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#189408 05-01-2015 07:57 AM
Joined: Feb 2015
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"OCF Canuck"
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"OCF Canuck"
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Hi all....the one day at a time deal has been working pretty well..gaining some weight and getting outside!...but I need to reach out with a question to my forum friends. I don't recall stitch issues from 19 years ago. I still almost 6 weeks later have a mouthful of "blue" stitches holding my jaw and free flap. If they are nylon apparently they will NOT go away on their own. I was never told to come back and have them out / or/ and never asked if they will dissolve and if so how long? So now the swelling is of course going down and I have a forest of these things and they are not going anywhere. Does anyone have experience with this? I am trying to hold off on calling my surgeon but will need to do so Monday if this persists....just hoping for some advice. Thanks as always!


Brooklyn Bridge...beat once will beat again!

Unresolved sore throat
Biopsy
SCC Stag 4 base of tongue
RX
RND
Free Fore arm Flap
06/96
Age 40
No MET
No RAD
Clear until 01/15
Biopsy on Flap Implant
MRI
Diagnosis
SCC- Contained to Flap Implant
RX
Repeat of Original Surgery
Age now -59 years
Non -Smoker
Social Drinker
Pre new surgery
Lung CT and Chest X Ray
Typical pre op blood,EKG etc
NUMEROUS consultations
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 24
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Hi Brooklyn Bridge,

I had a forest of my own for awhile, although I can't seem to remember how long. Definitely ask the doc if you have any questions. Does seem like a long time though...

HB


11/2014 - DX SCC, S3N0M0
Non-smoker/drinker/drugs, no cancer of any kind in family, HPV negative
2/10/15 neck dissection, nodes removed (all clear), moderately differentiated mass removed from cheek & hinge of jaw, free flap graft. Clear margins. Micro infiltration into some of the vascular structures in the local area of tumor. PEG tube 1 week later
4/6/15 - Begin 40 Rads & 4 rounds Cisplatin
5/27/15 - rads & chemo complete.
12/5/15 - PET/CT clear. Watch & wait...
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 14
"OCF Canuck"
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So...after some consultation and a request I now have a copy of the most recent surgeons report along with pathology. The stitches scenario is "interesting" Apparently there were issues in keeping my jaw to stay together and it had to be replated and then the use of Maxon 3-0 became necessary. So these stitches have a min 180 day pre-absorb life....so I guess I wait! The check up was positive, the free flap looks good and I actually have some speech! Yay....I am still on soft foods and soups...does anyone have a web site or something for other food ideas. Yes...have talked to nutritionist and read lots....just wondered if other forum members have any other thoughts on bulking up! Thanks!


Brooklyn Bridge...beat once will beat again!

Unresolved sore throat
Biopsy
SCC Stag 4 base of tongue
RX
RND
Free Fore arm Flap
06/96
Age 40
No MET
No RAD
Clear until 01/15
Biopsy on Flap Implant
MRI
Diagnosis
SCC- Contained to Flap Implant
RX
Repeat of Original Surgery
Age now -59 years
Non -Smoker
Social Drinker
Pre new surgery
Lung CT and Chest X Ray
Typical pre op blood,EKG etc
NUMEROUS consultations
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 1,275
Likes: 7
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Hi Brooklyn Bridge, Princess Margaret Hospital has a website where you can get food ideas. They even have a live streamed cooking demonstration once a week. It is here:

https://www.ellicsr.ca/en/clinics_programs/ellicsr_kitchen

Do you have a slow cooker? I have found it is really useful to have one on hand so that I am not always working in the kitchen.


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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Sounds like a good report. Main thing about diet is if you need to gain much weight than proteins and fats contain the most calories. Blending up protein powder with milk is good. Add a banana. Peanut butter is very high in calories.

I did fine with using protein powder as the base, milk, and threw in in whatever blends up and tastes good. You can use yogurt, stroll farmers market for daily picked fresh fruits. Nuts work fine.

If your taste is good, then it helps a lot to make things that taste good. If your taste is off, you need to try what tastes good for you. Texture is a big thing too, so if you can take more volume then you can make things thinner but more volume. Those who have hard time swallowing need to pack more calories in each gulp. Experimen, make it fun. You can always catch up with vitamin supplements.


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
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Posts: 37
Brooklyn Bridge, congrats on the positive report!

For trying to gain/regain weight, think of foods high in carbs. Even though you are still on soft foods, there are still some great options available to you. Oatmeal, pasta, potatoes and sweet potatoes are all high in carbs and easy to chew and swallow. The oatmeal and pasta can also be healthier if you use whole grain varieties. Whip some milk and butter into your potatoes to make mashed potatoes. Dried fruits (raisins, dried apricots, etc.) are also full of carbs. You can carry them around with you to snack on during the day. They're also good with oatmeal. Beans are another high carb food and also high in protein.

Don't forget to take whey powder, which is full of protein. It's easy to make smoothies with whey powder, bananas, fruit, milk or yogurt, peanut butter, etc.

I ate plenty of the above for gaining weight prior to starting rads and it worked well for me. I hope you get similar results.

Bon appetit!


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: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,606
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I'm going to weigh in on the carte blanche statements about whey protein. Protein promotes tissue rebuilding and recovery, to some degree, but generally, whey protein does two things that are counter-productive to weight gain. First, the hormone, CCK (cholecystokinin), is increased by whey. It stimulates the production of bile, in preparation of disgestion of fat and protein. CCK is also a hunger suppresing hormone. This means you will have less appetite and more stomach acid. We all know hownthat feels.

Second, whey protein suppresses ghrelin, the actual hunger hormone. Ghrelin is a neuropeptide, which means it is an important part of regulating energy (metabolism). This is one mechanism that can cause a reduced metabolic rate with resulting weight gain.

Whey, for compromised digestive issues we will all experience to some degree, can cause much worse abdominal distress, increased stomach acid two distinctly different ways and cause overall weight loss.

Pre-treatment, whey is an excellent bulking product if you already have muscles. Post-treatment weight gain, as Christine keeps pointing out, is about calories in exceeding calories used. Keep track of calories and increase them until you see weight gain. Eat a healthy, well-balanced meal, too. You will gain health from balanced nutrition.


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
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"OCF Canuck"
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
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"OCF Canuck"
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)

Joined: Dec 2010
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I had the same stitches in my tongue... yum... feel better and keep on keeping on... hugs


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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