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#174941 12-06-2013 10:49 AM
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klr Offline OP
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This morning my Dad woke up with a rash under his L armpit, on his chest, and back. He went to the doctor and was diagnosed with Shingles. Has anyone else experienced this? I'm really worried that this will turn furious as his immune system is so down 3 weeks post chemo. My worry level has now shot up and I'm SO frusturated. It's been 3 weeks post treatment and everything is getting worse, not even slightly better. Mucous is horrible, he's gagging so much he's throwing everything we put down his feeding tube. Ughhhhhh!!!!!!! I hate cancer!!


Caregiver to my Dad
BOT Stage IV SCC, HPV+
Dx on 9/9/13
Cisplatinx3- 1st dose 10/1/13
PEG in 10/20/13
PEG out 12/24/13
Rads x 35- finished 11/15/13
Never a smoker,drinker.
klr #174943 12-06-2013 11:09 AM
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I had shingles about 8 months after chemo, and is related to the chicken pox virus, so if you had it or were exposed to it, it remains in your system. There is prescription medication I was given for this, to help with the pain, and there is a vaccine to help prevent it from recurring. They can be painful, and can take a month to heal. 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






klr #174944 12-06-2013 11:34 AM
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I got shingles this summer between surgeries. I was given pain patches to wear on affected areas. Stress can be a trigger, and cancer definitely qualifies as stress! Hope he feels better soon.


Surgery 5/31/13
Tongue lesion, right side
SCC, HPV+, poorly differentiated
T1N0 based on biopsy and scan
Selective neck dissection 8/27/13, clear nodes
12/2/13 follow-up with concerns
12/3/13 biopsy, surgery, cancer returned
1/8/14 Port installed
PEG installed
Chemo and rads
2/14/14 halfway through carboplatin/taxotere and rads
March '14, Tx done, port out w/ complications, PEG out in June
2017: probable trigeminal neuralgia
Fall 2017: HBOT
Jan 18: oral surgery
klr #174958 12-06-2013 04:16 PM
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Many cancer patients will get shingles down the road. There is a shingles vaccine available. Problem is its only available to people over 60. It is covered by insurance and medicare.

I wish it was available to people under 60 so I could get it. If I am still here when I turn 60, I will be getting that vaccine for sure.


Christine
SCC 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 smile
klr #174960 12-06-2013 04:25 PM
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The vaccine is now approved by the FDA for people age 50 and over.


Leslie

April 2006: Husband dx by dentist with leukoplakia on tongue. Oral surgeon's biopsy 4/28/06: Moderate dysplasia; pathology report warned of possible "skip effect." ENT's excisional biopsy (got it all) 5/31/06: SCC in situ/small bit superficially invasive. Early detection saves lives.
klr #174961 12-06-2013 04:31 PM
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Posts: 64
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Ask your Doctor for a prescription to get the shot if you are under 60. I believe that Docs can prescribe it in unusual circumstance.


Stage 3-4 Squamous BOT diagnosed 3/19/12
Molars removed 3/29/12
(Cisplatin) inpatient: 4/11/12-4/16/12; 5/2/12-5/9/12; 5/29/12-6/4/12
Feeding tube: 8/9/12-11/21/12
Radiation 8/10/12-8/29/12
Chemo 1X/week 8/10/12-8/22/12
Last PET/CT clear: 9/17/13
klr #174962 12-06-2013 04:45 PM
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Posts: 8,311
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Many of us have reported getting Shingles post Tx and it is painful and it can and should be treated immediately.

Re the 3 weeks post Tx and not getting better, unfortunately that's par for this treatment. We go overboard telling newbies to expect the worst the few weeks post Tx. It is usually around this time that many of us finally "walk out of that tunnel" and start our long recovery road. Even when he starts to feel better there will be bad days mixed in with the good ones and slowly those bad days will go away. This recovery can and usually does take 2 years with the 1st year usually the worst so patience is the key to getting thru this with sanity intact.


David

Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
klr #174966 12-06-2013 06:25 PM
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I have asked my pharmacist a couple times and they told me it was 60 years old to get the shot with medicare. HMMM??????


Christine
SCC 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 smile
klr #174971 12-06-2013 10:53 PM
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,291
Likes: 1
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HUMMM????

If the vaccination is of reasonable cost at a clinic, wouldn't an option to be just pay for it? From what I hear, shingles can be quite painful and last a lot longer than a month as stated above. And if it quite common in cancer survivors, it almost seems to be a no brainer. don


Don
Male, 57 - Great health except C
Dec '12
DX: BOT SCC T2N2bMx, Stage 4a, HPV+, multiple nodes
1 tooth out
Jan '13
2nd tooth out
Tumor Board -induction TPF (3 cycles), seq CRT
4-6/2013
CRT 70gr 2x35, weekly carbo150
ended 5/29,6/4
All the details, join at http://beatdown.cognacom.com
donfoo #174973 12-07-2013 06:38 AM
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Don, I was just estimating how long mine may have lasted three years ago, and like with all matters, everyone is different. Some don't even have the painful blisters, and severity may differ.


http://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-Shingles.aspx#


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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