| |         |   |   |  |   |  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 |  Charm, Ive been watching for an update about your recovery.  I knew there had to be one sooner or later.  Also knew you must be feeling better as I see you posting more frequently.  So glad to hear you are recovering so quickly.
 Sorry to hear about the darn mucous!  That really stinks but its a temporary issue.  Can you try using a water pik on the lowest setting to help get the gunk out of your mouth?  Its worth a try, maybe it would work.  If you have prescription mouthwash like peridex, dilute it 3 or 4 parts water to 1 part of mouthwash so it wont burn your sensitive mouth.  Or maybe try diluted biotene or seltzer water like you used before.  Hope this phase goes by quickly!!!
 
 Keeping you in my thoughts!  Be well buddy!!!
 
 
  Christine
 SCC 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:  Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) |   |   Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) 
 Joined:  Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 |  Better the mucous than perhaps the alternative! From where you started this thread I think this news is FANTASTIC!!!!
 So let's stick with THIRD TIMES A CHARM!
   David
 
 Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
 |  |  |   |   |   |  |   |  Joined:  Jul 2011 Posts: 945 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) |   |   "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) 
 Joined:  Jul 2011 Posts: 945 |  Very glad to see your update. You are one tough dude!Maria
   CG to husband - SCC Tonsil T1N2M0 HPV+ Never Smoker
 First symptoms 7/2010, DX 12/2010
 TX 40 IRMT (1.8 gy) + 10 Cetuximab
 PET Scans 6/2011 + 3/2012 clear, 5 year physical exam clear; chest CT's clear of cancer. On thyroid pills. Life is good.
 |  |  |   |   |   |  |   |  Joined:  Sep 2009 Posts: 701 Likes: 1 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) |   |   "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) 
 Joined:  Sep 2009 Posts: 701 Likes: 1 |  Great news, Charm! You certainly have been through a tough time. I sure hope that you get some relief soon from that sticky mucus. Here's wishing that the suction machine can clear a lot of it out and you can get a good night's sleep. Sending you hugs!
 My best�
 Anita
   Anita (68)
 CG to husband, Clark, 79,
 DX SCC 11/07, T4N0Mx, PEG 1/08, RAD, post rad infection 3/08,
 HBOT 40 dives, ORN, Surg 11/09 mandibulectomy w/fibular graft.
 Plastic Surg 4/10, 12/10, 3/11, 10/11, 4/12, 10/12. All PETS clear,
 PEG out 1/11. 6/11 non union jaw fracture
 Fractured jaw w/surgery 7/14
 Aspiration pneumonia 7/21, 10/22
 PEG 7/21
 Botox injections
 |  |  |   |   |   |  |   |  Joined:  Oct 2011 Posts: 225 "OCF Down Under"  Gold Member (200+ posts) |   |   "OCF Down Under"  Gold Member (200+ posts) 
 Joined:  Oct 2011 Posts: 225 |  Charm, that is such good news. The mucous sounds ghastly, especially as it's so badly affecting your sleep. I hope you can get on top of it quickly and get some decent rest. Best wishes, Linda   Brother 49yo DX 22/6/11 Tonsil SCC HPV+ Stage IV T4N1(?)M0. Carbo/docetaxel (Taxotere)19/7, 11/8 (with E-tux), 1/9; E-tux 11/8, 25/8, 15/9, 30/9, 14/10, 28/10; IMRT X 35 (70gy tumour;63gy nodes;56gy gen area) 19/9-4/11/11. Clear PET scan 1/2/12. 1 and 2 year post treatment checks good.
 
 |  |  |   |   |   |  |   |  Joined:  Mar 2008 Posts: 404 Likes: 2 "OCF Down Under" Platinum Member (300+ posts) |   |   "OCF Down Under" Platinum Member (300+ posts) 
 Joined:  Mar 2008 Posts: 404 Likes: 2 |  Great news, Charm!  Compared to other treatments a suction machine provided longer periods of relief from mucous sticking and taking over my mouth causing me to feel sick constantly.  I hope the machine helps give you a much needed break.
 Karen
 
