#88648 01-22-2009 01:58 PM | Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 6 Member | OP  Member
Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 6 | I just wanted to say hello.
I'm an American, living in Brazil and have been diaagnosed with throat cancer. I live in the Porto Alegre area and am being treated at the Santa Casa Hos�tal Complex. I have surgery scheduled for Feb. 11 and will have 5 glundular tumors removed and part of my epiglotis, which also has a tumor. Then I will do radiation therapy, some physical therapy and learn how to eat again. Probably not in that order. Then I wil be coming back to the US and visit for a while and do follow up at the Veterans Hospital in Palo Alto, CA.
I was relieved to hear, just today, that I will not need chemo. What I was told though is that in order to remove the lymph nodes, they will have to cut muscles and nerves to my right arm. I will temporarily lose some use and feeling, but with therapy will regain most of it.
I'm lucky that my doctors actually speak English, because my Portuguese is not perfect. I'm told that Santa Casa is like the cancer institute in Brazil, so I guess I'm in good hands.
What I have learned from this is that: I shall not give up ! Keep my sense of humor and all will be okay.
Thank you for being here for all of us.
ARTHUR 60 ex-smoker(50 years)
SCC- epiglotis diagnosed 11/2008
salivary glands and lymph nodes.
Surgery scheduled Feb 11,2009
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 114 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 114 | Hello Arthur,
Let me be the first to welcome you to OCF. You have found a great resource for what you're facing now with your diagnosis. There is TON of information already to be found within these pages, and of course there are lots of us here for you when you have other questions you can't find answers to. We're all here to help and support. Welcome....
-Steve
Age 41 - Stage 2 SCC tongue Dx 2/06. Cisplatin x3, IMRT x35. Mets to neck node discovered 7/07. RND 40 nodes removed, margins not clear. Cisplatin, Taxotere, 5-FU Fall 07, then IMXT/Erbitux for 7 wks. Inoperable mets to both lungs and pleura Dx Oct'08. 4 cycles Carboplatin, Erbitux, 5-FU so far.
| | | | | 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 | What type of radiation did they say they will administer? XRT or IMRT? How many days/weeks?
Are you saying that you have nodal involvement or are they just doing a neck dissection to be safe?
Did they say what the name of the cancer is? Squamous Cell Carcinoma?
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: 489 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2008 Posts: 489 | Welcome Arthur. I hope that you have family or friends there with you to support you and help you through this. This site will truly help you on this journey and the people here are very kind and supportive. Glad that you found it and I wish you the best.
Patty
48
SCC Floor of Mouth 7/06
9/06 Surgery, bilateral neck dissection, 58 nodes clear PT2pN0pMx
35 rad 2006
Recurred 6/08, 1 Carboplatin, 1 Cisplatin
Surgery 9/08 - Total glossectomy, free flap from pectoral muscle, left mandible replaced using fibula
35 IMRT & Erbitux 11/08
4/15/09 recurrence
6/1/09 passed away, rest in peace
| | | | | 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 | Welcome to OCF. Glad you found this site to help guide you along. There is so much info on here and also on the main OCF site with a search function in both areas.
Sounds like your treatment plan is all set and ready to go. Are you being treated at a large facility that specializes in cancer? What stage is your cancer? Did your doc say why no chemo?
When you have time, please update your signature so its easier for us to get to know you and answer your questions.
Best of luck to you, feel free to ask questions.
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: Aug 2008 Posts: 716 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2008 Posts: 716 |
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: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,357 Likes: 5 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 1,357 Likes: 5 | Welcome Arthur. We will be pleased to do anything we can to help make this journey easier. You are amongst friends here.
Donna
Donna,69, SCC L Tongue T2N1MO Stg IV 4/04 w/partial gloss;32 radtx; T2N2M0 Stg IV; R tongue-2nd partial gloss w/graft 10/07; 30 radtx/2 cispl 2/08. 3rd Oral Cancer surgery 1/22 - Stage 1. 2022 surgery eliminated swallowing and bottom left jaw. Now a “Tubie for Life”.no food envy - Thank God! Surviving isn't easy!!!! .Proudly Canadian - YES, UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE IS WONDERFUL! (Not perfect but definitely WONDERFUL)
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,128 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,128 | According to the info in Arthur's signature, he has SCC.
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: Jan 2009 Posts: 6 Member | | OP Member
Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 6 | Thank you all for your input and support. I guess I have a lot more questions to ask my doctor, type of radiation, what stage I am, etc. This all started in April 2004, as an "inflammed salivary gland". I was prescribed antibiotics and the pain and swelling went away, but the lump remained. When I moved to Brazil, it flared up again, same prescription. In 2007 the left side did the same thing, same prescription. Feb. 2008 I had an ultra sound that showed both salivary glands and 3 lymph nodes with tumors. Alas, because it was a "pre-existing condition" , there was a 3 year waiting period to be treated by our insurance plan. October 2008, I started bleeding from my throat, went to the local ER, was sent to another ER at the hospital that specializes in cancer and finally I'm going to get treated. I feel releived since my surgery has been actually scheduled. am in much better spirits and excited.
OK enough said for tonight.
Thank you all,
ARTHUR 60 ex-smoker(50 years)
SCC- epiglotis diagnosed 11/2008
salivary glands and lymph nodes.
Surgery scheduled Feb 11,2009
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 6 Member | | OP Member
Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 6 | Yes, I have tumors in both my salivary glands and in 3 lympy nodes on the right side of my neck.
ARTHUR 60 ex-smoker(50 years)
SCC- epiglotis diagnosed 11/2008
salivary glands and lymph nodes.
Surgery scheduled Feb 11,2009
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