| | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) |  Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 | The ear ache is related to the OC. I think there are a lot of us that had it. Most won't be able to discuss too much until the results are in. Ask the what if questions. Those get answered. Good luck with everything and keep posting.
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: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,128 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,128 | The ENT takes the biopsy sample and then someone in a back room looks at it with a microscope and pronounces it good, bad, or early cell change, so it takes a couple of days. That report IS the patholgy report.
Age 67 1/2
Ventral Tongue SCC T2N0M0G1 10/05
Anterior Tongue SCC T2N0M0G2 6/08
Base of Tongue SCC T2N0M0G2 12/08
Three partial glossectomy (10/05,11/05,6/08), PEG, 37 XRT 66.6 Gy 1/06
Neck dissection, trach, PEG & forearm free flap (6/08)
Total glossectomy, trach, PEG & thigh free flap (12/08)
On August 21, 2010 at 9:20 am, Pete went off to play with the ratties in the sky.
| | | | | 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 | You need to wait until the path report comes back which usually takes a week or more but that is the ONLY way to determine if it's cancer. No doctor can visually tell. Waiting is a hard thing to do but we must be patient.
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: Sep 2008 Posts: 7 Member | | OP Member
Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 7 | Well yesterday my father had a ct scan done and today he is having the biopsy. I got a call last nite, my dad thought he was having a seizure...I'm thinking it might have been a anxiety attack. My father is on vicodin but doesn't seem to be helping him, where he feels he needs to take more. What has been everyones experience on what pain medication works best?
Leonard | | | | | Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 716 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 716 | You have to be careful not to overdose on Vicodin. You have to remember Vicodin is really just extra strong Tylenol that can and will do serious harm. I would contact the Doctor and tell what is happening and he can give a stronger/different script to help with the pain or anxiety. Everyone reacts different...Percocet made me itchy whereas Vicodin made me constipated. Someone I knew had to take Oxycontin for the pain. Just be careful and get in contact with the Doctor.
7-16-08 age 37@Dx, T3N0M0 SCC 4.778cm tumor, left side of oral tongue, non smoker, casual drinker, I am the 4th in my family to have H&N cancer
8-13-08 left neck dissection and 40% of tongue removed, submandibular salivary gland & 14 nodes clean, no chemo, IMRTx35
11-4-08 Recovering & feeling better
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 706 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 706 | My husband is one the Fentanyl 50 patch. He takes Hydrocodone for break through pain and this combo is working for him. The Vicodin really bound him up-not good. There are many options out there. The doctor should be able to help. We have also had great nurses who gave us suggestions.
Sue
cg to husband, 48 Stage 1V head and neck SCC. First surgery 9/07. Radiation and several rounds of chemo followed. Mets to chest and lungs. "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about learning to dance in the rain." Went home to God on February 22, 2009.
| | | | | 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 |
Ask your fathers doctor for some prescription pain meds. I also used the patch. It worked great and that way your father wont have to be constantly taking medication. Its easy to use, just put a patch on and then change in 3 days later.
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: Sep 2008 Posts: 7 Member | | OP Member
Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 7 | Thanks I will talk to the doc to see what's best for him, the patch sounds like it might be the best thing. I noticed alot of people talking about issues swallowing but have not seen any information on what can be used to help. My father is having a hard time swallowing anything. Someone mentioned magic mouthwash I went on internet and there's several different concoctions that the pharmacist will make (by prescription that is) but I also found a company called CutisPharma,INC that sells a kit called First-Mouthwash BLM. Has anyone heard of it or used it? I called the company and they sell it at various drug stores (by prescription only).
Leonard | | | | | Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 7 Member | | OP Member
Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 7 | Well we still have not had the results back from my fathers biopsy, he is in a lot of pain and cannot swallow his saliva. We are planning on taking him to ER as he has not been able to eat for 2 days now. Does anyone have any suggestions how to keep him comfortable? I mentioned in my earlier message about First Mouthwash but neither his doctor or the ENT will prescribe this until we get the results back from the pathologist on his biopsy. We are worried about him as he has not even started treatment but is unable to swallow.... | | | | | Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 507 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 507 | Perhaps the doctors don't realize how much pain your Dad has.
Leonard,
I was prescribed a generic for Loritab known as Hydrocodone-APAP solution by my ENT when I had my Tonsillectomy and Neck Dissection.
Then, again a RO prescribe the same for me to have on hand during Radiation Therapy (I didn't realize it was the same until I picked it up).
I only had pain from the Tonsillectomy and a teaspoon of the Lortab every few hours took care of it and I could easily eat soft foods.
I have over a bottle and a half of it left.
I also was prescribe Lidocaine 2% Viscous Solution to help me swallow when I got mouth and throat sores from RT, but I never got any and I have never opened it.
I was told, unlike that Lortab, the Lidocaine doesn't stop pain for very long.
Lortab seems pretty common and I was told by a RO at the cancer center that for pain management it is what they normally like to start with and keep meds like the patches in reserve for when other pain meds fail.
You need to have a serious talk with the doctors and insist on something. You might mention the Lortab. Your Dad can only go a few days without fluids before he becomes dehydrated.
Don
TXN2bM0 Stage IVa SCC-Occult Primary
FNA 6/6/08-SCC in node<2cm
PET/CT 6/19/08-SCC in 2nd node<1cm
HiRes CT 6/21/08
Exploratory,Tonsillectomy(benign),Right SND 6/23/08
PEG 7/3/08-11/6/08
35 TomoTherapy 7/16/08-9/04/08 No Chemo
Clear PET/CT 11/15/08, 5/15/09, 5/28/10, 7/8/11
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