| Joined: Apr 2014 Posts: 236 Gold Member (200+ posts) | OP Gold Member (200+ posts) Joined: Apr 2014 Posts: 236 | My mom had a CT Scan last Friday and we received the results today. The Chemo must be working because the Cancer is shrinking. The cancer Cells in my moms cheek of her face and in her neck are gone. The doctors are really happy with the results. My mom took 3 treatments of Carboplatin/Doctaxel before the scan was done. Now the doctors will continue with 6 more rounds and hope the remaining cancer continues to shrink. There is still a spot in the rear Mandible and on the Carotid Artery. We are happy that the cancer is finally responding to treatment.
As for the open wound on her neck. The doctors had a meeting after reading the results of the scan and have decided to go through with the hyperbaric treatments. The wound is so deep into her throat that it has to be done. These treatments will start this coming Monday.
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
| | | | 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 | Heidi, That's good news indeed. Your mum has had a really rough time; hopefully, the news that the tumours are shrinking will be an encouragement to her.
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: Apr 2014 Posts: 236 Gold Member (200+ posts) | OP Gold Member (200+ posts) Joined: Apr 2014 Posts: 236 | Gmcraft Thank you and yes my mom started crying when the doctor gave her the good news . Hopefully the Chemo continues to shrink the cancer . At least we have some sort of hope now .
Also the concern for the hyperbaric treatment will weigh heavy on us . We have no choice at this point . The wound has dug deep into my moms throat and the only chance if healing is hyperbaric . The doctor explained it was never really proven that the cancer will spread from hyperbaric . The doctor said other cancer patients have had this done and are doing Better actually.
Thanks Heidi
Last edited by sweetpe1; 03-18-2015 04:59 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
| | | | Joined: Dec 2014 Posts: 55 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | Supporting Member (50+ posts) Joined: Dec 2014 Posts: 55 | That is really great news!!! It is wonderful to hear some good news on here sometimes. I am very happy for your mother and you. I also hope that this could provide another standard of care for people in the future who may also face a situation that is similar.
Jeff - 41yrs old/previous smoker SCC buccal mucosa/jaw bone Stage 4 Nov '14 Partial Mandibulectomy with fibula flap, neck dissection Jan '15 Rads x35 Cisplatin x2 Apr '15 PET/CT concerning area Follow up MRI no mass. July '15 PET/CT 11mm nodule in right lower lobe the lung. Oct '15 PET/CT right lung nodule 3cm mass also new left lung nodules Nov '15 erbitux Mar '16 CT tumors are growing again, waiting on next step June'16 hospice had 3 Opdivo infusions trying to regain health
| | | | Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 644 Likes: 1 "OCF Down Under, Kiwi" "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "OCF Down Under, Kiwi" "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 644 Likes: 1 | Good news to hear, Heidi. Give my regards to your mother who will be feeling very encouraged by this.
Maureenxxx
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.
| | | | 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 | Thats excellent news, Heidi!!!
Ive done quite a few HBO dives. Its not difficult at all, just very time consuming. I would watch TV or take naps. Dont be surprised if she would need to get tube put in her ears to help with the pressure changes. That also is no big deal and can even be done in the ENTs office if its a routine procedure without any complications. I had those as well and its easy. After everything your mother has already gone thru these things would be very easy for her to go thru.
Best wishes! 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: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,291 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,291 Likes: 1 | That is super news! It is great to hear when cancer responds to treatment. Keep the faith and hope for more reductions!
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: Jan 2015 Posts: 37 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | Contributing Member (25+ posts) Joined: Jan 2015 Posts: 37 | Excellent news, Heidi! Please don't be concerned about the hyberbaric oxygen (HBO) treatments. It's only breathing oxygen in a pressure chamber, which promotes tissue healing. As Christine said, it is time consuming, several hours per session. Bring a book to read or something to keep you occupied during your Mom's "dives". Get her a book or something to keep her occupied during her dives too.
Did they say what kind of chamber she'll be in? They make single chamber units for one person and large chambers that will accommodate 12 or more people. I was in one of those large ones. One lady who dove with us knitted every day but most of us either read or took naps. I wrote a lot of letters too.
Also, did the doctors say how many dives she'll be taking? I did 30 dives, and at five dives per week, that was six weeks.
Congrats again on the good news!
Andrew 4x survivor 1998 - SCC of larynx ...laryngectomy, tracheotomy, radiation, caries, HBO, teeth extr, TEP 2002 - lung cancer, wedge resection 2014 - SCC of BOT, pharynx, oropharynx, HPV-, stage IV, T2N0MX, invasive, poorly differentiated ...chemo (carboplatin, taxol), dc'd due to neuropathy 2015 - SCC of palate ...Feb-April IMRT (46 x 70 Gy) ...Jan 2015 - May 2016 cetuximab 500 mg q week x 55wks 2016 - metastases to mediastinum, lungs, spleen, pancreas ...Aug-? pembrolizumab q 3 wks
| | | | Joined: Apr 2014 Posts: 236 Gold Member (200+ posts) | OP Gold Member (200+ posts) Joined: Apr 2014 Posts: 236 | Thank you all so much
The doctors office called yesterday evening and said he wanted my mom to start the HBO this morning instead of Monday. So mom did her first HBO dive today. She is in a single chamber and stayed in for 90 minutes. Doctor scheduled 30 dives 90 minutes each Everyday except weekends. Doctor said it wont affect the Chemo treatments so I hope we continue to get some good news.
Thank you all for your support.
God Is Good Heidi
Last edited by sweetpe1; 03-19-2015 08:49 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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