#94739 05-01-2009 08:18 AM | Joined: Feb 2009 Posts: 7 Member | OP  Member
Joined: Feb 2009 Posts: 7 | Greetings. Dad is now 5 weeks out from surgery and recovering well from the ND and mandibulectomy. We are scheduled for CT simulation for upcoming IMRT next week. He has had a full beard forever and the RO has given us an option to shave or trim it. Any experiences or advice? Does the hair length have to be exact during the radiation process? Thanks.
Only daughter to 65 y.o non smker Dad with 3.2 cm Rt lower alveolar rim SCC with 4 level 1 lymph nodes, T4N2bM0- IVb. Had right mandibulectomy and neck dissection with fibular flap reconstruction 3/2009. Recieving IMRT, planned 34 Tx and Cisplatin 3 cycles since mid May 2009.
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 476 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 476 | My husband had a full beard before his neck disection. He didn't want them shaving or trimming it so he shaved it off and went down to a gotee before surgery. He was fitted for the mask with the gotee. A few weeks into radiation, all his facial hair fell out. His gotee was clipped pretty close to start with so there really wasn't a "fit issue" once the whiskers fell out.
Wanda (47) caregiver to husband John (56) age at diag.(2009)
1-13-09 diagnosed Stage IV BOT SCC (HPV+)
2-12-09 PEG placed, 7-6-09 removed
Cisplatin 7 weeks, 7 weeks (35) IMRT
4-15-09 - treatment completed
8-09,12-09-CT Scans clear, 4-10,6-11-PET Scans clear
4-2013 - HBO (30 dives) tooth extraction
10-2019 - tooth extraction, HBO (10 dives)
11-2019 - Left lateral tongue SCC - Stage 2
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 | I had the opposite issue: I was clean shaven but the radiation and Erbitux together made my skin erupt and just peel off so I could not shave. Instead I grew a beard during the first part of radiation, then patches of it died and just stuck there. It wasn't until a month after TX that i could shave again So my vote is for the trim as shaving may well be out during the radiation. Charm
65 yr Old Frack
Stage IV BOT T3N2M0 HPV 16+
2007:72GY IMRT(40) 8 ERBITUX No PEG
2008:CANCER BACK Salvage Surgery
25GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin
Apaghia /G button
2012: CANCER BACK -left tonsilar fossa
40GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin
Passed away 4-29-13
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 | Heck, I just kept shaving as usual just not much on the sides but my chin never let up it's sprouting.
Since posting this. UPMC, Pittsburgh, Oct 2011 until Jan. I averaged about 2 to 3 surgeries a week there. w Can't have jaw made as bone is deteroriating steaily that is left in jaw. Mersa is to blame. Feeding tube . Had trach for 4mos. Got it out April.
--- Passed away 5/14/14, will be greatly missed by everyone here
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,128 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,128 | I had a short beard, but now all I can grow is a mustache and goatee, plus a few hairs on my Adam's apple.
Age 67 1/2
Ventral Tongue SCC T2N0M0G1 10/05
Anterior Tongue SCC T2N0M0G2 6/08
Base of Tongue SCC T2N0M0G2 12/08
Three partial glossectomy (10/05,11/05,6/08), PEG, 37 XRT 66.6 Gy 1/06
Neck dissection, trach, PEG & forearm free flap (6/08)
Total glossectomy, trach, PEG & thigh free flap (12/08)
On August 21, 2010 at 9:20 am, Pete went off to play with the ratties in the sky.
| | | | | Joined: May 2007 Posts: 666 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: May 2007 Posts: 666 | Part if not all of it will fall out anyway. Why not make life simple and shave now. That way the mask fits better and it will be less traumatic when the radiation effects set in.
