of chemo-radiation.(Mom has never been a smoker or drinker but it turned out the tumour was HPV posative)

Anyway fast forward 4 years and mom is in great shape, still working full time at the age of 64 no matter how much i nag her to take it easy! Then I took her for her check-up last Friday and the Doctor said that she had a swelling at the base of her tongue. He referred her for a MRI scan which she had 3 days later.

We are now sitting back and waiting. I cant sleep or eat I feel totally sick with worry and cant bare the thought of what could lay ahead.

I just wondered if it was the worse, what are our treatment options, I was lead to believe that you can only receive radiotherapy once and that chemo is no use as a stand alone.

I would really appreciate any advise.


Thank you

Oliver

MomCarol #171273 09-18-2013 06:00 PM
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 945
"Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
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"Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)

Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 945
Hi, Oliver - there are options, including surgery, chemotherapy and re-irradiation. Where is your mom being seen?
Maria


CG to husband - SCC Tonsil T1N2M0 HPV+ Never Smoker
First symptoms 7/2010, DX 12/2010
TX 40 IRMT (1.8 gy) + 10 Cetuximab
PET Scans 6/2011 + 3/2012 clear, 5 year physical exam clear; chest CT's clear of cancer. On thyroid pills. Life is good.
MomCarol #171274 09-18-2013 06:05 PM
Joined: Sep 2013
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Hi Maria thanks for the reply. She is being seen at a specialist cancer center here in the UK. The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.

One thing that does confuse me is the Dr said she had a swelling of the tongue, but I thought oral cancer occurred as a sore on the skin?

She had 55Gys of Radio last time with 2 doses of carboplatin. This was all in 2009. Do you think she would be a candidate for reirridation if it is the big C back?

Last edited by MomCarol; 09-18-2013 06:09 PM.
MomCarol #171275 09-18-2013 06:07 PM
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,267
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Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
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Joined: Jul 2012
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Welcome Oliver,

Take one day at a time, easier said than done, and nothing I ever did. It's not cancer until proven it is, and a scan can't do that, only a biopsy will. The scan may dictate the next route. Just to answer your question, radiation can be done more than once, these days, under certain circumstances, precautions. I had radiation 3x, to the same area, and going for my 4th next month.

Good luck.


10/09 T1N2bM0 Tonsil
11/09 Taxo Cisp 5-FU, 6 Months Hosp
01/11 35 IMRT 70Gy 7 Wks
06/11 30 HBO
08/11 RND PNI
06/12 SND PNI LVI
08/12 RND Pec Flap IORT 12 Gy
10/12 25 IMRT 50Gy 6 Wks Taxo Erbitux
10/13 SND
10/13 TBO/Angiograph
10/13 RND Carotid Remove IORT 10Gy PNI
12/13 25 Protons 50Gy 6 Wks Carbo
11/14 All Teeth Extract 30 HBO
03/15 Sequestromy Buccal Flap ORN
09/16 Mandibulectomy Fib Flap Sternotomy
04/17 Regraft hypergranulation Donor Site
06/17 Heart Attack Stent
02/19 Finally Cancer Free Took 10 yrs







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