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My mom has a open wound on her neck just below her chin. This is where a biopsy was taken months ago. This round open wound is getting bigger by the day latly. Its now about the size of a penny. We dont know if this is happening from her skin being so thin from radiation or is it just the cancer causing her skin to just tear. Its really painful and very unpleasent for my mother.

My question is`. The doctor precribed a Chemo Cream to rub all over the area around the hole. Mom used it for the first time and it cause alot of pain.

Is anyone farmilure with a Chemo Cream ?

Thanks
Heidi

Last edited by sweetpe1; 01-29-2015 10:11 PM.

Sweetpe
Caregiver
RE:My Mother
Age 70
Non Smoker
SCC 3/4/2014 Left rear jaw
Mandiblctmy 3/25/2014
35RAD Completed on 06/03/2014
MRI 9/3/2014
25mm lobulated recurrence left mandible/floor of mouth carcinoma
9/23/14 Salvage Surgery
MET(s)
9/23/14 Salvage Surgery Not Successful
Chemo Recommended
1st Round of Cisplatin Chemo Started 10/20/14
Cisplatin stopped 11/20/14. Side affects to bad.
Chemo started again 1/22/15 Carbo/Docetaxel
Passed Away April 22,2015


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Heidi, I have not heard of a chemo cream but do you have a home visit nurse? Can you arrange for one to come to the house a couple of times a week? They are knowledgeable and can give you a lot of help.


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 havent heard of this before for OC. What is the cream called?

Since her skin is so delicate, pat the cream on instead of rubbing it.

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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I have heard of chemo cream, namely 5-FU, for skin cancer, other conditions, but nothing more than that. Here is some info, if it is this chemo.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/fluorouracil-topical-route/proper-use/drg-20063877


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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Yes Paul that's it . It's exactly what was prescribed to my mom. After applying it just one time it made her very sick . The side effects are very strong . I don't think my mom is gonna be able to use it .

Just the Insurance CoPay was 180 dollars for this cream .

I'm feeling so down and out . Trying my best but nothing is working .

Heidi

Last edited by sweetpe1; 01-30-2015 10:56 AM.

Sweetpe
Caregiver
RE:My Mother
Age 70
Non Smoker
SCC 3/4/2014 Left rear jaw
Mandiblctmy 3/25/2014
35RAD Completed on 06/03/2014
MRI 9/3/2014
25mm lobulated recurrence left mandible/floor of mouth carcinoma
9/23/14 Salvage Surgery
MET(s)
9/23/14 Salvage Surgery Not Successful
Chemo Recommended
1st Round of Cisplatin Chemo Started 10/20/14
Cisplatin stopped 11/20/14. Side affects to bad.
Chemo started again 1/22/15 Carbo/Docetaxel
Passed Away April 22,2015


Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 644
Likes: 1
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Such a pity it is too painful for her. You are doing everything you can and I think of you and your mother often.

Love
Maureen


1996, ovarian cancer surgery + cisplatin and taxol.
September, 2007, SCC of left lateral tongue. Excision.
October, 2009 recurrence in scar tissue, T1NOMO. Free flap surgery from left wrist - neck dissection. 63 year old New Zealander. No chemo, no RT.
February, 2014. New primary in left buccal mucosa. Marginal mandibulectomy, neck dissection, right arm free forearm flap. T1N0M0 but third occurrence and some areas of concern: RT started 8 April and finished 19 May.
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Sorry to hear. I had 5-FU infusions, and know it's a strong chemo. Speak with the doctor, maybe a lesser dosage, less frequently, and prophylactic counter measures that would be effective can be given. Too bad about the co-pay too, there are co-pay prescription assistance programs out there, and the pharmaceutical companies themselves may have assistance programs for the uninsured, underinsured, if you find time, and this drug is going to be continued.

I hope you, and your mom find some relief.