Last edited by Karen Rose; 12-11-2012 08:13 PM.
   46 yrs:
 Apr 07-SCC 80% entire tongue removed,T4N1M0
 Neck/D,Jaw Split, Trache 2 ops,PEG 3.5yrs
 30 x rad,6 x Cisplatin,
 30 x HBO
 Apr'08- flap Recon + ORN Mandibulectomy
 (hip bone to reconstruct jaw)
 Oct'08 1 Plate out-jaw
 Mar'09 Debulk flap
 Sep'09/Jan&Nov'10/Feb&Jun'11/Jan&Jul'12/Oct'13/April'14-More surgery
 |  |  |   |   |   |  |   |  Joined:  Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 4 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) |   |   Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) 
 Joined:  Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 4 |  I'll have my post treatment scan after you in Febuary, but having a PET/CT instead. Good luck with the aspirator, which I have used in the hospital, but not at home.   10/09 T1N2bM0 Tonsil
 11/09 Taxo Cisp 5-FU, 6 Months Hosp
 01/11 35 IMRT 70Gy 7 Wks
 06/11 30 HBO
 08/11 RND PNI
 06/12 SND PNI LVI
 08/12 RND Pec Flap IORT 12 Gy
 10/12 25 IMRT 50Gy 6 Wks Taxo Erbitux
 10/13 SND
 10/13 TBO/Angiograph
 10/13 RND Carotid Remove IORT 10Gy PNI
 12/13 25 Protons 50Gy 6 Wks Carbo
 11/14 All Teeth Extract 30 HBO
 03/15 Sequestromy Buccal Flap ORN
 09/16 Mandibulectomy Fib Flap Sternotomy
 04/17 Regraft hypergranulation Donor Site
 06/17 Heart Attack Stent
 02/19 Finally Cancer Free Took 10 yrs
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 |  |  |   |   |   |  |   |  Joined:  Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) |   | OP   Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) 
 Joined:  Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 |  Thank you all for the supportive replies.  I did not expect this third time to be as hard as it has turned out, although I am developing a healthy respect for the party line that going above 77 GY really does mean some serious damage with long lasting effects.  Still, I will be home for Christmas instead of in a hospice as we first feared, so it's all good.Keep the Faith
 Charm
   65 yr Old Frack
 Stage IV BOT T3N2M0 HPV 16+
 2007:72GY IMRT(40) 8 ERBITUX No PEG
 2008:CANCER BACK Salvage Surgery
 25GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin
 Apaghia /G button
 2012: CANCER BACK -left tonsilar fossa
 40GY-CyberKnife(5)  3 Carboplatin
 
 Passed away 4-29-13
 |  |  |   |   |   |  |   |  Joined:  Jun 2009 Posts: 875 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) |   |   "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) 
 Joined:  Jun 2009 Posts: 875 |  Charm: It's always good to see your posts that let us know how you are doing.  You are a "Shining Example" of how we all should be when tackling the many set-backs you have had.  I see you plugging away constantly helping "newbie's" when they post, and others who are asking for advice, and am amazed at the amount of time you spend helping them.  And all the time, you are suffering with your own problems, but never complain.  See, that's being a "Shining Example."  I pray that one day you'll be free from all the crappy problems the treatments caused.  I hate mucus also, and have been battling it for some time (5 years since my treatments), so know how nasty that stuff is, sticky or frothy, yuk! Keep updating us and hope you get relief soon.julieann
  
 
Julieann Nov 2007 SCC on right tonsil following tonsillectomy. Was smoker, QUIT. (Stage IV T2 N2b) 7 weeks  radiation one day/wk chemo (carboplatin and 5-FU). Allergic to Taxol; PEG in, lost 30 lbs. TX completed January 2008. PEG out mid- 2008. PET/CT 1/17/2011;2/3/12 NEGATIVE for cancer    |  |  |   |   |   |  |   |  Joined:  Jan 2006 Posts: 757 Likes: 2 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) |   |   "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) 
 Joined:  Jan 2006 Posts: 757 Likes: 2 |  Charm,
 I�ve been wondering how you were doing and was anxiously waiting for an update. The good news was worth the wait!
 
 I hope the suction machine helps with the mucous. It is great that you will be home for Christmas to enjoy the holiday with your family and friends!
 
 I agree with Julieann that you are a "Shining Example" of how to deal with the crap that is handed you at times � way too many times � and how you were still offering support and advice to newbies while dealing with you own issues.
 
 I wish you the best!
   Susan
 
 SCC R-Lateral tongue, T1N0M0
 Age 47 at Dx, non-smoker, casual drinker, HPV-
 Surgery: June 2005
 RT: Feb-Apr 2006
 HBOT:  45 in 2008; 30 in 2013; 30 in 2022 -> Total 105!
 Recurrence/Surgeries: Jan & Apr 2010
 Biopsy 2/2011: Moderate dysplasia
 Surgery 4/2011: Mild dysplasia
 Dental issues: 2013-2025 (ORN of lower jaw)
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