#83914 11-10-2008 07:51 PM | Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 489 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | OP  Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 489 | Hi all. I had the appointment with the radiation doctor last Thursday. This is a different doctor and hospital than my first treatments. The surgeon that did my flap wants to use this doctor. He says that he is the doctor to have for head and neck cancer treatment. The hospital just built and opened a Cancer Treatment Center last year and it is very nice. They have a new radiation machine that will deliver the radiation treatments faster. It is one of 11 like it in the country. I liked the nurse that will be working with me and I liked the doctor. He was very thorough and a little matter-of-fact about things, but he covered everything. There are not a lot of cases that have had radiation treatment twice to the same areas so there is not a lot for us to compare my case to. This is a little frightening. While he gave me the "worse case" side effects I am hoping for none of them. Especially the ones where my recent surgery does not heal and we have to operate more. The other part of the treatment is what he called a cancer antibody called Erbitux. I googled it and found quite a bit of information on it. It does have side effects, but they are not supposed to be like chemo. I did not handle chemo well at all. I will get the Erbitux once a week at the Oncologist's office. The doctor did make the comment that we did not have a choice about doing this second radiation treatment based on my margins from the last surgery which made me nervous. I truly don't want a 3rd recurrence.
48
SCC Floor of Mouth 7/06
9/06 Surgery, bilateral neck dissection, 58 nodes clear PT2pN0pMx
35 rad 2006
Recurred 6/08, 1 Carboplatin, 1 Cisplatin
Surgery 9/08 - Total glossectomy, free flap from pectoral muscle, left mandible replaced using fibula
35 IMRT & Erbitux 11/08
4/15/09 recurrence
6/1/09 passed away, rest in peace
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 212 Gold Member (200+ posts) | | Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 212 | Hi,
Just wanted to wish you the best of luck with your treatment. May the side effects be limited and you be back to living out loud in a few weeks.
Cancer of Tongue, SCC early Stage 1, Dx 3/13/07, partial glossectomy 4/14/07 found no residual carcinoma and a granular cell tumor with pseudo epitheliomatous hyperplasia.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 309 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 309 | believing for a smooth treatment plan for you and no more recurrence. enough is enough is enough! I think there needs to be new legislation written that makes recurrence against the law, punishable by good health and longevity to the patient! ((HUGS to you)) keep up the faith and the fight, gal! you beat it before, you will beat it this time!
Rita - Age 44
wife, mother of 4 - ages 3,16,21,24 & grandma to 1
(R upper) Maxillectomy 8/8/08 - UW / Seattle, WA.
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"Those who think by the inch and speak by the yard, should be kicked by the foot."
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | We are here for you every step of the way. Ask any and all questions and yell at us as well. Lets hope this takes care of the cancer for good.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
| | | | | Joined: May 2008 Posts: 551 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: May 2008 Posts: 551 | Good1, I had weekly Erbitux during my treatment and the main side effect was the "acne-like rash." At 45-years old, I thought I was done with pimples! Fortunately, it responded very well to the antibiotics and cleared up for the most part. Good luck with your treatment and kick that Cancer's butt! - Margaret
Stage IV SCC lt lateral tongue, surgery 5/19/08 (partial gloss/upper neck dissection left side/radial free flap reconstruction) IMRT w/weekly Cisplatin & Erbitux 6/30/08, PEG 1 6/12/08 - out 7/14 (in abdominal wall, not stomach), PEG 2 7/23/08 - out 11/20/08, Tx done 8/18/08
Second SCC tumor, Stage 1, rt mobile tongue, removed 10/18/2016, right neck dissection 12/9/2016
Third SCC tumor, diagnosed, 4/19/2108, rt submandibular mass, HPV-, IMRT w/ weekly Cisplatin, 5/9 - 6/25/2018, PEG 3 5/31/2018
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