| | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 307 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | OP  Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 307 | Hi All,
I just need to vent....Ron has been needing some dental work done and we didn't realize the issues for Dentists in dealing with a radiated throat. His regular Dentist sent him to the UCLA School of Dentistry to check his gums. He went there and they were concerned about a particular area on his gum.
To be on the safe side they did a biopsy. Now mind you, through all of this Ron has been very nervous and worried. He gets a call last Friday from that Dentist and the biopsy came back positive for Carcinoma. The Dentist is freaking out and wants Ron to come back for another biopsy to see if its become invasive. This in turn freaks Ron out (can't blame him). Thank goodness Ron says no and calls his regular Doc at the UCLA Head and Neck Dept because his Doc sees this every day. He goes there on Monday and the Doc takes a look and says don't worry Ron, this is no big deal, we'll laser it off. This is an obvious relief...on Tuesday Ron wakes up with shingles...because of all the worrying. Poor guy! He's been over 6 year's cancer free..... Just reminding everyone that early detection is the key because you just never know....thanks for letting me vent.
Love, Shelley
Caregiver to husband Ron. Throat Cancer. Finished 35 radiation treatments on 11/21/04. 8/2/11 small lesion on lower gum, laser Procedure to remove. 3/6/12 Doc. removed another lesion on outside of his neck. Did a skin graft from his chest to replace the skin on his neck. Went to Heaven on 6/24/12.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 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: 7 | Shelley, I am very sorry to hear about Ron's recurrence. Poor guy must have scared himself so much! Shingles isnt fun either. How old is Ron? I tried to get the shingles shot but I was too young and it would have been about $300 back in 2007. Anybody who has been thru OC or any cancer for that matter and is over 50 should have a shingles shot. Cancer survivors are more susceptible to getting shingles since their immune systems are weakened from treatments.
It sounds like Ron's recurrence has been caught super early. That is excellent news. You guys did the right thing with going back to Ron's regular OC doc at UCLA. With everything Ron has already been thru this will be no big deal. It will be a very quick, easy surgery. Everybody is different but it sounds to me like Ron's recurrence is very similar to what I went thru with my 2nd round of OC. My 2nd round was done as an outpatient surgery. Pay close attention to the healing. Since he has had rads, his healing may be slower. I ended up needing HBO to heal from my 2nd round of OC. Hope Ron feels better from the shingles very soon. When is his surgery?
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: Aug 2005 Posts: 307 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | OP Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 307 | Thanks Christine! Ron will be 60 in October and he's definitely going to get the Shingles shot when he's healed. Yes, his surgery will be as an out patient. It's scheduled for next Tuesday. He's been fortunate in the respect that he still heals pretty quickly in spite of the radiation. Yesterday he was feeling awful and running a fever. Last night his fever broke and he woke up drenched. He called me today around noon and said he was feeling 100% better! I would imagine the strong antibiotics he's getting are kicking in. On a side note...Ron doesn't have one gray hair on his head (and he still has a full head of hair)! He doesn't look like he's going to be 60! Thanks again for all of your help.
Love,
Shelley
Caregiver to husband Ron. Throat Cancer. Finished 35 radiation treatments on 11/21/04. 8/2/11 small lesion on lower gum, laser Procedure to remove. 3/6/12 Doc. removed another lesion on outside of his neck. Did a skin graft from his chest to replace the skin on his neck. Went to Heaven on 6/24/12.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 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: 7 | Ron is a very lucky man!!!! I hope he realizes how fortunate he is to have caught this so early.
Glad to hear Ron is feeling better. I felt so bad when I read your post about the shingles from being so worried. Just the word recurrence is enough to frazzle the best of us. I never would dare to even take a peek at the recurrence topic out of fear I would be more susceptible to getting sick again. The antibiotics are a good thing! It should help to ward off picking up anything while he is in the hospital.
Im amazed at Ron's lack of gray hair. I have tons that I hide. Ive had grays since I was in my early 30s. Darn kids, LOL!!!!
Best wishes with the surgery next Tuesday. I will say a prayer that it will be a simple procedure with a fast recovery.
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: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,264 Likes: 5 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,264 Likes: 5 | Sorry about he recurrence o glad it was caught early... Good luck with the lasering. Hugs and quick healing vibes to you!
Cheryl : Irritation - 2004 BX: 6/2008 : Inflam. BX: 12/10, DX: 12/10 : SCC - LS tongue well dif. T2N1M0. 2/11 hemigloss + recon. : PND - 40 nodes - 39 clear. 3/11 - 5/11 IMRT 33 + cis x2, PEG 3/28/11 - 5/19/11 3 head, 2 chest scans - clear(fingers crossed) HPV-, No smoke, drink, or drugs, Vegan
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 571 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 571 | Hi Shelley,
I'm sorry that Ron has to deal with any of this stuff! But, it sounds like a quick and easy thing to get rid of the spot. Shingles make people miserable. I hope he gets rid of it soon.
I'll be thinking about you two on surgery day and sending positive thoughts for Ron's speedy recovery!
Thank you for the reminder about early detection!
Love,
Sandy
xoxox
Ex-spouse MISDIAGNOSED with SCC-HN IVa 12/10. Tonsils out 1/11. 4 teeth out 2/11. TX Erbitux x2, IMRT x2 2/11. 2nd opinion-benign BCC-NOT CANCER 3/11. TX stopped 3/11. New doctors 4/11. ENT agrees with 2nd opinion 5/11. ENT scoped him-all clear 7/11. Ordered MRI anyway. MRI 8/22/11 Result-all clear.
| | | | | Joined: May 2009 Posts: 1,412 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: May 2009 Posts: 1,412 | Sorry about the recurrence. It is always scary when you hear those words. I am so glad that it was caught early. Catching it early is the key.
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
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