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#178542 03-20-2014 10:15 PM
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Just got home from an ER visit. My sister has been having chest pain/upper back pain. Due to her cancer history, they did a CtScan. It showed 13 tumors between her lungs. We feel like we've been hit by a Mack truck. She was doing so well, or so we thought. Please lift her up in prayer. We need it now more than ever.


Sister, 18yr old, diagnosed with oral tongue cancer 10/08/13
Total Glossectomy and neck dissection 11/18/13 (saved the back left portion of her tongue base only)
Forearm flap reconstruction
Trache and NG feeding tube after surgery (both removed now)
Tumor 6.7 cm
All lymph nodes tested came back negative for cancer
Radiation- 30 treatments (ending 2/18/14)
3/20/14 Recurrence- tumors in both lungs; likely metastasis
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Hi Rebecca - So sorry to hear about your sister. I'm sure she will be in lots of thoughts and prayers. Keep us informed.

Tony


Tony, 69, non-smoker, aerobatics pilot, bridge player/teacher, avid dancer (ballroom, latin, swing, country)

09/13 SCC, HPV 16, tonsillectomy, T2N0.
11/13 start rads, no chemo
12/13 taste gone, dry mouth,
02/14 hair slowly returning
05/14 taste the same, dry sinuses, irrigation helps.
01/15 food taste about 60% returned, dry sinuses are worse in winter.
12/20 no more sinus problems, taste pretty good

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Im so very sorry to hear about your sister.

Keeping her in my thoughts and prayers.


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
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I'm so sorry... Hugs and prayers to you. Are they trying any clinical trials on her?


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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I'm so sorry to hear this news... My thoughts are with you both.


Brian
Stage IV TxN2aM0 HPV+ SCC 38 y.o. male
9/20/13 Sentinel Node Found
12/5/13 Start of 72Gy and 5 bags of Cisplatin
1/21/14 Treatment Ends
1/25/15 1 Yr clear
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So sorry to hear that. My husband has mets in his lungs too. It was devastating when we heard the news, but he has remained stable since we found out about the mets last August. He is still doing his normal daily activities and goes for walks. He started a clinical trial at the end of January. I take it a day at a time and I make every day we have count. Keeping you in my thoughts.


Gloria
She stood in the storm, and when the wind did not blow her way, she adjusted her sails... Elizabeth Edwards

Wife to John,dx 10/2012, BOT, HPV+, T3N2MO, RAD 70 gy,Cisplatinx2 , PEG in Dec 6, 2012, dx dvt in both legs after second chemo session, Apr 03/13 NED, July 2013 met to lungs, Phase 1 immunotherapy trial Jan 18/14 to July/14. Taxol/carboplatin July/14. Esophagus re-opened Oct 14. PEG out April 8, 2015. Phase 2 trial of Selinexor April to July 2015. At peace Jan 15, 2016.
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I'm so sorry that your sister and family are facing this devastating news. She's already been through so much, and so very young. My heart goes out to all of you. I pray that you find comfort and hope in the days to come.

(((HUGS)))

Lynn


53
T3N2aM0 HPV+
5/26/13 discovered painless superball-sized lymph node in neck
6/26/13 DX SCC R palatine tonsil
7/16/13 TORS tonsillectomy & selective ND, mets to 2 nodes
9/3/13 Cisplatin and rads begin, tolerated 1.5 of 3 planned chemo doses
10/16/13 Treatment ends
Dec 13 Ulcer appears at surgery site
Jan 17 Biopsy -- no cancer!
Feb 17 CT/PET Scan lights up tonsil bed & nasal cavity, docs say probably inflammation, don't panic, rescan when ulcer subsides
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Posts: 1,024
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Rebecca , I am so sorry to read this news.
I hope her team has come up with some options for treatment . Perhaps you can ask about Trials that are available.
Keeping you all in my thoughts.
Tammy


Caregiver/advocate to Husband Kris age 59@ diagnosis
DX Dec '10 SCC BOT T4aN2bM0 HPV+ve.Cisplatin x3 35 IMRT.
PET 6/11 clear.
R) level 2-4 neck dissection 8/1/11 to remove residual node - necrotic with NED
Feb '12 Ca back.. 3/8/12 total glossectomy/laryngectomy/bilat neck dissection/partial pharyngectomy etc. clear margins. All nodes negative for disease. PEG in.
March 2017 - 5 years disease free. Woohoo!
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We met with an oncologist Friday afternoon. She came right out and told us that this cancer was incurable. There are a couple large tumors in her left lung and several small ones in her right lung. She is scheduled for a pet scan, mri, and lung biopsy next week. Also, they are planning to begin chemo on Friday of next week. My mind went blank while we were there and given the opportunity to ask questions. But now I wonder is incurable the same as terminal? Do people survive with lung cancer? Should we seek a second opinion? She has been receiving care at a CCC, but we are only hours away from Atlanta's Cancer Treatment Center of America. Any advice, any at all is most welcome. If you know of any body that's had a similar diagnosis, please share their story. Thanks for all your help.


Sister, 18yr old, diagnosed with oral tongue cancer 10/08/13
Total Glossectomy and neck dissection 11/18/13 (saved the back left portion of her tongue base only)
Forearm flap reconstruction
Trache and NG feeding tube after surgery (both removed now)
Tumor 6.7 cm
All lymph nodes tested came back negative for cancer
Radiation- 30 treatments (ending 2/18/14)
3/20/14 Recurrence- tumors in both lungs; likely metastasis
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 10,507
Likes: 6
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I was afraid you would get that diagnosis. Yes, incurable is another term for terminal. However... chemo can be used to extend her life. But the time will come when you will need to weigh quality of life over quantity.

I would definitely seek out a second opinion right away. Of course its your choice but I feel CTCoA is not a good option. CTCoA honestly does not have the best reputation, it isnt a CCC even if it leads people to believe it is. I would doubt they would be of help, they patient shop so their numbers appear to be better than other centers.

Here is a list of top US hospitals.

TOP US HOSPITALS

Best wishes!


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
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