Hello everyone!
I have been looking at this forum during the last week (waiting for biopsy results) and many posts have made me feel a little at ease. Thank you for that.
we got the call yesterday that they did find cancerous cells in one lymph node.
This is what he has had so far:
-Ultrasound of neck
-MRI- doc found something suspicious at base of tongue
-ENT appointment at Portsmouth military hospital, doc took biopsy of lymph node and after exam said he saw a suspicious bump at base of tongue, docs response is
"at least stage three and they will perform surgery/biopsy then follow with 6
weeks of chemo and radiation."

-Got the call yesterday saying there is cancerous cells, surgery scheduled for Tuesday for biopsy and possible removal of tosils. Will check to see if dental work needs to be done, then start chemo and radiation. He also said make an appt. for pet scan, it doesn't matter if if is after surgery.

This is all happening so fast!

Is anyone out there active duty?
Any thoughts on Portsmouth military hospital?
we are looking into getting a second opinion and going to John hopkins.

Any help or guidance would be appreciated.
My husband is 40 years old, rarely drinks and has never smoked. Is in great physical shape, although I know this doesn't make a difference.:(








week's chemist

Disregard week's chemist....I have no idea why that is there.:)

Johns Hopkins is a good ccc I would get a second opinion, and it sounds like things are moving quickly o that is a definite plus. If you stick with the military hosp mak sure the all know their stuff and have dealt with this cancer before. Best of luck other BOT people will be along soon ith more advice.

Welcome. John Hopkins is an excellent hospital, as Cheryld said. They are at the forefront of HPV related oropharyngeal cancer, which this probably is, and number one in ENT in the country, and number three for cancer, and that's where I would go if given a choice. I believe another member is currently going there. Anyway, things do move fast, but you can slow it down if you want, somewhat by a few weeks, but may depend in the histology of the node, and what the doctors think, at least to get a 2nd opinion. From the biopsy it should be learned if it is HPV positive or not, which makes a difference in response and prognosis, but treatment is the same, except for clinical trials, that's what is being suggested.

I always had my PET/CT scans before surgery, treatment, as part of my work-up, and had quite a few at different treatment centers, but being he had an MRI, that could suffice, but a PET is more accurate in identifying tumerous nodes even as small as 5mm, distant metasteses, and synchronous cancers. After surgery, there will be inflammation, and a PET can show false positives, but is often used for restating, post treatment scanning.

Here is a listing of the best hospitals in the counrty, in 16 specialties, including cancer, ENT, by U.S. News Report.

http://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals/rankings/ear-nose-and-throat

A listing of NCI Cancer Centers:

http://oralcancerfoundation.org/resources/cancer_centers.htm

Good luck, and I hope this helps.

Sorry you have to come on the rollercoaster ride. The forum is the best place to be for information and suggestions. You have a circle of friends who understand what you are going through. His being in good physical shape is a huge plus. His body will be able to recover faster. It is like being caught in a whirlwind, these weeks before treatment starts. Keep a notebook so that you can refer back to it as there will be information bombarding you from all quarters. It is important for him to get a hearing test before treatment starts to establish a baseline as radiation and chemo may impact the hearing. Make him eat eat, eat now, especially all his favorite foods. He will probably lose the extra weight put on during treatment.

Glad you found OCF, sorry your here. Your story sounds all to familiar, see my signature line. Based on your post, it sound like a HPV related BOT or tonsil cancer. This is both treatable and curable. Unfortunately the ride is harsh. But, the more you know, the more prepared you will be. I could not imagine going thru treatment without the help I received from this site.

Have you husband been on this site yet? For me, the more I researched and learned the faster the fear, anger, and depression went away.

If you want help, all you need to do is ask. My advice, Post often, the more people know about you situation the better the answers are.

Hi,
Just wanted to say we know where you are and how scary it is, but you are on your way to acceptanceand fighting mode and that is what it takes.
I don't know if they have mentioned HPV to you, but it sounds as though they will find this is HPV+, which is a better scenario, if there can be such a thing.
If they are going to use Cistplatin on your husband, be sure to have a baseline hearing test, as was earlier suggested. My husband is now borderline needing hearing aides at this point. But, we are 1.5 years out from tx now.
Hang in there, ask lots of questions, know we are here for you and make him eat anything and everything right now because soon things will never taste the same, and he WILL lose weight. Please keep in touch with us and know you can personal message any of us.
Kathy

Thank you all so much for the kind words and advice.
We did hear nothing but good things about his doctor, which is good because they won't refer him out.
On Tuesday he gets the biopsy of his tongue and more than likely his tonsils removed.
We are ready to take on the fight, I told him to come yo this site, he may when treatment starts.

When chemo and radiation starts will he be basically bed ridden? His mom is coming to help care for him, since we have two young girls. All the women caring for him may drive him crazy!

Any other suggestions to help care for him?

Anne, to answer your question about chemo and radiation...No! He wont be bedridden, at least I hope not. Light exercise is encouraged, so taking a daily walk would be helpful. It gives him a routine plus something to look forward to. Everyone is different and will handle things in their own way but he is young. Hopefully his age will help him get thru this easier.

Good nutrition and hydration are what will make things much easier. Every single day he will need a minimum of 2500 calories and 48 oz of water. No skimping or it will quickly catch up to him and he will feel lousy. I cant stress this detail enough, think of it as being mandatory to take in that much every single day. If he can get more in thats even better!

Glad you are lining up help now. Anyone who offers write down their name and number. Let them know when the time comes you will call on them for assistance. Even for small things like taking the girls out for ice cream or to the movies will be a help.

Best wishes!

Hi there no - on rads - usually people are ok the first 3-4 weeks.. Rads is cumulative though so the last 2 and first few following treatment aren't fun but doable. I drove myself to all my treatments and was okay until literally the last two days of treatment but I was blessed, chemo made me somewhat nauseous but that's it. I looked like hell apparently but was okay - I am the exception most fall somewhere between brutal and okay - radiation makes it difficult to eat and drink and swallow there's a total lack of energy and your mouth is raw and food goes from tasting okay to metallic to literally no taste. And it's becomes painful to eat and swallow. Some drs recommend a feeding tube - this great to prevent weight loss but he must continue to swallow to prevent atrophy and permanent loss of his ability to swallow. Best of luck there's lots of advice here. Hugs!