| | Joined: Jul 2011 Posts: 945 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) |  "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2011 Posts: 945 | Hi, Meli -
what is your smoking status?
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: Mar 2011 Posts: 1,024 "OCF Kiwi Down Under" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | "OCF Kiwi Down Under" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 1,024 | Where are you going to be treated Melissa?
Have you been seen by the oncology dentist?
Did you talk to the oncology Dietician? Have you discussed a PEG feeding tube with the team? Make sure you eat up a storm between now and the radiation starting. You need to increase your caloric intake, most undergoing this lose about 20kgs. Enjoy the taste of everything you most enjoy as your taste buds will take a hit for quite some time.
Gather a support team of friends and family to help out. To drive you to appointments, to help with the kids and general household chores, as well as to just be there for you.
Look after yourself,
Tammy
Caregiver/advocate to Husband Kris age 59@ diagnosis
DX Dec '10 SCC BOT T4aN2bM0 HPV+ve.Cisplatin x3 35 IMRT.
PET 6/11 clear.
R) level 2-4 neck dissection 8/1/11 to remove residual node - necrotic with NED
Feb '12 Ca back.. 3/8/12 total glossectomy/laryngectomy/bilat neck dissection/partial pharyngectomy etc. clear margins. All nodes negative for disease. PEG in.
March 2017 - 5 years disease free. Woohoo!
| | | | | Joined: May 2013 Posts: 63 "OCF Kiwi Down Under" Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | OP "OCF Kiwi Down Under" Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: May 2013 Posts: 63 | Hi Maria - non smoker all my life
Hi Tammy - haven't progressed to that next round of meetings yet but will be reading thru lots of these forums and making notes and lists of questions.
2013 - 39yr old female, DX BOT SCC Stage IVA (T1N2bM0) HPV+
28 May 13 - Pharangoscopy & tongue biopsy
29 May 13 - BOT Surgery & right ND (lvls 2-5)
31 May 13 - Hemorrhage, emergency trach, critical care
BOT clr mgns, 9/67 nodes & extracapsular extension
Finished 30 rads & chemo (cisplatin) stopped after 1 round due to hearing loss
May 2015 - left supraclavicular swollen lymph node & area - CT planned 9 May
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2011 Posts: 945 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2011 Posts: 945 | Good, glad you are a never smoker. Surgery followed by radiation may allow a smaller radiation dose than if it were the primary modality. If they see anything that worries them during / following surgery (e.g., not getting clear margins) they would have the option of adding chemo to the radiation. The small tumor size, the fact that it is HPV-related, and your non-smoker status are all very encouraging. Very best wishes to you. 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: 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 |
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
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