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#37350 04-27-2004 03:45 AM
Joined: Apr 2004
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sbk Offline OP
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Hello all,

Thank you for all your replies about chemo...so very helpful.

I'm wondering if I can ask for tips on trach care...my husband had a trach placed with his radicak neck surgery and will keep it in for teh duration of chemo/radiation treatment...He is going back to work and at times the coughing issue is a bit of a challenge...not really a big deal, but any advice would be greatly appriciated.

Thanks so much and my best to all,
Sara


Wife of John, 40yo, SCC R Tonsil (3/10/04), s/p resection and rad neck, forarm falp, taxolx3 pre rad, rad (30 txmnts) & taxol/carbo. Now he is 49 and doing well!!!
#37351 04-27-2004 06:36 AM
Joined: Aug 2003
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Hi Sara,
I only had my trach for a few days so can't offer much advice on it. But, I was wondering why he has to keep it for such a long time??
Minnie


SCC Left Mandible. Jaw replaced with bone from leg. Neck disection, 37 radiation treatments. Recurrence 8-28-07, stage 2, tongue. One third of tongue removed 10-4-07. 5-23-08 chemo started for tumor behind swallowing passage, Our good friend and much loved OCF member Minnie has been lost to the disease (RIP 10-29-08). We will all miss her greatly.
#37352 04-27-2004 03:36 PM
Joined: Dec 2003
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Don still has his trach since they placed it right before surgery on the 12th. He already had rad/chemo. I thought the trach would be a big issue too but turns out not to tough to handle the care. Saline irrigation a few times a day seems to really cut down on the coughing and secretions.( after the initial of coarse) While the canula soaks in peroxide. A good swabbing with saline a few times a day to clean it up and make him more comfortable in "public" and I put a good balm on his chest to keep the skin protection "from the elements" then slide a clean split gauze up snug between the trach and skin. Snug up the tie if the gauze is too loose. Other than that...we can't wait till it's gone,(less maintainance while we have other areas to work on) maybe Thursday. Good luck Sara


Caretaker/Longtime Girlfriend of Don. Dx 10/31/03 SCC Stage IV T2N3bMO right tonsil/tongue base. 35 IMRT w/8 Chemos,Biopsy 4/5/4 STILL pos. Radical rightside 4/12/4 Reoccurred late August 04 God took his hand from me November 23rd, 2004
#37353 04-28-2004 06:56 AM
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 32
sbk Offline OP
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Hi Minnie and Jeepster,
Thanks for the info...John had his trach placed w/ surgery and beacuse he is just starting chemo radiation (stage 3)....his docs think that he will have less trouble w/ edema if he keeps the trach in...thanks for the tips Jeepster...it will be good to have it gone..but we can wait!
Take care, Sara


Wife of John, 40yo, SCC R Tonsil (3/10/04), s/p resection and rad neck, forarm falp, taxolx3 pre rad, rad (30 txmnts) & taxol/carbo. Now he is 49 and doing well!!!
#37354 04-28-2004 07:59 AM
Joined: Nov 2002
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He's going to have a trach for more than 6 weeks?!?! Seems like a long time. Of course what do I know - I never had one.

He's a very brave man going to work through all of this - I couldn't. I was disabled for a good part of a year and I "only" had radiation and chemo.


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)
#37355 04-28-2004 12:35 PM
Joined: Jan 2004
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On the trach subject, I noticed the past couple of weeks, that something kind of popped up on my trach scar...hard to describe, sort of like a swirly looking bump, but it had pus in it. I had my throat scoped three weeks ago cuz I was feeling a little tightness and that came out fine. After that I notice this swirly bump on the trach scar getting bigger and feeling sore, I saw my Oncologist and oral surgeon yesterday and they had it removed and are doing a biopsy on it. They both thought it looked like an abscess, possibly from leftover stitches from surgery...I am hoping and praying that is all it is. I go back next Tuesday to have the new stitches taken out and get the results of biopsy. Has anyone else had this experience? Thanks


Diagnosed May 2002 with Stage IV tongue cancer, two lymph nodes positive. Surgery to remove 1/2 tongue, neck dissection, 35 radiation treatments. 11/2007, diagnosed with cancer of soft palate, surgery 12/14/07, jaw split. 3/24/10, cancer on tongue behind flap, need petscan, surgery scheduled 4/16/10
---update passed away 8-27-11---

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