| | Joined: Apr 2017 Posts: 81 Likes: 2 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | OP  Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2017 Posts: 81 Likes: 2 | Hi all,
Just an update - day 30 of rads completed today. The crew played the "Pomp and Circumstance" music and gave me a little certificate.
Side effects are in full swing - lots of sores on the left side of my tongue and mucositis. Rinsing with salt water/baking soda solutions, taking Mucinex, sleeping at a 45 degree angle, etc. Eating has slowed down but slogging through. Drinking is painful but trying to meet my minimums.
Thank you to all who responded to my many questions, shared their stories and tips, and urged me to keep going. I know these next two weeks might be especially tough but looking forward to better times.
Next steps: follow up visit in one month with nasal endoscopy to see how things are healing; assuming all is well then the next is a PET at 3 months.
Keep fighting friends!
Me -- currently 53 years old
SCC diagnosed 3/7/2017 at age 48
Staging SCC HPV+ T0,N1 primary unknown
PET 3/16, no activity, biopsies 3/23 benign
TORS surgery identified 2mm tumor in BOT (vallecula)
Cancer restaged T1, N2, M0
Begin 30 sessions of radiation (60 Gy) 6/13
Completed radiation 7/24/2017
1st MRI clear 10/23/2017!!
2nd MRI clear 10/17/2018!
| | | | | 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 | CONGRATS!!!!
Im sure you must not be feeling very well right now. Thank you for taking the time to give us an update.
Even though rads have ended, dont hesitate to continue asking questions and posting when you need to. We're here for you every step of the way.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
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: Apr 2017 Posts: 41 Likes: 1 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | | Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2017 Posts: 41 Likes: 1 | | | | | | Joined: Apr 2017 Posts: 61 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2017 Posts: 61 | Congratulations Stefan! I know it's hard right now. I hope you heal quickly. It's my last week. So, I know what you are going through.
04/21/17 Biopsy at ENT
04/25/17 Biopsy result SCC on left side tongue
04/27/17 CT Scans--shows shallow tumor
05/02/17 Pre-op
05/03/17 Surgery to remove tumor
05/08/17 Cancer still present
05/10/17 2nd surgery-
06/05/17 PET on 6th, RADS start on 06/20/17
07/11/17 Halfway point!
08/01/17 Last treatment
11/1/17 Cancer is back
11/15/17 Emory University surgery. neck dissection, left lymph nodes removed, tongue free flap from left arm with skin graft.
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2012 Posts: 1,275 Likes: 7 Assistant Admin Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Assistant Admin Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Oct 2012 Posts: 1,275 Likes: 7 | Well done, Stef! Frame the certificate! It's a real achievement to finish rads.
Gloria
She stood in the storm, and when the wind did not blow her way, she adjusted her sails... Elizabeth Edwards
Wife to John,dx 10/2012, BOT, HPV+, T3N2MO, RAD 70 gy,Cisplatinx2 , PEG in Dec 6, 2012, dx dvt in both legs after second chemo session, Apr 03/13 NED, July 2013 met to lungs, Phase 1 immunotherapy trial Jan 18/14 to July/14. Taxol/carboplatin July/14. Esophagus re-opened Oct 14. PEG out April 8, 2015. Phase 2 trial of Selinexor April to July 2015. At peace Jan 15, 2016.
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2016 Posts: 111 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2016 Posts: 111 | Feels good to cross that finish line!!
Get through the next few days and you should start to feel a little better as you progress through recovery. Soon this will all just be an unpleasant memory.
Good Job!
1997 SCC Tumor on tongue - Partial Gloss
1997 Met to Lymph
Radical Neck Dissection / 2nd Partial Gloss
6 weeks chemo and radiation
Brachytherapy
2011 Stroke
2014 Recurrence SCC at Base of Tongue / Hemi-gloss
Free Flap reconstr from thigh
PEG Tube
Radiation
Permanent Issues with speech and swallowing
2018 - Bleeding throat / mouth
2019 - Bleeding throat / mouth
2019 - 3rd diag Cancer SCC Base of mouth / jawbone
2019 - Aug remove portion of jaw / right pec det / free flap closure and tongue
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,409 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,409 | Pomp and C? A certificate? Boy, I didn't even get a handshake...
But all kidding aside, congratulations, Stef. You've done the hard work. Yes, the next few weeks will still be tough, but you're over the big hump and it will all seem like a distant memory in time. Please keep us posted on your progress, ask any and all question always (of course), and take it easy!
David 2
SCC of occult origin 1/09 (age 55)| Stage III TXN1M0 | HPV 16+, non-smoker, moderate drinker | Modified radical neck dissection 3/09 | 31 days IMRT finished 6/09 | Hit 15 years all clear in 6/24 | Radiation Fibrosis Syndrome kicked in a few years after treatment and has been progressing since | Prostate cancer diagnosis 10/18
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