| | Joined: Aug 2013 Posts: 33 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | OP  Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2013 Posts: 33 | I did it everyone! I finally finished my last radiation treatment about a half an hr ago. It is such a relief! I played the rocky soundtrack and they played the graduation song over the spreaker when it was finished. I was then able to ring the bell!! They gave me some sweet gifts including one from a fellow survivor who gives gifts to everyone when they complete treatment. I am so glad its over with and although I know it will get tougher for a little while, I don't have to be strapped down to a table anymore. Nor get stuck with IVs for chemo. Life will only get better. I appreciate all of the support you all have given me during this tough road. You have no idea how much comfort and courage I received from all of you. I am not going anywhere and I will be helping anyone else I can to get through these tough times. I would also like to help spread the word about head and neck cancer as well as HPV. Once I recover I am going to look into how I can help. Thank you so much again. 
Age 36 Mommy of 4 Diagnosed 8/5-tongue cancer T2 tumor with partial-glossectomy 8/13/13 along with neck dissection HPV positive Path report all clear margins! 11/5/13- enlarged taste bud and mild Dysplasia Surgery planned for 11/12 11/12 cancer cells removed Staged increased to stage 3. T3N1 Chemo and rads started 3/4/14 33 rads and 6 chemo Peg tube 3/7/14 37 radiation and 8 chemo treatments Completed treatment 4/25/14 recurrence 12/1/15 surgery for Hemiglossectomy 12/11/15
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2013 Posts: 319 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2013 Posts: 319 | Woot!!!
You go girl, you definitely do GO! Bravo for you!!!
I'm very happy to read this!
Bart
My intro: http://oralcancersupport.org/forums/ubbt...3644#Post16364409/09 - Dx OC Stg IV 10/09 - Chemo/3 Cisplatin, 40 rad 11/09 - PET CLEAN 07/11 - Dx Stage IV C. (Liver) 06/12 - PET CLEAN 09/12 - PET Dist Met (Liver) 04/13 - PET CLEAN 06/13 - PET Dist Met (Liver + 1 lymph node) 10/13 - PET - Xeloda ineffective 11/13 - Liver packed w/ SIRI-Spheres 02/14 - PET - Siri-Spheres effective, 4cm tumor in lymph-node 03/15 - Begin 15 Rads 03/24 - Final Rad! Woot! 7/27/14 Bart passed away. RIP!
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,291 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,291 Likes: 1 | Theresa,
Fantastic! Just need to recover now. You'll be feeling stronger soon. I love your comment about staying around and helping others. It makes a difference and the forum and community a better place.
Thanks
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 | | | | | Joined: Apr 2014 Posts: 11 Member | | Member
Joined: Apr 2014 Posts: 11 | Woot! Bravo on ringing the bell(when my husband did I thought he was going to knock it off the wall). Wishing you all the best on your road to recovery ~Trinity
CG to Chris
DX stage IV tonsil SCC HPV18/16+ T3N2bM0 5/12
PEG and 4 teeth out 7/12
RAD 35x, 3x cisplatin 8/12
treatment finish 10/12
PET clean and PEG removal 11/12
PET lung node 3/13
failed node removal 4/13
PET lung node 6/13
Lobectomy DX SCC lung new primary Stage I 7/13
CT clear 10/13
DX ORN 12/13
CT clear 1/14
Current list;
Dry mouth, dysphagia, nerve pain, ORN, spinal stenosis, dental caries, reflux, aspiration.
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2014 Posts: 286 "OCF Down Under" Gold Member (200+ posts) | | "OCF Down Under" Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2014 Posts: 286 | Congratulations! Well done.
Cheers, Dave (OzMojo) 19Feb2014 Diagnosed T2N2bM0 P16+ve SCC Tonsil. 31Mar2014 2 Cisplatin, 70gy over 7 weeks (completed 16May2014) 11August2014 PET/CT clear. 17July2019 5 years NED.
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2012 Posts: 1,275 Likes: 7 Assistant Admin Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Assistant Admin Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Oct 2012 Posts: 1,275 Likes: 7 | Great job, Theresa！ My husband was particularly pleased that he heard the last click of the mask being undone. Wishing you an easy and problem-free recovery.
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.
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 559 Likes: 1 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 559 Likes: 1 | Outstanding Theresa - I remember how good it felt to finish that last treatment too, it was 4 months ago almost to the day. I just wish they had a bell to ring; I would have brought a sledge hammer to hit it with, probably would have broken it in half.
Like you said, the side effects will stick around for awhile; some of them might get a little worse before they get better because of all the accumulated damage the radiation has done to your body. But, as you said they will improve in time. Sadly the time is always longer than we want, and some of them like loss of taste for food and mouth/throat dryness and tenderness can be persistent little buggers.
I bought and use a humidifier every night while sleeping; that has helped a lot with throat dryness, which can be bad enough it will wake you up in the middle of the night. Keeping a water bottle within arms reach at all times (including in the car) is also pretty much a necessity. There's nothing that feels better in the morning to that dry throat than a cup of coffee. I've tried all the Biotene products (original formula) and they didn't help that much, but chewing Trident gum did (that xylitol sweetener seems to do the trick).
If you also develop dry sinuses or dry sinus drainage that seems really hard to get out of your throat a NeilMed sinus rinse bottle (Walmart) works wonders. Some people use a Nettie Pot, but I like the squirt bottle better. I use it every morning and evening. At first it's gross, you'll choke and cough and make a mess, but it does make the sinuses feel better (and you will breath better too).
Again, congrats on the treatment completion. Now you're ready to move on to the After Treatment forum.
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
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 1 |
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
| | | | | 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 |
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: Mar 2014 Posts: 110 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2014 Posts: 110 | Congratulations Theresa!!! Working my way through treatments as well, glad to hear about those with similar plans completing theirs!!!
Best wishes on your continuing recovery!
The Hellion
SCC Base of Tongue
Diagnosed 3/5/2014 T2N2C
PEG Installed 3/19/2014
Chemo/Rad 3/27/2014
1x Cisplatin, 4+ TaxoCarboplat + 33 * 70 gy
Chemo FINISHED 5/5/2014
Rads FINISHED
PEG tube removed 10/08/14
Back to work 4 Aug full time
1/19/15 - diagnosed mets to lungs
7/17/15 began Pembrolizumab clinical trial demitted October 2015
1/14/16 began Tremi-MEDI trial
-This far, no further! On ne passe pas!
**update** passed away 3/26/16 RIP, you will be missed by many
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