What are the odds my husband and I would both have head and neck cancer and squamous cell carcinoma?
My husband, Mark, had stage 3 cancer of the tonsil 6 years ago. He was a smoker. Unfortunately, the radiation treatment damaged his spinal cord and he now has delayed radiation myelopathy.
I have stage 4 cancer of the right cheek, sinus cavity, upper jaw bone and a lymph node. I have never smoked. This was caused by oral lichen planus. I had surgery and reconstruction on November 18, 2013. My tracheostomy was removed a month ago. I am now eating soft food but still use my feeding tube for larger pills and capsules. I will keep the feeding tube in case I need it during the radiation treatments. I will be starting IMRT in two weeks.
I am thrilled to find a forum for oral cancer!
Karalee
10/18/13 SCC Stage IV, T4aN2bM0, right cheek, sinus cavity, upper jaw bone, 1 lymph node, HPV Neg, Non Smoker, Age 62
11/18/13 Surgery - composite resection right retromolar trigone and right selective neck dissection plus reconstruction, margin <0.1 cm
11/20/13 Emergency surgery for ecchymosis of flap
2/12/14 Start IMRT, 30 treatments ended 3/25/14
| 
