| 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 | Im very sorry to hear your doctors findings! Dont give up hoping!!! Best wishes with your upcoming appointment Thursday. Gather all your records and take them with you so the doctor has a good history and can hopefully come up with an alternative plan. 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 | That's awesome... I know MD anderson has an exceptional program for head and neck cancers. There are members here who've done radiation twice. They're s till living life in a big way. I'm so glad you're not ready to give up. Sometimes it's about the surgeon, or trying something new. hugs... you'll get through this. ;o)
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: Nov 2010 Posts: 74 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | OP Supporting Member (50+ posts) Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 74 | Not good news todays appointment.Pretty much same story. Radiation not advised. Clinical trial people called . Tests that I had the other day show I have an infection so I wont be able to start chemo until its cleared up. I have to say it seems like Im not going to catch a break. Im praying it will be over soon. Thank you all for being there for me.
4 cancerous tumors stage4 Surgery 10/26/2010 Radiation 2x a day for 4 weeks (started Dec 13th 2010) Reccurance discovered Nov 2011. Tumor behind left jaw. Erbitux, Taxol and Paraplatin for 6 wk. Surgery scheduled for Feb 50 year old woman smoked for 30 years quit 3 years ago light drinker HPV +16
| | | | Joined: Dec 2011 Posts: 126 Senior Member (100+ posts) | Senior Member (100+ posts) Joined: Dec 2011 Posts: 126 | I'm so sorry to hear this. You will certainly be in my prayers!
Emily - 24 years old at diagnosis HPV-, no risk factors T2N2b Squamous Cell Carcinoma Left oral tongue, poorly differentiated Hemiglossectamy, reconstruction, partial neck dissection 30 Radiation treatments, weekly chemo (cisplatin) 1/13/12 last day of treatment Diagnosed October 2011
| | | | 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 | Im very sorry the second opinion wasnt more hopeful. Wish you didnt have to go thru fighting an infection before you can begin your treatments. Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.
Best wishes!!! 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 | I'm sorry - this really sucks - I wish I had suggestions I know if the financial burden were lifted it would likely be an easier decision to make - it should never come down to money as you should be allowed to get the best care possible. Maybe another opinion? fingers crossed your infection clears up. Hugs!
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: Nov 2010 Posts: 74 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | OP Supporting Member (50+ posts) Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 74 | It doesnt really matter about money anymore. I dont think theres anything they can do anymore anyway. Hopefully this chemo trial will make some of the pain better
4 cancerous tumors stage4 Surgery 10/26/2010 Radiation 2x a day for 4 weeks (started Dec 13th 2010) Reccurance discovered Nov 2011. Tumor behind left jaw. Erbitux, Taxol and Paraplatin for 6 wk. Surgery scheduled for Feb 50 year old woman smoked for 30 years quit 3 years ago light drinker HPV +16
| | | | Joined: Oct 2011 Posts: 805 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Oct 2011 Posts: 805 | I'm so sorry. There really are no words that we can say to make this better. Only you know what you can tolerate and when you have had enough. I can't remember, you aren't doing this alone, right? Please keep in touch with us. Kathy
Kathy wife/caregiver to: Kevin age:53 Dx 7/15/11 HPV16+ SCC Stage IV BOT/R Non smoker, casual drinker 7/27/11 Cistplatin, taxotere,5FU 2/3week sessions, followed by IMRT 125cgy x 60 (2x daily) w/Erbitux weekly. Last rad 10/26/11. Last Erbitux 10/27/11 PEG placed 9/1/11 Removed 11/8/11 Clear PET 10/12 and 10/13 and ct in 6/14 | | | | 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 | I'm a fight to the end kind of girl - I want to tell you to push for a second round of rads. There area few here who've done it along with salvage surgery - and they're still here kicking up a fuss. I told a story a wild back..l may have told it to you... But I'll repeat it... A friend of mine has peritoneal cancer - its incurable, only marginally controllable with chemo, her first round shrunk the tumor, her recurrence was quick, second time around they changed chemos and she had a reaction, so they switched her to a 1970s chemo, because the one they wanted to give her wasn't available (thank you money grubbing pharmaceutical companies) her tumor grew and spread. Her dr. Pretty much told her go home and die. And to take her pain meds as she was going to need them.
She didn't listen - she took my advice and went to my ccc - they switched her chemo put her on a trial drug, and now the tumor has shrunk by 27% -
To me it sounds like you're still in Position to fight and win. There are those here that have done the three time recurrence. Hugs... I totally respect any decision you make, but please despite the fact that it seems useless, you never know - take care.
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: Nov 2010 Posts: 74 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | OP Supporting Member (50+ posts) Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 74 | Thanks Kathy and Cheryl. Hopefully they will find my white blood cell count higher and Ill be able to start the trial next week. I go in for blood work Monday. Ill keep you posted. I didnt mean to sound like Ive given up..I just am having a hard time being optimistic lately. Im a tough old lady..I can take it. Just need to whine sometimes!
4 cancerous tumors stage4 Surgery 10/26/2010 Radiation 2x a day for 4 weeks (started Dec 13th 2010) Reccurance discovered Nov 2011. Tumor behind left jaw. Erbitux, Taxol and Paraplatin for 6 wk. Surgery scheduled for Feb 50 year old woman smoked for 30 years quit 3 years ago light drinker HPV +16
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