Hello. My name is Stephany. I use to come her a lot when my mother was first diagnosed over 2 years ago. Now, I dont know where else to go. The people in here have been so kind and helpful, that you, my friends were the first people I thought to turn to. My mother was diagnosed with a SCC tumor in her gum that spread to her jaw bone. She had 3 surgeries and six weeks of daily radiation. After radiation, her health deteriorated and seh went from a size 18 or so to a size 4. She is unable to eat. She puts everything in a blender and is unable to even speak. She has fluid (infection) draining from her chin continuously. When the infection spread to her lip, she was referred to an infectious disease specialist who then referred her back to her ENT, who said that her tumor was likely back..And that the only way to diagnose it is to do a biopsy which would require a tracheatomy and would break her jaw bone. But the doctor also told her that even if the cancer was back, that there was nothing else that could be done. My mom is 65 years old and I refuse to accept that...isnt there something or some treatment out there..I would hate to watch her get worse than she is now...Has anyone ever heard of anyone with my moms cancer with a recurrence winning the fight against cancer? If so, that would give me hope....I welcome your emails or comments in here...I am willing to suggest anything to my mom at this point..But she is also very depressed..She has so much pain, she is on liquid morphine all day and pain meds..I almost think that the radiation did nothing for her, except make her worse.....I just dont know what to do at this point....God Bless you all....
Stephany

Dear Stephanie,
It breaks my heart to see you back here with this kind of news, especially after such a long and hard fight.

Certainly I would ask her doctors for a referal for a second opinion, such as Loma Linda or MD Anderson just to set you free that every possibility has been exhausted.

It may be the time to arrange for hospice care. They are exceptional at managing pain and making the patient as comfortable as possible, usually in their own home.

I will keep you and your mom in daily prayers.

Stephany, my prayers are with your Mom and you. God Bless, Love, Carol

Stephany, my prayers are with your Mom and you. God Bless, Love, Carol

Stefany,

I am far from an expert, but I recently got a second opinion from MD Anderson in Houston, Texas, and am currently under their care. I have been nothing but impressed. I would with utmost haste, schedule an appointment for your mother. The Head and Neck Center number is 713-792-6520. They have capabilities some other places do not have. Dr. Weber is the Center head, ask for him. He's great.

Best regards,

John

Thank you so much for your replies. I am going to call that number. JOhn, Has Dr. Weber helped you? I hope. I will definitely give a call today. THank you all for your help and prayers.
Gary, Thank you so much for your kind words. I am sorry also that my mother has struggled with this for so long to get this news. I was just hoping that someone in here could shed some light, which has already happened. Thank you.
Thank you Carol for your prayers.

Love
Stephanie

Yes, Stephany, he has helped. Great group, I think that they will be of great assistance.

John

Stephany,

My diagnosis was essentially the same as your mother's. I had surgery 25 months ago to remove the tumor, about 3" of my jaw, and affected lymph nodes (radical nexk dissection). I had 7 weeks of radiation, no chemo.

During treatment, I lost 62 lbs. Following radiation, I had wounds that wouldn't heal and other problems caused by the radiation.

Fortunately, I was able to eat, but I wasn't able to heal until I had hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) treatments this fall. I am much better now.

My docs in California didn't believe in HBO. Fortunately, my new docs in Washington do. I don't know if they are right for your mom, but they sure worked for me.

I think it's great that you will ask for a second opinion. Keep fighting as long as your mom wants to fight! And take care of yourself, too. She needs your strength.

Ken

JOhn, Thank you..I passed on the information

Ken, How are you doing? IS the HBO really helping you, I hope. Sorry to hear about your weight loss and fight as well. But hang in there. I know another lady that had thesame problems and recovered. There is hope. But for my mom, they have told her that her tumor is likely back.

DOes anyone in here know of any homeopathic or any other treatments that may be of help? I passed on the MD Andersson information to my family and they told me MD Anderson could probably not do anything more than what her UCLA doctors are doing here in Los Angeles, and that they would want to do a biopsy first anyway.

Does anyone know of any homeopathic treatments or anything we can do for my mom?

Thanks so much and GOd Bless You All. Hang in there John and Ken. You all are in my prayers

Stephanie

Stephanie,

Yes, the HBO treatments have helped. Dramatic weight losss is in the past, as I have gained back 20 of my 62 missing pounds. Now, I am dieting. My choice, not the beast's.

I appreciate your good wishes and kind words.

Ken