| | Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 60 Likes: 2 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 60 Likes: 2 | I had a talk with my ENT/Cancer doctor today. He goes I have some bad and good news. The bad news is the cancer is back, but it just in the area and that is the good part. He feels he can get all in the surgery. Now I am scared over the surgery, he will have to remove a small area of the back of the tongue, the tumor my the jaw and some of the jaw bone. He said it will take around 12 hours to do all the work. He said I am very healthy and would bounce right back.
Has anyone gone through this type of surgery? Please let me know. I know I have found a great doctor he does his own surgery and treatments. He is also a assistant professor at the University of Washington for ENT. He is part of the Seattle Cancer Alliance Center and works with the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. I have fought once before and I will fight again.
Round 1 5/2007 - 35 Rad treatments and 6 chemo of cisplatin
TPN feeding for 5 months during treatment and after.
Tumor was on the right side of the tongue.
Round 2. Tumor on the lower back right jaw area. Surgery on 3/12/2010 to remove the tumor, rebuild the jaw and some work on the back tongue.
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2007 Posts: 790 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Feb 2007 Posts: 790 | Hi there- Ugh- tough day huh? . I'm so sorry. Well it is very good news that it is isolated and the doc thinks surgery will resolve this. I know it all sound so grisley and horrific when they describe it to you in detail. I was just like-- "don't tell me! just fix me!"... Its a tough surgery but you will be OK. Don't be scared. They will give you plenty of pain meds and it will just be a little awkward and uncomfortable at times.. and you'll be tired but its not like you are going to be in agonizing pain. Its a total shock to the system but the human body is AMAZING at healing itself and adapting to change. It just happens naturally.
When do they plan on doing the surgery?
I'll be thinking of you and praying for a full and speedy recovery from this little setback.
Hang in there!
Tongue Cancer T2 N0 M0 /
Total Glossectomy Due to Location of Tumor
Finished all treatments May 25 2007
Surviving!!!
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 60 Likes: 2 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 60 Likes: 2 | The surgery is planned for the 12th of March. It was schedule the day after he took the biopsy. The 1st ENT did not want to touch it and sent me right to Dr. Mendez.
thank you for the prayers. I will survive and keep going
Round 1 5/2007 - 35 Rad treatments and 6 chemo of cisplatin
TPN feeding for 5 months during treatment and after.
Tumor was on the right side of the tongue.
Round 2. Tumor on the lower back right jaw area. Surgery on 3/12/2010 to remove the tumor, rebuild the jaw and some work on the back tongue.
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,844 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,844 | I had my surgery at the UW Medical Center, it was a mandiblectomy also, though my tumor was not on my tongue but took up half my face.
I'm not familiar with Dr. Mendez there, Dr. Neal Futran is the head of the Otolaryngology dept and did mine. The UW's Head and Neck program is one of the top in the nation (12th) and 6th in cancer care, so you are at a good facility.
Keep you chin up and best wishes,
Eric
Young Frack, SCC T4N2M0, Cisplatin,35+ rads,ND, RT Mandiblectomy w fibular free flap, facial paralysis, "He who has a "why" to live can bear with almost any "how"." -Nietzche "WARNING" PG-13 due to Sarcasm & WAY too much attitude, interact at your own risk.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 | I have just about nothing left but my tongue muscle. The rest is in the trash somewhere or on a slide to be studied. Yep, it still hurts but I live and can force feed most of the time, but I am alive. You will be fine and the tongue will heal. Just go for the food until you go for surgery, to keep your weight at a decent level. Don't forget to include plenty of 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: May 2009 Posts: 1,413 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: May 2009 Posts: 1,413 Likes: 1 | Sorry to hear that. Will be praying for you. It is always scary when they tell you that it has come back. You can do this. You will get through it.
Angelia
31 at Dx.
DX: 4/30/09, 10/21/09 SCC on floor of mouth,
T1NOMO, T2N1M0
TX: 39 IMRT, 8 cisplatin 11/30/09
PET/CT: 11/03/09: Lymph node involvement
PEG/PORT: 11/09
TX end: 02/01/10
PET Scan: 04/05/10 clear
PEG Out: 06/21/10
Biopsy: 12/23/10: fibrosis
HBO: 01/04/11 - ORN
Baby girl born 11-30-12
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 396 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2009 Posts: 396 | sorry to hear of the reoccurance. but u can do it! keep us posted.
Teresa
-----------
CG to ANDY. Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC)
T2N2cMxG4 stage 4. 43 @ dx 8/31/09
tx 9/21/09-11/06/09 cispatin/docetaxel/5-FU X3
PORT 9/9/09, PEG 12/07/09
35 IMRT-1/wk carbo 11/30/09-2/3/10
tx stopped due to complications
IMRT BOOST 3/08-3/12/10
PET 4/12/10 CLEAR!
PEG out 4/14/10
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 440 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 440 | It breaks my heart to read posts like this....I hate this disease! My prayers will be with you, you will get through this.
Dx 3/27/09 @ 28 years old with High Grade MEC T4N2M0
Elizabeth, 33, mother of 3 girls (4,7, &8yrs old)
3 rds of chemo(Carbo/Taxol)
Rt Mandibulectomy, rt fibular flap,& rt ND with trach, picc,& g-tube.
30 rds of rads with weekly cisplatin
SCANS ALL CLEAR!
OCF Regional Coordinator of San Antonio Walk
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 60 Likes: 2 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 60 Likes: 2 | I know I will make it again. It to the point were the pain is getting me. I broke down yesterday and ask for pain meds. It help with the pain, but they keep me awake. The mucus building up again in the throat were It hard to drink water. I wish I know what I can do to get rid of it.
Thank you everyone for your support.
Round 1 5/2007 - 35 Rad treatments and 6 chemo of cisplatin
TPN feeding for 5 months during treatment and after.
Tumor was on the right side of the tongue.
Round 2. Tumor on the lower back right jaw area. Surgery on 3/12/2010 to remove the tumor, rebuild the jaw and some work on the back tongue.
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2010 Posts: 38 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | | Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Joined: Feb 2010 Posts: 38 | Someone on a different post mentioned taking drinks of soda water and spitting it out. This seems like a good idea. Hang in there and heal quickly.
Barb
Teacher aged 48, SCC Left side and floor of Tongue, Dx December, 2009. Stage II T2 N0 M0 Successful partial glossectomy surgery with thigh flap and neck dissection 3/8/10. 6 weeks of radiation tx ended 6/30/10. Happily surviving!
"Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere."
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 8 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 8 | I wish you the best of luck with your upcoming surgery. Ive had it done and its not an easy road. You will get thru this and be ok. You will get a trach only temporarily and a feeding tube. I know all of this sounds scary but it really will be ok. I am doing fine now 6 months post op. What is going to replace your jaw bone? Will it be steel or bone from your leg? I have a steel jaw now.
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive  | | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 8 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 8 | Oh yeah...the mucous.
Mix a pint of warm water with 2 tsp of baking soda and 2 tsp salt. I used to use 1/2 tsp salt cuz it burned my mouth. Rinse and gargle if you can and spit it out. Do this at least 5 times per day and it will help. Try musinex too.
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive | | |
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