Only a few more weeks to go so hang in there and do watch the calories and hydration now more than ever. Her body, both mentally and physically, is stressed way beyond all tolerances and the last thing she needs is adding more stress.

First and foremost, I would like to thank everybody for all their love and support. It means so much to me.

Update: Friday (Asian time) was supposed to be her last day of treatment however the lesions on her face are still fresh so they are adding another 2 sessions of chemotherapy.

Weight update: From 88 lbs, she is up to 110 lbs after the peg. She is doing well with this.

What are your inputs about lesions, tumors on the face? Do we expect this to heal in time? What other courses of treatments have you had?

Ina,

First off that's great on the weight gain.

My experience on this site with people that have cancer lesions opening on the face or neck are usually in the end stage and I have no experience with them being treated with chemo.

I do pray that this works.

Ditto. If the lesions are still there the cancer is still there and will continue to grow and progress, and the chemo will not, as far as I know of this cancer, do anything to stop it - unless they have a new chemo that we've never heard of. Chemo merely "softens" up the tumor so the radiation can kick its butt! Since she's finished rads it may work with the residual radiation but I doubt two chemos will do the trick on a tumor that is big enough to be visible on the surface of the skin. Not to be negative, but way back even before all of this recent treatment it sounded very advanced, even though I was hoping I was wrong. Has it shrunk enough to be surgically removed? (though operating now so soon after radiation would be a healing nightmare) or since her cancer is on the surface and clearly visible, phototherapy may help assuming the cancer hasn't spread elsewhere - have they suggested this? It's is an advanced stage progressive cancer... If radiation didn't kill it chemo won't.

Great on the weight gain!

Best of luck!

[quote=Cheryld]Ditto. If the lesions are still there the cancer is still there and will continue to grow and progress, and the chemo will not, as far as I know of this cancer, do anything to stop it - unless they have a new chemo that we've never heard of. Chemo merely "softens" up the tumor so the radiation can kick its butt! Since she's finished rads it may work with the residual radiation but I doubt two chemos will do the trick on a tumor that is big enough to be visible on the surface of the skin. Not to be negative, but way back even before all of this recent treatment it sounded very advanced, even though I was hoping I was wrong. Has it shrunk enough to be surgically removed? (though operating now so soon after radiation would be a healing nightmare) or since her cancer is on the surface and clearly visible, phototherapy may help assuming the cancer hasn't spread elsewhere - have they suggested this? It's is an advanced stage progressive cancer... If radiation didn't kill it chemo won't.

Great on the weight gain!

Best of luck![/quote]

Hello Cheryl, I will mention the phototherapy. The cancer is on the surface and clearly visible. Like my problem before, I am no longer in the loop. My husband just mentioned this morning that the lesion on the face is still fresh and did not heal. The doctor would not surgery remove the lesion. So I am clueless about what they are thinking of doing now.

Let us see after 2 weeks what is going on.

Thanks again!

Good luck!

Ina, Joyce is so inspiring in her determination and strength. What an amazing woman she must be. I hope that she and your family continue to be strong --

Update 07/27/2013 We just called Joyce and she will start taking oral chemo pills. The lesions on her face has not healed. I am at a lost about what is going on, is that palliative care?

Joyce is complaining of dry throat and makes it hard for her to eat orally. She still has her peg tube and will not be removed.

Treatments received this year:
Cisplatin chemo 3 sessions
Erbitux 7 with 35 radiation

Additional Treatment Suggested

2 more Erbitux and oral chemo pills for maintenance.

Question: Do you think the oral chemo pills will help her? She is told that the oral chemo will help dry the lesions on her face.

I have never heard of this (oral chemo pills for maintenance) in the Tx of Oral Cancer. Typically these lesions are caused by unabated cancer growth and if that's the case then I don't see any chemo curing that.

I havent heard of this treatment either. That doesnt mean it wont help, it just means Im not aware of it. Every situation is different and maybe this will work for Joyce. I hope it will!!!