I came here because I'm in the midst of treatment for what they're calling hypopharyngeal cancer (my primary site is in the supraglottal part of the larynx but it has spread up the pharynx to include a bit of the base of my tongue) and it seemed that a lot of the information on dealing with side effects would be pertinent to my situation. My original symptom was a minor tickle in my throat that wasn't going away; I ignored it until I noticed a lump in the right side of my neck. A lot of doctors' visits later, we decided to go with an induction round of chemotherapy followed by a round of combined radiation and chemotherapy. Surgery was not an option because of the spread of the tumor; it was superficial but widespread and the only surgical option was a laryngectomy (although, to be fair, it has been reserved as "salvage" if all else fails).

I am apparently not the usual profile for this type of cancer as I am a 47-year-old woman and, aside from the usual youthful experimentation, I never smoked. They have found HPV-16 and HPV-18 in my tumor, however.

I have completed the induction round of chemotherapy, a relatively low-dose regimen of Taxol (a.k.a. placitaxel), Carboplatinum, and Xeloda. I went once a week for six weeks and got the Taxol and Carboplatinum by infusion while taking the Xeloda by mouth (Xeloda is an oral drug that converts to 5-FU at the site of the tumor; my oncologist felt it is much better tolerated than infusion 5-FU). At the end of this treatment, the lump in my neck (originally diagnosed at N2) had reduced significantly and the otolargyngologist could not see any tumor via microlaryngoscopy.

We're now in the beginning of the second round of treatment. I've just completed my first week of radiation. They are radiating both sides of my neck and a section of my upper chest in order to clean out any microscopic spread. I am scheduled for seven weeks. During this I will also be receiving chemotherapy every other week -- Taxol and Xeloda.

I'm here to pick up suggestions but also to answer questions for others on my experience with treatment. For instance, before I get my radiation, they are giving me a subcutaneous injection of Ethyol (amifostine) and I am already on Salagen. I take Compazine an hour before the Ethyol is administered and I haven't had any ill effects from the Ethyol (yet). During the first round of chemo, I didn't feel that badly but when I developed heartburn, my doctor put me on Nexium.

My hair is mostly gone but my attitude is generally good. At the end of this first week of the second round, my main complaints are feeling a bit weak and a yucky taste in my mouth. I know it's going to get a lot harder over the coming weeks, though.

Welcome, lctrumbull. I also had Taxol and Carboplatin and rad. Two things: 1) I sucked on honey lemon cough drops which banished the chemo taste, which in any event didn't last more than a week or two; and 2) Taxol took my hair too, and I was surprised and pleased to have it grow back in a normal hair line even though I was burned way beyond the hairline from radiation, so if that happens to you, it is not necessarily permanent. One week down, six to go. You are correct that they won't be easy, but it is something you can do. We are here to help with suggestions or just to listen if that is what you need. Never forget that many of us here have gone through radiation and come out relatively unscathed, and definitely alive, and you can too!