| | Joined: Sep 2014 Posts: 8 Member | OP  Member
Joined: Sep 2014 Posts: 8 | Hi There,My name is Greg and I have just become a cancer patient.I had a tumor removed from the back of my throat on 9-4-14 and was informed that it was cancer on 9-6-14. I had my appointment with the radiologist on 9-18-14. masked was formed and treatments to start soon. Scared !!!
06 / 14 Started to feel a lump in the back of my throat
08/28/14 ENT discovered tumor
09/03/14 CT scan
09/11/14 removal of tumor
09/13/14 biopsy == cancer ?? stage 1
09/17/14 masked formed / waiting
09/25/14 Diagnosis = Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma stage 2
10/02/14 picc line to be inserted
09/31/14 meant with OS = 4 teeth to be removed B-4 radiation treatments
10/7/14 3 front teeth pulled and 1 back
10/10/14 flipper made,( I still have teeth ) sorta !!
10/20/14 started chemo and radiation 6 weeks of both
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 | I bet you are! Just remember many have traveled the road ahead of you and while we can't make it as smooth as we like, we can help you every step of the way. Welcome!
SCC Stage IV, BOT, T2N2bM0
Cisplatin/5FU x 3, 40 days radiation
Diagnosis 07/21/03 tx completed 10/08/03
Post Radiation Lower Motor Neuron Syndrome 3/08.
Cervical Spinal Stenosis 01/11
Cervical Myelitis 09/12
Thoracic Paraplegia 10/12
Dysautonomia 11/12
Hospice care 09/12-01/13.
COPD 01/14
Intermittent CHF 6/15
Feeding tube NPO 03/16
VFI 12/2016
ORN 12/2017
Cardiac Event 06/2018
Bilateral VFI 01/2021
Thoracotomy Bilobectomy 01/2022
Bilateral VFI 05/2022
Total Laryngectomy 01/2023
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2011 Posts: 945 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2011 Posts: 945 | Welcome, Greg. Sorry you have to be here, but glad you found us. I am glad to hear that your doctors are moving forward quickly with the radiation planning - my husband's was delayed by the winter holidays, and it was really frustrating.
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.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 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: 7 | Welcome to OCF, Greg! Im sorry you have been given the OC diagnosis but Im glad you have found our forum to help you get thru the upcoming battle.
There will be so many things to do before you begin treatments. Make sure to have a full blood workup done including testosterone and thyroid levels. Get a thorough dental check up and take care of any questionable teeth, get flouride trays made. Anyone you talk to about your condition who offers their assistance, tell them when the time comes you will let them know how they can help. Make sure you make a list of everyone with their contact info. This could come in handy down the road.
For right now focus on eating all your favorite foods. your sense of taste and ability to swallow may make eating difficult for a while so eat now. Dont worry about gaining weight, eat everything and have dessert too. Most patients undergo substantial weight loss during their treatments so bulking up is a good plan.
Hang in there! I know its scary, the unknown always is. We will help guide you thru everything so stick with us.
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 2014 Posts: 8 Member | | OP Member
Joined: Sep 2014 Posts: 8 | Thanks for your advise. Teeth are a concern but am making an appointment this week. Blood work is good as per 2 months ago !! Thanks for throwing out the welcome mat !!!
06 / 14 Started to feel a lump in the back of my throat
08/28/14 ENT discovered tumor
09/03/14 CT scan
09/11/14 removal of tumor
09/13/14 biopsy == cancer ?? stage 1
09/17/14 masked formed / waiting
09/25/14 Diagnosis = Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma stage 2
10/02/14 picc line to be inserted
09/31/14 meant with OS = 4 teeth to be removed B-4 radiation treatments
10/7/14 3 front teeth pulled and 1 back
10/10/14 flipper made,( I still have teeth ) sorta !!
10/20/14 started chemo and radiation 6 weeks of both
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 1,024 "OCF Kiwi Down Under" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | "OCF Kiwi Down Under" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 1,024 | Hi Greg,
I'm presuming that you have had a CT , MRI or PET scan to aid in this diagnosis and to stage the tumour?
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!
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2014 Posts: 8 Member | | OP Member
Joined: Sep 2014 Posts: 8 | Hi There,yes I did have the ct scan just before my tumor was removed.I will add that,I hope hubby is getting better. Greg
06 / 14 Started to feel a lump in the back of my throat
08/28/14 ENT discovered tumor
09/03/14 CT scan
09/11/14 removal of tumor
09/13/14 biopsy == cancer ?? stage 1
09/17/14 masked formed / waiting
09/25/14 Diagnosis = Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma stage 2
10/02/14 picc line to be inserted
09/31/14 meant with OS = 4 teeth to be removed B-4 radiation treatments
10/7/14 3 front teeth pulled and 1 back
10/10/14 flipper made,( I still have teeth ) sorta !!
10/20/14 started chemo and radiation 6 weeks of both
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 559 Likes: 1 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 559 Likes: 1 | Hi Greg - welcome to the family. Lots of us have gone before you and come out the other end. Treatment won't be easy; it can be anywhere from mild to downright horrible. Sadly, it's different for all of us, so no way to predict what you will face personally.
Just know that everything you will face has been faced by someone else here in the family. We will all be in your corner every step of the way.
Start eating, eat everything you like, and lots of it. Don't worry about gaining weight right now because I promise you, you will lose weight during treatment. Some of us lost a lot of weight, me 42 pounds overall.
Hang in there, you will get through this just fine.
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: Sep 2014 Posts: 8 Member | | OP Member
Joined: Sep 2014 Posts: 8 | Thanks to everyone who has responded. It will be a very trying time for me and do appreciate all the encouraging words!!! I have been diagnosed with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma stage 2 which I am finding out is a rare cancer in this neck of the woods !! I knew I was special !!! LOL
06 / 14 Started to feel a lump in the back of my throat
08/28/14 ENT discovered tumor
09/03/14 CT scan
09/11/14 removal of tumor
09/13/14 biopsy == cancer ?? stage 1
09/17/14 masked formed / waiting
09/25/14 Diagnosis = Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma stage 2
10/02/14 picc line to be inserted
09/31/14 meant with OS = 4 teeth to be removed B-4 radiation treatments
10/7/14 3 front teeth pulled and 1 back
10/10/14 flipper made,( I still have teeth ) sorta !!
10/20/14 started chemo and radiation 6 weeks of both
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