#70003 02-17-2008 11:52 AM | Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 3 Member | OP  Member
Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 3 | ALOHA ~
My name is Kim, 37 yrs. old, I live on the Big Island of Hawaii. My father (65 yrs. old) was diagnosed with cancer in his tonsils a few years ago. His doctor immediately did a tonsilectomy followed by weeks of radiation & chemo as a safety precaution. Seemed to be a success, however, a year later he got a sore throat & was told the cancer was now in his esophogus & base of tongue (Squamous Cell Carcinoma). A month later, he flew to Oahu (Honolulu) for surgery by an extraordinary doctor (Kristine Adachi) who specializes in oral cancer. Short version:
*1st surgery 15 hrs. - removed all the cancer
{unfortunately during surgery she found cancer in his voice box
as well & removed half of it}
*2nd surgery (2 days later) 20 hrs. - reconstruction of his
esophogus, voice box, and tongue {left neck dissection}
Been a little over a year & so far so good. However, he is still on a feeding tube, has difficutly with speech & swallowing, but the worse problem he has is constant excess saliva/mucous & drooling. He carries one of those small hospital plastic dishes 24/7. The spitting & drooling drives him crazy, and has turned him into somewhat of a hermit due to the embarassment. He is currently taking Sal-Tropine (every 4 hrs.) a medication to dry up excess saliva/mucous, but it does not help much. He recently read an article about Canadian man w/ brain stem cancer who had surgery & encountered the same problem after. His doctors injected his Salivary Glands (submandibular & parotid) with Botox, and it worked! He is injected every 4-6 mos. I found some information on the internet about using botox for excess saliva (mostly for ALS & Cerebalpalsy patients). I would like to know if anyone has tried botox, or if there is any other miracle cure out there? I would appreciate any suggestions and I Look forward to being part of this forum. Thank you!
Kim
Caregiver to Dad ~ Dx 2005 Tonsilectomy, Chemo & Radiation; Dx 2006 Squamous Cell Carcinoma Esophogus, base of tongue, voice box: Partial removal, Radical left neck dissection. Cancer Free up to date.
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 93 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 93 | Kim,
Sorry to hear about what your dad is going through, but looks good that he has been clean for a little over a year. Can't help you with the botox info, but my sister used a portable suction machine the entire time she was going through treatment. It was a life saver, and only cost $30.00 a month to rent. It can be carried anywhere you go, is maybe 5 lbs. or so and can be recharged periodically. She was unable to swallow and use to vomit quite a bit, and there was always concern that she would aspirate, the portable suction machine really made the situation so much easier to handle. It is a little loud when in use, but worth it's weight in gold. Hope this helps in the short term until you find out more about the botox.
Best to you and your dad,
Nancy
Caregiver to sister Connie, dx 2005, scc tongue, 4 surgeries inc. radical left side neck dissection 7/06, 35 IMRT, and 7 cisplatin 2/07, passed away 8-11-07, 51 yrs. young, fought with courage, strength and grace, found peace on her new journey.
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 3 Member | | OP Member
Joined: Feb 2008 Posts: 3 | Thanks for the tip on the suction machine. When he was recovering from his surgeries in the hospital that is what was used to suck up his saliva, and also to suck out the tracheotomy tube he had. I did not know they had portable ones for rent. i will look into it.
Aloha~ Kim
Caregiver to Dad ~ Dx 2005 Tonsilectomy, Chemo & Radiation; Dx 2006 Squamous Cell Carcinoma Esophogus, base of tongue, voice box: Partial removal, Radical left neck dissection. Cancer Free up to date.
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