During radiation I would do a little as you can get away with, shave or trim if you can/need .... that was the least of my worries
M
Partial glossectomy (25%) anterior tongue. 4/6/07/. IMRT start @5/24/07 (3x) Erbitux start/end@ 5/24/07. IMRT wider field (30x) start 6/5/07. Weekly cisplatin (2x30mg/m2), then weekly carbo- (5x180mg/m2). End of Tx 19 July 07.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 | Do get an electric Razor as my Dr suggested to my daughter. Needless to say she bought me a good one. I nver could use electic before but am convined of their abilities for sure now.
Since posting this. UPMC, Pittsburgh, Oct 2011 until Jan. I averaged about 2 to 3 surgeries a week there. w Can't have jaw made as bone is deteroriating steaily that is left in jaw. Mersa is to blame. Feeding tube . Had trach for 4mos. Got it out April.
--- Passed away 5/14/14, will be greatly missed by everyone here
| | | | | 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 | All of my facial hair fell out like little specks of black sand during rad. Only the whiskers above my chin returned so I don't have to shave down there which is THE ONLY GOOD THING to come from my Tx.
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: Feb 2009 Posts: 7 Member | | OP Member
Joined: Feb 2009 Posts: 7 | Greetings. Dad is very thankful for your responses. He felt better just trimming his beard real close and had his simulation earlier this week. Radiation starts next. Thanks and have a nice weekend.
Only daughter to 65 y.o non smker Dad with 3.2 cm Rt lower alveolar rim SCC with 4 level 1 lymph nodes, T4N2bM0- IVb. Had right mandibulectomy and neck dissection with fibular flap reconstruction 3/2009. Recieving IMRT, planned 34 Tx and Cisplatin 3 cycles since mid May 2009.
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 225 "OCF across the pond" Gold Member (200+ posts) | | "OCF across the pond" Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 225 | Martin was told he had to shave as well so he did. For the first week or so, his hair still grew, but then it all fell out. His skin was as smooth as a baby's, but it has grown back now, just not so much on the neck.
He also had a very weird and high hairline at the back of his head. I didn't tell him, what he didn't know couldn't bother him. It's just when he wanted a hair cut I advised him to tell the hairdresser to keep the back a bit long. He asked why so i just said the tx had made his hairline a bit funny but it didn't notice if his hair was bit longuer at the back. Now the hairline is normal except for a little dent in it.
Girlfriend to Martin 49 years old at diagnosis
Diagnosed with SCC unknown primary June 2008.
Cancer found in single node Stage N2A (3 to 6cm).
Tonsilectomy 16th june, Radical modified neck dissection left side 30th june.
30 TX radiotherapy ended 9th October
First comparative study scan came back clear
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2008 Posts: 37 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | | Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Joined: Oct 2008 Posts: 37 | EZ,
Which model electric razor did you buy? I start chemorads to both sides of the neck and right oral cav. next week. I shave every day and want to stay clean shaven. the info sheet said do not use a blade.
Mike
t2n2b rt tongue part gloss 12/08, repeat part gloss + ND 04/09, start 30 rts + weekly ciplatin next wk. | | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 | My daughter bought me a Norelco 7110x. It is nice and smooth after I learned how to use an electric. Yiu can even wash out the head compartment with hot water.
Since posting this. UPMC, Pittsburgh, Oct 2011 until Jan. I averaged about 2 to 3 surgeries a week there. w Can't have jaw made as bone is deteroriating steaily that is left in jaw. Mersa is to blame. Feeding tube . Had trach for 4mos. Got it out April.
--- Passed away 5/14/14, will be greatly missed by everyone here
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 | Mike, you won't have as many whiskers after they start working on you with the rads and chemo so they say, I still had to shave my chin and part of the side and lower neck area. Good luck as you go thru those treatments.
Since posting this. UPMC, Pittsburgh, Oct 2011 until Jan. I averaged about 2 to 3 surgeries a week there. w Can't have jaw made as bone is deteroriating steaily that is left in jaw. Mersa is to blame. Feeding tube . Had trach for 4mos. Got it out April.
--- Passed away 5/14/14, will be greatly missed by everyone here
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