#20014 03-24-2006 01:12 PM | Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 23 Member | OP  Member
Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 23 | Hi all, my dad has been recentely diagnosed with oral cancer located up by his gum line. The Dr. said he will need to remove 4 teeth as well as bone and then a prosthetic will have to be made and radiation!! Ugh! I'm scared of what he's in for especially with his age. Any thoughts?
thanks, Tracy | | |
#20015 03-24-2006 03:51 PM | Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,912 Likes: 52 OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | OCF Founder Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Mar 2002 Posts: 4,912 Likes: 52 | The treatments can be brutal at any age, but I have seen 80+ old grandma
Brian, stage 4 oral cancer survivor. OCF Founder and Director. The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant.
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#20016 03-24-2006 03:54 PM | Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 235 Gold Member (200+ posts) | | Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 235 | Hi Tracy,
I'm sorry to hear about your dad. My mom was in her 70s when she was diagnosed w/stage 4 oral cancer. I have also met a couple of other people in their 70s who have gone through treatment. The doctors will take everything into consideration when determining treatment. I too was scared, but this forum and talking with my mom's docs helped us get through this thing. The docs have worked with people of all ages. Whenever you have any concerns, always ask questions. I ended up with three notebooks filled with questions and notes while my mom was going through her treatment. I wish you and your dad all my best. Take care.
Dave
Mom's caregvr. DDS failed to dx 01/03. Dx Stg IV SCC 05/03. Induct. chemo, IMRT, 5FU, H, Iressa, Neck disect, radiation. Dad's caregvr. Dx 01/04 Ext. Stg SCLC. Mets to liver/bone 08/04. Died 11/12/04. Mom tongue CA dx 06/13, hemiglossectomy (80% removed) 08/13. Clean margins and nodes, but PNI. 6/15/15: Tongue CA at base of remnant tongue. Declined further tx; hospice.
Died 10/13/15. What a long and difficult journey.
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#20017 03-26-2006 07:35 AM | Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 9 Member | | Member
Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 9 | Hi Tracy,
My Mom was dx this fall and had a tumor removed from her mouth, lower mandible area. She is 76 years old and is currently going into week 6 of 7 weeks of treatment. 35 radiation treatments and 7 cicplatin (chemo).
At first she was fighting the treatment, somewhere in week one she changed her mindset to fight the Cancer.
She is doing well considering, she is still eating by mouth and has only lost a 2 pounds so far. We did have a feeding tube put in prior to treatment but we haven't had to use it yet. But I am very glad that she has it.
I was vey scared 6 weeks ago when we started treatment. Crying when I was alone etc.. This forum gave me the knowledge to ask the right questions and that made me feel much more in control.
Good luck with your Pop. Be Well
Kate | | |
#20018 03-26-2006 08:26 AM | Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 23 Member | | OP Member
Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 23 | Kate,
I am meeting with his dr. next Friday to ask questions. Do you have any suggestions as to what the best questions are to ask? I'm new to all of this and dad is very confused.
Thanks, Tracy | | |
#20019 03-26-2006 10:43 AM | Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 | I answered most of your questions in your other post.
Oops! I forgot one - Does he have to have teeth pulled?
Gary Allsebrook
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Dx 11/22/02, SCC, 6 x 3 cm Polypoid tumor, rt tonsil, Stage III/IVA, T3N0M0 G1/2
Tx 1/28/03 - 3/19/03, Cisplatin ct x2, IMRT, bilateral, with boost, x35(69.96Gy)
________________________________________________________
"You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14 NIV)
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#20020 03-26-2006 12:02 PM | Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 23 Member | | OP Member
Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 23 | yes Gary 4 teeth! what does all this mean? I'm really scared for him!
Tracy | | |
#20021 03-26-2006 03:01 PM | Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 | If he has teeth that are in bad shape or gum disease they will typically pull the teeth to avoid ORN. If his teeth are healthy and he has no gum disease then you can debate them on this. 4 teeth doesn't seem to be too bad. Some of us have lost all of our teeth, most of us just the molars and teeth in the radiation field. There have been other recent posts on this very subject - do a search on teeth and I am sure you will get an earful about this controversial subject. Some of us, like myself, refused to have teeth pulled.
Gary Allsebrook
***********************************
Dx 11/22/02, SCC, 6 x 3 cm Polypoid tumor, rt tonsil, Stage III/IVA, T3N0M0 G1/2
Tx 1/28/03 - 3/19/03, Cisplatin ct x2, IMRT, bilateral, with boost, x35(69.96Gy)
________________________________________________________
"You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14 NIV)
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#20022 04-03-2006 10:08 AM | Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 9 Member | | Member
Joined: Feb 2006 Posts: 9 | Gulia,
How is your Dad?
They gave my Mom a week off due to sores in her mouth and she began week 6 today. The week off helped clear her mouth up.
I hope that your fear is lessening...
Kate | | |
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