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Joined: Mar 2018
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CM57 Offline OP
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I have used razor blades to shave my face my whole life, I never liked electric razors, I have very soft skin. During my chemo orientation, they suggested that I shave with an electric razor due to the risks associated with nicks from blades.
So I just started using an electric Razor, but I think that will be tough on my soft skin once the rads effects kick in.
Has anyone been in this dilemma?
Not sure whether I should go back to using blades. I've just started my treatment, still almost 6 weeks to go.


Enlarged left cervical lymph node in neck on 1/9/18. Male, age 60. Had retired from working as a computer technician and a project manager for almost 38 years, on 7/1/17.
Node was removed 1/16/18 and found to have SCC P16.
Chest xray clean.
Since then, PET/CT, slight activity left parotid, possible malignancy left lingual tonsil. MRI clean.
3 endoscopies, nothing seen.
2/26/18 Larryngoscopy,primary not found.
TORS 3/23/18 lingual tonsil biopsy.,biopsy negative.
Chemo/rads started 4/18/18.
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,267
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Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
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CM57,

I used razor blades too, but one time, before cancer, I had an infected abcess, I had surgically removed, from a used razor I kept in the shower too long, so after that I only used new razors each use. In the early weeks of radiation, I used a razor, but soon I didn't need to shave at all as I had radiation bi-laterally, and for a while after that. Check with your doctor as they may say not to shave even with an electric razor or its timing? Somewhere along the line, I started using an electric razor to shave, and still do, but only when I go out formally. No more cuts, infections or other issues from shaving with a hand razor.

I hope this helps!


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 2018
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CM57 Offline OP
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Thanks Paul. I spoke with the nurse in Radiation today, she advised me to either use the electric razor, or don't shave, as I will probably lose my facial hair in a few weeks.
So I can't stand the stubble, the radiation mask hurts enough as is, I'll stick with the electric razor unless it becomes an issue.


Enlarged left cervical lymph node in neck on 1/9/18. Male, age 60. Had retired from working as a computer technician and a project manager for almost 38 years, on 7/1/17.
Node was removed 1/16/18 and found to have SCC P16.
Chest xray clean.
Since then, PET/CT, slight activity left parotid, possible malignancy left lingual tonsil. MRI clean.
3 endoscopies, nothing seen.
2/26/18 Larryngoscopy,primary not found.
TORS 3/23/18 lingual tonsil biopsy.,biopsy negative.
Chemo/rads started 4/18/18.
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,406
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,406
I found it better to just tough out the stubble until the hair began to vanish on its own. Shaving was painful and unpleasant and after awhile the least of my concerns. Then after it was all over, between the sensitive skin from the rads and the scar tissue et al from the surgery, I just left the beard (such as it is) and have been wearing it ever since: 9 years later. The thought of shaving now fills me with dread.


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 14 years all clear in 6/23 | Radiation Fibrosis Syndrome kicked in a few years after treatment and has been progressing since | Prostate cancer diagnosis 10/18
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CM57 Offline OP
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Yeah, I think the shaving is done for awhile. I had decided to use the electric razor, but a few days ago, I was shaving my neck and it was like a skin exfoliation.
That was after about 22 rad treatments.


Enlarged left cervical lymph node in neck on 1/9/18. Male, age 60. Had retired from working as a computer technician and a project manager for almost 38 years, on 7/1/17.
Node was removed 1/16/18 and found to have SCC P16.
Chest xray clean.
Since then, PET/CT, slight activity left parotid, possible malignancy left lingual tonsil. MRI clean.
3 endoscopies, nothing seen.
2/26/18 Larryngoscopy,primary not found.
TORS 3/23/18 lingual tonsil biopsy.,biopsy negative.
Chemo/rads started 4/18/18.
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,406
Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,406
Well you lasted a lot longer than I did, CM. Congrats. How many more sessions until it's all over?


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 14 years all clear in 6/23 | Radiation Fibrosis Syndrome kicked in a few years after treatment and has been progressing since | Prostate cancer diagnosis 10/18
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 72
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CM57 Offline OP
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1 last chemo tomorrow, of 7 weekly Cisplatin chemos.
And 4 radiation treatments, which seems daunting, as all the bad radation symptoms, hit me hard over the 3 day weekend. I don't have a feeding tube.
They gave me 1000ML of hydration today, and upped my Fentanyl patch dose.


Enlarged left cervical lymph node in neck on 1/9/18. Male, age 60. Had retired from working as a computer technician and a project manager for almost 38 years, on 7/1/17.
Node was removed 1/16/18 and found to have SCC P16.
Chest xray clean.
Since then, PET/CT, slight activity left parotid, possible malignancy left lingual tonsil. MRI clean.
3 endoscopies, nothing seen.
2/26/18 Larryngoscopy,primary not found.
TORS 3/23/18 lingual tonsil biopsy.,biopsy negative.
Chemo/rads started 4/18/18.
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 346
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It hits bad near the end, and the rads keep working for a while even after the official treatment is over. But then it will start to get better. You've made it farther than most, for sure. (Not that it's a contest, just letting you know.) If it's really awful, sometimes they'll let you off the hook for the last treatment or so. That's between you and your doctor and your numbers. But don't be afraid to ask, if you have to. ((hugs))


Surgery 5/31/13
Tongue lesion, right side
SCC, HPV+, poorly differentiated
T1N0 based on biopsy and scan
Selective neck dissection 8/27/13, clear nodes
12/2/13 follow-up with concerns
12/3/13 biopsy, surgery, cancer returned
1/8/14 Port installed
PEG installed
Chemo and rads
2/14/14 halfway through carboplatin/taxotere and rads
March '14, Tx done, port out w/ complications, PEG out in June
2017: probable trigeminal neuralgia
Fall 2017: HBOT
Jan 18: oral surgery
Joined: Mar 2018
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CM57 Offline OP
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Yes, we discussed the last treatments.
Both Oncologists would like me to finish out everything as scheduled, especially the Radiation Oncologist.
He mentioned a statistic, which I fully don't remember now.
He said something to the effect, that for each missed prescribed radiation treatment, your odds of complete remission, goes down 0.6 or 1.6 per missed treatment.
Does anyone have a link to that statistic?
(As I stated, I may not have written it correctly, but it's in the ballpark of what he said).


Enlarged left cervical lymph node in neck on 1/9/18. Male, age 60. Had retired from working as a computer technician and a project manager for almost 38 years, on 7/1/17.
Node was removed 1/16/18 and found to have SCC P16.
Chest xray clean.
Since then, PET/CT, slight activity left parotid, possible malignancy left lingual tonsil. MRI clean.
3 endoscopies, nothing seen.
2/26/18 Larryngoscopy,primary not found.
TORS 3/23/18 lingual tonsil biopsy.,biopsy negative.
Chemo/rads started 4/18/18.
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,267
Likes: 1
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
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Yes, I read the survival rate goes down about 1.6% for every treatment day missed. I think I mentioned it here a number of years ago, and further read from another source, it’s after missing about five consecutive days. I know they have you make up missed days at the end of treatment or by going in for a 6th day or having double treatments, which I’ve done, but not sure how that really works out. I don’t think i have the written article or where I obtained the soutce of info from.

Good luck



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






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