#43767 08-24-2004 03:27 AM | Joined: May 2004 Posts: 218 Gold Member (200+ posts) | OP Gold Member (200+ posts) Joined: May 2004 Posts: 218 | Well,
Hey all. Just wanted to drop a line to ask a favor.
Seems I am going to need chest x-rays tomorrow and they will be moving my CT's up a month due to the pain in my shoulder, chest, and back.
All I can think about is, here we go again.
Can anybody out here describe the pain they have had prior to a recurrance? I know this is a touchy subject but I am grasping here.
I have a dull heavyness in the front of my chest. Doesnt really hurt. Kinda feels like the nicotine hangover you get in your 20's when you have been in a smokey bar the night before.
Also, what can only be described as a pulled muscle feel on either side of my back.
Doctor says not to worry, his nurse (who is a friend of mine) says he has to say that. Funny huh.
Help. Robert
SCC 1.6cm Right Tonsil 10/3/03, 1 Node 3cm, T1N2AM0, Tonsil Removed, Selective Neck Disection, 4 Wks Induction Chemo (Taxol,Cisplatin), 8 Weeks Chemo/Radiation (5FU,Hydroxyurea,Iressa), IMRT x 40, Treatment Complete 2/13/04. 41 Years Old At Diagnosis
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#43768 08-24-2004 05:25 AM | Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,627 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,627 | Hi Robert, Your doctor HAS to say that?? Makes no sense to me! I know my own doctor will tell me if he feels we have cause for worry, seems like he would just to cover his own butt. Over the past 5 months or so I have been having alot of problems with my neck and with my back/shoulder. It had me spooked and I still will have some anxiety about it when I'm feeling scared and need something to fuss on. But, once my doctor and I rationalized it I realized why my shoulder and neck hurt. I had re-joined my active life at this time when it started to cause me pain, I was using my neck and shoulder in normal ways that I had not used them in close to a year. I was spotting tumbling again, lifting heavy bags of groceries, etc. Also, I found that the way I was sitting at the computer while I obssesed over this board and obsessed over reading about cancer was causing damage to my shoulder. I pray this is all that is wrong with you, it sure sounds like the same type of situation I had. 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.
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#43769 08-24-2004 05:42 AM | Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 382 Likes: 3 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | Platinum Member (300+ posts) Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 382 Likes: 3 | Robert- I haven't had a reaccurance but have had the pain you have mentioned and it was just as Minnie explained. My trying to get my life back to normal too fast. Scheduled some time in physical therapy and strengthened a few muscles to get rid of the aches. My doc did say I probably wouldn't feel pain if I had a reaccurance since the chest xrays or CT would pick up the fact way before it got to the pain stage. Keep up the hope!! - Kris
SCC Stage IV left tonsil neck disection 3/02 radiation finished 6/02 chemo finished 9/02 Stage 2A left breast cancer 3/09, chemo and radiation, finished treatment 2/7/10 -Stage 2 right beast cancer 10/14 chemo and radiation Every day is still a gift :-)
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#43770 08-24-2004 06:10 AM | Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,116 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,116 | Robert, I too have had the same experience as Minnie and Kris, seems like the more I get back to doing, the aches and pains start. I have had therapy and it helped. Keep Looking Up!!!!!!!!!!God Bless You, Carol
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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#43771 08-24-2004 07:26 AM | Joined: May 2004 Posts: 218 Gold Member (200+ posts) | OP Gold Member (200+ posts) Joined: May 2004 Posts: 218 | You guy have hit the nail right on the head. I own a manufacturing comapny and just picked up a large contract. I have been in the shop working for the past week. It is the first time I was on the floor since last Sept.
Thanks for everything you all. I really hope tomorrow is uneventfull but you have reassured me and I will try not to worry too much.
Thanks, -rh
SCC 1.6cm Right Tonsil 10/3/03, 1 Node 3cm, T1N2AM0, Tonsil Removed, Selective Neck Disection, 4 Wks Induction Chemo (Taxol,Cisplatin), 8 Weeks Chemo/Radiation (5FU,Hydroxyurea,Iressa), IMRT x 40, Treatment Complete 2/13/04. 41 Years Old At Diagnosis
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#43772 08-24-2004 01:59 PM | Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 1,163 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 1,163 | Hello Robert,
I had and continue to have no pain. Even though I have a reoccurrance in the right tonsil area. I also have met to the lungs. I don't feel any different than 4 months ago. I'm hoping you just overdid it last week.
Best of luck on your new scans.
Danny Boy
P.S. Might the back pain be related to watching the news about the Bears preseason. (just kidding)
Daniel Bogan DX 7/16/03 Right tonsil,SCC T4NOMO. right side neck disection, IMRT Radiation x 33.
Recurrance in June 05 in right tonsil area. Now receiving palliative chemo (Erbitux) starting 3/9/06
Our good friend and loved member of the forum has passed away RIP Dannyboy 7-16-2006
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#43773 08-24-2004 03:35 PM | Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,384 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,384 Likes: 1 | Robr, I have a variety of similar pains. They definately are worse during times of stress both mental and physical. Do get the tests because you'll be good for several months of better health after they come back OK!
Mark, 21 Year survivor, SCC right tonsil, 3 nodes positive, one with extra-capsular spread. I never asked what stage (would have scared me anyway) Right side tonsillectomy, radical neck dissection right side, maximum radiation to both sides, no chemo, no PEG, age 40 when diagnosed.
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#43774 08-25-2004 02:34 PM | Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 837 "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts) Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 837 | A year or so ago, I was experiencing pains running from the back of my head, on the right side, down through my neck and into the shoulder. I was imagining all kinds of possible ominous reasons for this, and finally went to my doctor. He ran a number of tests that couldn't point to any obvious cause. I started thinking in detail through my daily routine and remembered that I had been lugging my computer bag (using the shoulder strap) quite steadily over the preceding weeks. Once I stopped doing that, the pain went away. Sometimes the explanation for pain is straightforward and not life-threatening, thank goodness.
Cathy
Tongue SCC (T2M0N0), poorly differentiated, diagnosed 3/89, partial glossectomy and neck dissection 4/89, radiation from early June to late August 1989
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#43775 09-01-2004 05:13 PM | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 | Robert,
I was having quite a bit of pain in my shoulder and had a bone scan. I found out that I had arthritis there and my hip with a bonus of two broken ribs (probably from the fall last Thanksgiving). I remember my shoulder being brown during radiation and that is the joint causing the most discomfort (ACR).
For the past 2-3 weeks I have really been hurting in the upper abdominal area with sharp pains in my rib cage on the left side. Naturally, it has me worried. I thought the pain in the stomach was scar tissue from the feeding tube but now it has moved completely across to the right side, too.
I had an appointment scheduled for today anyway so I had a chest xray and am scheduling a PET scan this week to put my mind at ease. My one year date is Oct 8 anyway and when I brought up some of my concerns the docs were pretty good abot moving my scan up a few weeks. I am sure hoping all is well and I am just a pansy!
I hope your tests all came out problem free.
Ed
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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