#62257 12-12-2007 12:38 PM | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 214 Gold Member (200+ posts) | OP  Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 214 | My Oncologist is leaning towards me having a total thyroidectomy. I am not keen on the idea of having surgery on my radiated neck. What can anyone tell me about having surgery after radiation, and will there be healing problems?
Left tonsil SCC, HPV+. T2N0M0. Tonsillectomy 3-07, bilateral radiation, cisplatin 3x, Tx completed 6-06. Clear PET 4-01-2008.
Thyroidectomy 5-9-08, resulting in permanent surgically-induced hypoparathyroidism and adrenal problems. Bummer.
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#62258 12-12-2007 03:31 PM | Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 583 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 583 | Hi Girlcat,
I have not a clue!! Good questions though. Have you asked your DR.?? Does not hurt to get 2nd op-ion.
I had surgery before all my Chemo and Radiation. So not sure if it makes a difference. I do know that there is scare tissue build up after radiation.
Take care and hope someone here can help you.
Diane
2004 SCC R.tip 1/4 tongue Oct. 2005 R. Neck SCC cancer/Chemo Cisplatin 2x/8wks. Rad. Removed Jugular vein, Lymph gland & some neck muscle. TX finished 1/20/06... B.Cancer 3/29/07 Finished 6/07 Bi-op 7/15/09 SCC in-situ, laser surgery removed from 1st. sight. Right jaw replacement 11/3/14. 9 yrs cancer free as of Jan. 2015
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#62259 12-13-2007 12:34 PM | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | girlcat, What's his reason for the surgery? From your bio I suspect HPV+. Have you been tested? I had no surgery of anything but I do have to take a thyroid pill daily but that issue didn't come up until 9 months post Tx.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
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#62260 12-13-2007 04:51 PM | Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 12 Member | | Member
Joined: Oct 2006 Posts: 12 | I had a recurrence almost immediately after my Tx was completed. My incision was below my right eye from corner to my nose along my nose down to and split my lip. This made it easier as the surgeon had to do a complete maxillectomy. My skin would not "hold" the stitches - started 'pulling' apart, leaving me with a huge hair lip. Had a second surgery, and within a week, it was doing the same. Underwent a 'free flap' in Sept which is doing well. Unfortunately, had a biopsy last week which showed yet another recurrence! Have consult with MO Monday to discuss options (if any). You may PM if you wish.... Sue
Susan Holsberg
ssc r maxilla r partial maxillectomy 9/25 brachytherapy 12/7
28 imrt 12/27 erbitux 12/20 recurrance 5/07 total maxillectomy
keeping my fingers crossed
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#62261 12-14-2007 12:17 PM | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 214 Gold Member (200+ posts) | | OP Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 214 | Oh, Susan I am so sorry to hear that!! My thoughts are with you. David--yes, my tonsil tumor was HPV+. I have many nodules on my thyroid, one on the right lobe that is 2cm that they are concerned with. I had 7 FNA samples taken in August that my Endo declared benign. My Onc. surgeon just NOW got the pathology report from the Endo and believes it to be 'suspicious'. They do not think the tonsil and the thyroid problems are related. My Onc. says there is a 20% chance it is a follicular neoplasm, and she says that is too high of a chance. The only way to diagnose this type of Thyroid cancer is to remove the thyroid and confirm it. She said there would be scar tissue-healing issues, so I was wondering if anyone had experience with that. I had a heck of a time with just the FNA and healing. What was supposed to be a simple and painless procedure gave me a severe sore throat for a week, and loss of voice for three days.
Left tonsil SCC, HPV+. T2N0M0. Tonsillectomy 3-07, bilateral radiation, cisplatin 3x, Tx completed 6-06. Clear PET 4-01-2008.
Thyroidectomy 5-9-08, resulting in permanent surgically-induced hypoparathyroidism and adrenal problems. Bummer.
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#62262 12-16-2007 11:58 AM | Joined: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 | Hi,
I had major neck surgery, total laryngectomy, partial thyroid/parathyroidectomy, left neck disection, etc. four years after receiving 36 XRT radiation treatments and had no problems with neck healing. I am on synthroid for life which you would be also if they remove thyroid, not a big deal once they figure dosage. Make certain you have full thyroid panel with TSH from before treatment.
How badly did you burn with radiation? What kind did you have and is it to same area. Everyone is different but I would ask doctors what they think since you already have problems with healing. What happens if you refuse/postpone surgery? Also a second opinion never hurts.
Take care,
Eileen
----------------------
Aug 1997 unknown primary, Stage III
mets to 1 lymph node in neck; rt ND, 36 XRT rad
Aug 2001 tiny tumor on larynx, Stage I total laryngectomy; left ND
June 5, 2010 dx early stage breast cancer
June 9, 2011 SCC 1.5 cm hypo pharynx, 70% P-16 positive, no mets, Stage I
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#62263 12-17-2007 08:28 AM | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 214 Gold Member (200+ posts) | | OP Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 214 | Thank you Eileen, glad to hear you are doing so well. I did not get burnt from the radiation. I was very,very darkly tanned. This peeled off and my neck looked normal one week post TX, early June. I had tonsil cancer left side but got full neck radiation. I am not having problems healing right now; actually one month post TX my doctor said the inside of my throat looked like it hadn't even been treated. But with surgery my doctor anticipates problems with scar tissue and healing. My thyroid panels are fine, but a biopsy I had on a nodule in August looks suspicious to my Oncology ENT. My Endo intially reported it benign in August. So this is the second opinion. Also my doctor does not feel this is related to the tonsil tumor and is not in a big hurry and is waiting until March to make her final opinion. Thanks for your input. Take care, Teresa
Left tonsil SCC, HPV+. T2N0M0. Tonsillectomy 3-07, bilateral radiation, cisplatin 3x, Tx completed 6-06. Clear PET 4-01-2008.
Thyroidectomy 5-9-08, resulting in permanent surgically-induced hypoparathyroidism and adrenal problems. Bummer.
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#62264 12-17-2007 11:46 AM | Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 108 Gold Member (100+ posts) | | Gold Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 108 | I had to have my wisdom teeth pulled post radiation treatment. They had me do HBO treatments (Hyperbaric Oxygen) 4 weeks before and 2 weeks after to help with the healing of the jaw. It had many other side effects like the hair growth returning on my cheeks where I had been radiated. May be worth asking your doctors about.
Jim
T3N2aM0 SCC right oral tongue. Partial Glosectomy, Modified Neck disection for 1 Lymph Node. Dec. 2002. 35 IMRT 2003.
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#62265 12-17-2007 11:54 AM | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 214 Gold Member (200+ posts) | | OP Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 214 | Thanks, Jim that's a good idea! How many treatments did you do altogether?
Left tonsil SCC, HPV+. T2N0M0. Tonsillectomy 3-07, bilateral radiation, cisplatin 3x, Tx completed 6-06. Clear PET 4-01-2008.
Thyroidectomy 5-9-08, resulting in permanent surgically-induced hypoparathyroidism and adrenal problems. Bummer.
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