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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Thanks Maureen and Paul


Because of this open wound in her neck I brought my mom in to see the Surgeon today . The doctor was very upset to see this happening but said there is nothing he can do to heal it . He said it's bad tissue and a skin graph would never mend .

The doctor did advise us to use this 5FU cream around the open wound and just maybe it may help to slow it from spreading bigger. I told my mom she is gonna have to try and tolerate as much as she can .

I've had people tell me that I need to come to terms on what's happening here . I do realize but I have to keep trying . I'm not about to give up .

Heidi


Sweetpe
Caregiver
RE:My Mother
Age 70
Non Smoker
SCC 3/4/2014 Left rear jaw
Mandiblctmy 3/25/2014
35RAD Completed on 06/03/2014
MRI 9/3/2014
25mm lobulated recurrence left mandible/floor of mouth carcinoma
9/23/14 Salvage Surgery
MET(s)
9/23/14 Salvage Surgery Not Successful
Chemo Recommended
1st Round of Cisplatin Chemo Started 10/20/14
Cisplatin stopped 11/20/14. Side affects to bad.
Chemo started again 1/22/15 Carbo/Docetaxel
Passed Away April 22,2015


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Posts: 41
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Heidi

My dad has two wound breakdowns happen. He actually had two new holes this weekend. One was from a biopsy and the other from a sore he had due to his cancer spread. The chemo is drying out his pimples and one fell out and causes this hole. We have a visiting nurse who comes in to treat these areas. He had 2 on his chest after surgery in November. We were told this was wound breakdown due to slowly healing skin that has previously been irradiated. I would ask about packing the wound. My dad gets his packed with some medical packing tape which apparently absorbs the fluid that leaks and helps the wound heal from the inside out so as to avoid healing on the outside and leaving a hole on the inside. This can caus infection and abscess. Our nurse is visiting tomorrow and I assume she will pack the newly opened one from yesterday. Thankfully they are small. Two are superficial while the other two are small. Chemo has halted healing but as long as they are clean and dry they will heal eventually. Not sure about the chemo cream. I'd ask about packing the wound.

Last edited by ConcernedDaughter; 02-02-2015 07:52 AM.

Caregiver to father
DX:4/14 Surgery:5/14 resection, ND
TX: 33 IMRT complete 9/14
Scan: 10/14, suspicious area tongue & neck.
Biopsy confirmed SCC BOT 2nd Primary, right lateral tongue.
11/14: surgery partial glossectomy, pec flap, trach, NG tube, ND
12/14: debridement surgery, small area removed for clear margins
12/14: biopsy positive for SCC dermal metastasis
1/15: chemo: erbitux, taxol and carboplatin
3/15: 5FU, Erbitux
8/15: enrolled in PD-1 Immunotherapy
9/15: Heaven got a new angel <3
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Posts: 236
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ConcernedDaughter

Thanks so much for this information. I'm going to check on Packing the open wound. It's a really good idea because of the draining. I asked the oncologist the other day if this spot was going to continue to get bigger. It's about round as a Nickle rite now. The Doctor said it will stop getting bigger but another spot will break out.

The last couple of days my mom has been doing a little better. She was able to get out of bed and enjoy sitting outside and talking for a while. She has even eaten a little more than usual and her pain isnt quit as bad. I could'nt beleive what I was seeing. Maybe the Carbo/Taxel treatments are helping I dont know.

Thanks
Heidi


Sweetpe
Caregiver
RE:My Mother
Age 70
Non Smoker
SCC 3/4/2014 Left rear jaw
Mandiblctmy 3/25/2014
35RAD Completed on 06/03/2014
MRI 9/3/2014
25mm lobulated recurrence left mandible/floor of mouth carcinoma
9/23/14 Salvage Surgery
MET(s)
9/23/14 Salvage Surgery Not Successful
Chemo Recommended
1st Round of Cisplatin Chemo Started 10/20/14
Cisplatin stopped 11/20/14. Side affects to bad.
Chemo started again 1/22/15 Carbo/Docetaxel
Passed Away April 22,2015



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