#73382 04-20-2008 03:57 AM | Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 10 Member | OP  Member
Joined: Apr 2008 Posts: 10 | Hi all
Thanks to everybody who replied to my introduction post.
I saw the local oncologist on Wednesday. He said he wants to try heavy Chemo 6 to 8 weeks, three different kinds of drugs, then 8 weeks of radiation. I am not getting to detailed as I don
Age 48,Corvallis Or, Stage 4 tonsil cancer. found April 2008. Chemo,Tx,Cisplaon,5-fu 3 treatments 6 days long every three weeks. 38 radiation treatments with cisplaton. End Radition late Sept. PEG nad Port removed January. Dialation of throat december. Quit tobacco ten years ago. Beer drinker.
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 212 Gold Member (200+ posts) | | Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 212 | Hi Jeff,
The waiting was one of the toughest parts for me. It was almost 10 days before I got my second opinion at MDACC and then the whirlwind started. Those ten days were the toughest, like you I was sure it was growing and wanted it out immediately. I just needed to feel like I was doing something about it. Hang in there, you'll be on the attack shortly.
Cancer of Tongue, SCC early Stage 1, Dx 3/13/07, partial glossectomy 4/14/07 found no residual carcinoma and a granular cell tumor with pseudo epitheliomatous hyperplasia.
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 939 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2007 Posts: 939 | I think I can speak for my hubby and I know myself that the time period between diagnosis and treatment was the hardest mentally.
You do feel a sense of panic and pressure to get going on "slaying the monster." Once you have a treatment plan in place that is acceptable to you and get started, you will feel more in control. Like Suess said, the next couple of weeks will be a mindboggling whirlwind of decisions and deadlines. Put your seatbelt on.
You are smart to get that second opinion...you need to have confidence in the docs that treat you.
Good luck, Deb
Deb..caregiver to husband, age 63 at diagnosis, former smoker who quit in 1997.
DIAGNOSIS: 6/26/07 SCC right tonsil/BOT T4N0M0
TREATMENT START: 8/9/07 cisplatin/taxol X 7..IMRT twice daily X 31.5.
TREATMENT END: 10/1/07
PEG OUT: 1/08
PORT OUT: 4/09
FOLLOWUP: Now only annual exams. ALL CLEAR!
Passed away 1/7/17 RIP Bill
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 1 Member | | Member
Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 1 | My father was diagnosed with Squamous Cell Carcinoma (Tonsils) about 6 months ago and has gone through his radiation and chemotherapy. I was home visiting him this past weekend and he looks terrible. He is not eating (only Ensure), he is very weak and cannot hear very well at all. He did not speak 5 sentences to me all weekend. I am very worried about him and my mother says that the doctors just keep telling him to come back in 2 months, 3 months, etc. I am frustrated, so I researched online and found this forum.
Amy | | | | | Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 98 Senior Member (75+ posts) | | Senior Member (75+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 98 | Hi Amy,
Welcome to the OCF forum. I would like to suggest that you post under your own topic so that it gets the attention it deserves and does not get overlooked. What you do is go to the main Forum List, click on the Introduce Yourself topic, then click on New Topic in the upper left hand corner.
What you might also do is post some answers to the following questions:
What stage of cancer does your father have?
How old is he?
Who is his caregiver?
Where is he being treated?
When did he finish treatment?
Did he have any surgery?
Does he have a PEG tube?
What kind of symptoms does he have now? Weight loss, mouth sores, a lot of mucous in mouth...etc.
Once you start your own post and include a lot of this information, there will be a lot of people on the forum that can help and provide you will a lot of information.
Look forward to hearing from you.
Tom
Tom
SCC T4N1M0 left side tongue & 1 node
Dx 05/21/07 42 yrs old
40 Tx IMRT @ 70 Gy started 06/25/07
Cysplatin & 5fu 1st & 4th wks
treatment ended 08/23/07
| | | | | Joined: May 2008 Posts: 73 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: May 2008 Posts: 73 | @jeffd : hang in there, this is the time when u need to be very steady get diff opinions, i know it might get very confusing, but u can always discuss it here , we are all here to help  @Amy :As Tom said you need to give alot more information.But AFAIK it takes some time to heal the Tx after effects and varies from person to person ... So hang in there and dont get dissapointed talk to your father as much as possible, I am still talking to my dad in either sign language or writing it down ... and its funny seems like am understanding him more without words spoken
- Avinash
My Father,
Age 59, T2N1M0, Stage 3, smoker left 5 years back, casual drinker , NACT with TAXOL +5FU+Cisplatin x 2, and 70 Gy in 35# from 03/10/08 to 04/26/08, no surgery, After Chemo cycles tumor reduced 60%,
Cancer Free now !
| | | | | 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 | Amy,
He needs to get plenty of rest, hydration and tons of calories. I got up to 3000+ calories a day by week 3 post Tx and I didn't gain a pound for over a year. As his body is fueled for recovery his mental state and weakness should improve. I would definitely make sure his doctor(s)know about his current state in any event.
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 $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 | I can't believe David didn't tell you to get Carnation VHC for your Dad. It has 560 calories in an 8 OZ can and would help him tremendously.. I drink it mainly because I have no teeth and had part of my tongue removed along with a left neck dissection.I have put back 10 lbs of the 70 I lost. As for the waiting, I hardly had time to catch my breath before I was in surgery for the tongue and dissection. After all that was when the fun part started. LOL I wish your dad well and hope you get him some VHC and a good belnder to make him some other foods like soup.
Since posting this. UPMC, Pittsburgh, Oct 2011 until Jan. I averaged about 2 to 3 surgeries a week there. w Can't have jaw made as bone is deteroriating steaily that is left in jaw. Mersa is to blame. Feeding tube . Had trach for 4mos. Got it out April.
--- Passed away 5/14/14, will be greatly missed by everyone here
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | Sorry Jim, must be slipping. Can I blame that on the chemo?
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
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