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#189519 05-11-2015 03:57 PM
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So I've been sick off and on with upper respiratory stuff since January. Felt better by March after two rounds of antibiotics. Then in April started getting a funny feeling in my chest. Went to a walk in clinic and they diagnosed me with a sinus infection turning into bronchitis. Got another round of antibiotic. About a week later I saw my GP and everything seemed to be getting better. About two weeks later (last Wednesday) I started feeling worse (chest pain, shortness of breath, cough, funny sound on inhale) so I called the doctor and she ordered up an X-ray. The X-ray showed some fluid on my right lung and a broken rib just below my breast. Doc said don't panic (yeah right) it's probably pneumonia based on my other symptoms and ordered a follow up CT. I get the results of the CT today. Still have the fluid and it shows some pleural thickening. No tumors shown on the CT. Doc wants to drain the fluid and test it. Well I am freaking out. It has been almost 4 years since I was diagnosed but I know this damn disease can sneak up on you years later. She is still saying don't panic, this could all be due to infection. I've calmed down a little. It is what it is at this point. Just wanted to share, extra prayers won't help.

I've had no local recurrences up to this point, no lymph node recurrences. Had a chest X-ray just for follow up purposes in July 2013 that was clear. I know X-rays don't always show cancer though.

Has anyone ever heard of radiation to the neck causing symptoms such as these.


Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

31 @ Dx SCC of tongue right side May 27, 2011, no tobacco, light drink
Partial gloss. and ND June 2011 - 2 jaw nodes positive ("encapsulated")
33 rads ended 10/21/11.
Dx Non small cell lung cancer 05/18/15
Cherri79 #189520 05-11-2015 04:00 PM
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I am actually feeling better symptom wise today. Not much coughing. Breathing a little easier. Rib doesn't even hurt much.


Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

31 @ Dx SCC of tongue right side May 27, 2011, no tobacco, light drink
Partial gloss. and ND June 2011 - 2 jaw nodes positive ("encapsulated")
33 rads ended 10/21/11.
Dx Non small cell lung cancer 05/18/15
Cherri79 #189522 05-11-2015 04:59 PM
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I'm curious if you've had any swallow studies. Sounds a lot like aspiration pneumonia. I get a lot of fluid in my left lung that started around year 7. I battle thrush that aspirates into the lung even and it gets into my sinuses like almost everything I drink. Breaking ribs from coughing isn't uncommon. I cough till I vomit and cough up an alarming amount of blood several days a week. I used to worry but quit that 2 or 3 years ago because it just got overwhelming.

I hope it resolves soon. For me, the toughest part of all of this is the difficulty breathing. I hate to hear of anyone going through that.


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
Cherri79 #189523 05-11-2015 05:15 PM
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The difficulty breathing sucks. I am normally pretty active. I love to walk and do 5ks regularly. I ave never had a swallow study. Although in the last few months I have noticed a couple of times where I have almost choked on food. I have to cut things in small bites and chew slowly. Aspiration pneumonia did cross my mind. And yes I have been coughing rather violently. Wasn't too surprised by the broken rib.


Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

31 @ Dx SCC of tongue right side May 27, 2011, no tobacco, light drink
Partial gloss. and ND June 2011 - 2 jaw nodes positive ("encapsulated")
33 rads ended 10/21/11.
Dx Non small cell lung cancer 05/18/15
Cherri79 #189526 05-11-2015 10:30 PM
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Good luck. Try not to worry. That brings some complications you don't need right now.


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
Cherri79 #189529 05-12-2015 05:53 AM
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Cherri79, I forgot to ask, are you nebulizing?


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
Cherri79 #189532 05-12-2015 07:09 AM
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Cherri my hubby had walking pneumonia... it happens. I have to say that it's HIGHLY UNLIKELY - since you are cancer free and have been for some time - that it is mets to the lungs.

It could be lung cancer (proper) however, I'm assuming you're not a smoker, don't work around second hand smoke, and don't work with carcinogenic chemicals. So the chances of that being the case are exceptionally slim. Usually these tumors are caught on an xray - and for you to be having that much trouble breathing etc... they would be noticeable on an xray.

I would be willing to bet you have pneumonia. Take your meds, take puffers, relax and heal.

It is possible you have aspiration pneumonia, however this far out - I think the problem would have been a chronic one and caught before now. Mind you it doesn't hurt to check right?

I'm thinking regular old pneumonia... from a nasty BUG.

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
Cherri79 #189534 05-12-2015 10:26 AM
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Thank you Cheryl. Uptown, I have not been using a nebulizer. Just a puffer.

Thank you both for your replies.


Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

31 @ Dx SCC of tongue right side May 27, 2011, no tobacco, light drink
Partial gloss. and ND June 2011 - 2 jaw nodes positive ("encapsulated")
33 rads ended 10/21/11.
Dx Non small cell lung cancer 05/18/15
Cherri79 #189536 05-12-2015 12:09 PM
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Got a CT guided biopsy of pleural tissue and drain / biopsy of fluid scheduled for Friday. Sounds fun!


Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

31 @ Dx SCC of tongue right side May 27, 2011, no tobacco, light drink
Partial gloss. and ND June 2011 - 2 jaw nodes positive ("encapsulated")
33 rads ended 10/21/11.
Dx Non small cell lung cancer 05/18/15
Cherri79 #189554 05-13-2015 08:18 AM
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yucky... best of luck.


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
Cherri79 #189583 05-15-2015 12:01 PM
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Had my procedures today. Actually wasn't bad at all. Now the wait for results. Taking it easy, gonna rent some movies on Amazon and eat some good food.


Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

31 @ Dx SCC of tongue right side May 27, 2011, no tobacco, light drink
Partial gloss. and ND June 2011 - 2 jaw nodes positive ("encapsulated")
33 rads ended 10/21/11.
Dx Non small cell lung cancer 05/18/15
Cherri79 #189744 05-29-2015 01:53 PM
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Results?


Kathy wife/caregiver to:
Kevin age:53
Dx 7/15/11
HPV16+ SCC Stage IV BOT/R
Non smoker, casual drinker
7/27/11 Cistplatin, taxotere,5FU 2/3week sessions, followed by IMRT 125cgy x 60 (2x daily) w/Erbitux weekly. Last rad 10/26/11. Last Erbitux 10/27/11
PEG placed 9/1/11 Removed 11/8/11
Clear PET 10/12 and 10/13 and ct in 6/14
Cherri79 #189782 06-02-2015 05:11 PM
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Biopsy confirmed cancer. They are saying non small cell so it looks like new cancer. Currently getting the full work up to see what treatment would be best for me.


Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

31 @ Dx SCC of tongue right side May 27, 2011, no tobacco, light drink
Partial gloss. and ND June 2011 - 2 jaw nodes positive ("encapsulated")
33 rads ended 10/21/11.
Dx Non small cell lung cancer 05/18/15
Cherri79 #189784 06-03-2015 04:11 AM
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Cherri, Im very sorry about the cancer diagnosis. Please tell us more about this when you get the info.

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
Cherri79 #189785 06-03-2015 04:27 AM
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Thank you Christine. I kind of feel like I'm in the Twilight Zone. How could I get two different cancers with no risk factors for either?


Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

31 @ Dx SCC of tongue right side May 27, 2011, no tobacco, light drink
Partial gloss. and ND June 2011 - 2 jaw nodes positive ("encapsulated")
33 rads ended 10/21/11.
Dx Non small cell lung cancer 05/18/15
Cherri79 #189789 06-03-2015 07:48 AM
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"OCF Canuck"
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If it's a new cancer and not SCC related it should be treatable. ask about surgery. hugs and blessings to you.


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
Cherri79 #189795 06-03-2015 04:59 PM
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That's what I'm pinning my hopes on. There are a lot of good treatments out there for non small cell.


Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

31 @ Dx SCC of tongue right side May 27, 2011, no tobacco, light drink
Partial gloss. and ND June 2011 - 2 jaw nodes positive ("encapsulated")
33 rads ended 10/21/11.
Dx Non small cell lung cancer 05/18/15
Cherri79 #189811 06-04-2015 10:23 AM
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"OCF Canuck"
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Fingers toes and eyes crossed for you... BTW I look funny like this... 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
Cherri79 #189861 06-09-2015 05:48 AM
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Update on me: got my pet results. Not what I was hoping but not as bad as feared. Not other organs affected but several places in the right chest. Testing for mutations etc is still not back. They still can't tell me definitively that it is not from my tongue but initial pathology did say NSCLC. I was always under the impression if it was SCC from the tongue it woukd come back as SCC not Non Small Cell. Anywhoo, I am getting my butt to MD Anderson as soon as possible. Both my dr and I have already called for the appointment. Should hear back today.


Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

31 @ Dx SCC of tongue right side May 27, 2011, no tobacco, light drink
Partial gloss. and ND June 2011 - 2 jaw nodes positive ("encapsulated")
33 rads ended 10/21/11.
Dx Non small cell lung cancer 05/18/15
Cherri79 #189863 06-09-2015 07:00 AM
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Good luck with MD Anderson!


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






Cherri79 #189869 06-09-2015 08:00 AM
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"OCF Canuck"
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Good luck - and 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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