#97176 06-12-2009 01:56 AM | Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 5 Member | | Member
Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 5 | hello everybody
My name is Jaanika and I live in Estonia. As our country is too small to have any bulletin boards like this, I searched around the net and found You.
My 56 year old father was diagnosed with stage II carcinoma a month ago. He had had an ulcer in his mouth under his tonque since last November. So he waited for many months before he finally went to the doctors.
This Wednesday he had a surgery that lasted for 9 hours. The doctors said it was extremely hard surgery and that as much as they could see the cancer had spread to the lymphnodes on both side of his neck.
Right now he is in intensive care unit and has developed quite a high fever.
The CT scan done prior to the surgery was clear.
Could you please tell me what to expect. I will know more next Wednesday when the official results will be in, but still ...
If the cancer is on both sides, what stage it puts him? Stage 3?! What are the survival rates for stage 3?! What else should I know?!
Thank you in advance
Jaanika
Last edited by Jaanika; 06-12-2009 01:57 AM.
| | | | | Joined: May 2009 Posts: 1,413 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: May 2009 Posts: 1,413 Likes: 1 | Jaanika, I am sorry that you had to find this place. You are in the right place. This is a great place to get advice and encouragement. Many others have walked down the road you and your father are going down. I too have just begun my journey. I can not answer your questions, but know that others on here can. Good luck with everything, and just be there for your dad, he is going to need you.
Angelia
31 at Dx.
DX: 4/30/09, 10/21/09 SCC on floor of mouth,
T1NOMO, T2N1M0
TX: 39 IMRT, 8 cisplatin 11/30/09
PET/CT: 11/03/09: Lymph node involvement
PEG/PORT: 11/09
TX end: 02/01/10
PET Scan: 04/05/10 clear
PEG Out: 06/21/10
Biopsy: 12/23/10: fibrosis
HBO: 01/04/11 - ORN
Baby girl born 11-30-12
| | | | | 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 | Jaanika,
It's hard to answer your questions without knowing what the results will be when you go next Wednesday.
I personally didn't have to have any surgery so I can't respond to that part of your question but I'm sure others will.
Please let us know what the doctors say next week.
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: Jan 2009 Posts: 225 "OCF across the pond" Gold Member (200+ posts) | | "OCF across the pond" Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 225 | Hello Jaanika,
I am a bit closer in kilometers to Estonia (French immigrant in London).
What did the surgeon do? Did he do a glossectomy and neck dissection?
Martin had a radiscal modified neck dissection on the left side. He was in the high dependancy ward for a few days but was ok after a small fever but it went after 2 days.
Is your father conscious?
I hope your Dad pulls through quickly.
All my best
Cecilia
Girlfriend to Martin 49 years old at diagnosis
Diagnosed with SCC unknown primary June 2008.
Cancer found in single node Stage N2A (3 to 6cm).
Tonsilectomy 16th june, Radical modified neck dissection left side 30th june.
30 TX radiotherapy ended 9th October
First comparative study scan came back clear
| | | | | Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,128 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,128 | Here's a link to how to stage oral cancer; partly it is size of tumor and partly it is how much the cancer may have spread: http://www.oralcancerfoundation.org/facts/stages_cancer.htm
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: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 | Hi Jaanika,
As said above, it would be a good idea to give us more information about the surgery that was performed and also to let us know the results of your appointment next Wednesday. This will enable anyone that has had similar treatment to what your father had, to share their knowledge with you.
We all know what you are going through as all of us have either been the patient or the caregiver. This is a very difficult time for your father, you and your family. You will find a great deal of support here from very caring people.
I must tell you that I visited Tallin last July while on a Baltic Sea cruise. You live in a beautiful city and I met some of the most friendly people in the world their.
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: Jun 2009 Posts: 5 Member | | Member
Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 5 | Thank you all!
I do not know much more right now. I know that they planned to remove three lymphnodes from his neck - I thought that from one side, but as I understood they also took some from other side. They removed part of his tongue and something they replaced with a skin they took from his hand.
I will come back on Wednesday!
I just found out that his fever is gone and he is consious and most probably will be moved from intensive care to normal room on Monday
Thank you again
Jaanika
Last edited by Jaanika; 06-13-2009 03:16 AM.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 | Janika, I believe the results of surgery varies from patient to patient,. I had surgery 3 times and I was fine ubtil I had to get preped for rads, chemo and radiation seed implants put in my tongue. I never had a fever that I know of either. Like David said, wait until after next Wednesday. Good luck to you and your dad. Are you going to be his caregiver?
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 | Replacing part or all of the tongue with tissue from other part of body is called 'free flap' surgery.
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: Jun 2009 Posts: 5 Member | | Member
Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 5 | Hi Finally I have some news - good news! I just talked to my mother and ... all the lymphnodes that were removed were clean  So the doctors will still decide if the radiation therapy is necessary just to be sure At least at the moment we can breath easier. Jaanika | | | | | 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 | Congrats, that is good news.
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 | Tell your Dad congrats Jaanika and wish him the best of luck from our house to yours.
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: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,219 | Jaanika,
Congratulations to you, your dad and your whole family. That truly is good news.
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: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,844 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 1,844 | Good news Jaanika. The best answer I ever heard when I was begging my medical team for statistics (I'm a numbers man, but not like david, and poker player) was from my Rads Oncologist..."Eric it's going to be either 0 or 100%, either the treatment is going to work for you or it's not."
From the sound of things your dad is off to a good start! Good luck.
Young Frack, SCC T4N2M0, Cisplatin,35+ rads,ND, RT Mandiblectomy w fibular free flap, facial paralysis, "He who has a "why" to live can bear with almost any "how"." -Nietzche "WARNING" PG-13 due to Sarcasm & WAY too much attitude, interact at your own risk.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 5 Member | | Member
Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 5 | Thank you all! Today I went to see my dad and he was quite OK. He did not look like himself to me as I had never seen him wothout his moustache before Small thing. He was quite optimistic and wrote us (I was ther with my sister) all about his experiences and feelings and ... I really feel much better about the future right now. He will have to learn to swallow and eat and talk, but we can do it. EricS my dad said that he helped a lot himself to be in this situation - he started smoking when he was 16 and he drank quite a lot of beer prior his diagnosis. He said that the sad thing for him is to see the guys like you - young, never smoked ... The hard thing in this situation is my daughter - she is 15. In my husband family all have died from cancer. I had melanoma when I was 29, my aunt had ovarian cancer a couple of years ago at age of 49, and now my father ... it seems that no way not to get it in our family  | | |
| Forums23 Topics18,305 Posts197,297 Members13,504 | | Most Online7,516
Mar 21st, 2026 | | |
|
