#88930 01-25-2009 09:09 PM | Joined: May 2008 Posts: 24 Member | OP  Member
Joined: May 2008 Posts: 24 | Hello,
This is Kyle's wife Tammy. My husband ended radiation/chemo 4 months ago now. A few days ago he got what looks like water blisters all over his forhead and one of his ears. He does have a new tumor and we are waiting on a biopsy of a little lump (pimple looking) on his chest to see if the cancer has spread. I searched and saw others have had these blisters during radiation and a few people far out from treatment. Anyone ever discover the cause. I realize in my husbands case his whole body is going through a lot. Could it be tumor related, medicine, an infection in his blood (he's currently on antibiotics for a bacterial infection )?
Thank you.
Kyle - 43 years old. Non smoker, casual drinker.
03/07-Tumor removed in tongue, chemo/rad
06/08-Tumor removed in base of mouth, left jaw removed, part of skin on neck - followed w/chemo/rad.
10/08-New tumor already growing.
| | | | | Joined: May 2008 Posts: 24 Member | | OP Member
Joined: May 2008 Posts: 24 | It's shingles! We went to the Dr. yesterday. Thanks.
Kyle - 43 years old. Non smoker, casual drinker.
03/07-Tumor removed in tongue, chemo/rad
06/08-Tumor removed in base of mouth, left jaw removed, part of skin on neck - followed w/chemo/rad.
10/08-New tumor already growing.
| | | | | 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 | I got shingles post Tx and there not fun. I had to take horse pills to get rid of them. It was also nice to learn that I could have gotten a vaccine against them.
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: 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 | Tammy:
Im sorry to hear Kyle has shingles. Hope he gets well soon.
There is some strange age limit on shingles vaccines to be covered by insurance. I think you must be 60 or you pay full price which is about $300 for the shot. You can still get the shot to cover any future shingles outbreak, darn disease can and does come back.
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: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 | Are you certain about the shot after you have had shingles? My dermatologist tells me I can't get it because I already have had shingles.
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
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,128 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,128 | My understanding is that you can still get the shot because it alleviates the symptoms -- I believe your doc is wrong in this regard.
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 | I was also told I could get the shot after I already had it but I opted not to.
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: 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 | My doc told me it was ok to get the shot after you have had shingles to prevent further outbreaks. Insurance wont cover the shot if you are under 60 and it costs about $300. I decided not to get the shot. Here is a link with more info: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/shingles/DS00098/DSECTION=prevention
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: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 | David,
This is especially for you. BTW, Happy Birthday and I know you're over 60.
When Zostavax first came out it was not being given to anyone that had shingles already. That has changed and is now being given as noted in Christine's link. (Great link, Christine).
As of now, in order to get vaccinated, you must be over 60 years of age and have had chicken pox. I doubt that any doctor will give it to anyone that is less than 60, but if they do, it is considered to be off label use. The reason for the age restriction is because that is the age group that was used in the study.
I highly recommend that anyone that meets the criteria and has none of the reasons not to get it, make an appointment with your doctor ASAP.
If you've ever known anyone whose shingles pain didn't go away, you would know why I feel so strongly about it. One of the dentists in my practice has been in pain since the end of 2005 from his shingles and has tried any and every known option to get rid of it. Needless, to say, I and my wife both got the vaccine. I have recommended it to everyone I know over 60. There have been no side effects as far as I know and not even a local reaction at the injection site.
Jerry
Jerry
Retired Dentist, 59 years old at diagnosis. SCC of the left lateral border of the tongue (Stage I). Partial glossectomy and 30 nodes removed, 4/6/05. Nodes all clear. No chemo no radiation 18 year survivor.
"Whatever doesn't kill me, makes me stronger"
| | | | | 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 | Jerry,
First, thanks for the BD wish;
Second, I'm still a baby and way to young for that 60 talk; and
Third, both of my parents are deceased and I'm not positive I had chicken pox but I did grow up in the age where parents thought it was best to let you sleep next to your older brother who was sick with normal childhood illnesses like measles or mumps so you would get sick and be done with it. Is it critical to have had the pox?
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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