Can Anyone Help With This?

Our family (caucasian) consisted of Dad and Mom and 8 children. My brother age 51 has nasal pharyngeal Stage 3. He starts chemo and
radiation this week. Surgery of any type is not possible. My Sister was diagnosed in 1998 at age 51 and died of this same cancer age 53 in 2000. She had massive radiation but could not tolerate any Chemo. Both had the same cancer in the same location in the throat and nasal. In 2000 my sister's doctor told her that this cancer was rare and normally appeared in south east asia or in people that lived or came from that region. Neither my brother or sister have ever been in south east asia. However our Father served there (Philipines) during WW II. He died of lung cancer at age 59 in 1982. Is it possible that our Father could have come in contact with a virus, germ, etc while serving in the Philipines and genetically passed this on to all of us children. And more fearful if that is a possibility could we pass that same condition onto our children and grandchildren? Is there a test available that could detect that type of cancer? It just seems so strange that two siblings have the same cancer in the same location diagnosed at the same age. Also another brother was diagnosed and died of stomach cancer in 1997 at age 47. He served in Viet Nam. Our Mother was diagnosed with MS at age 35 in 1960 and died in 2001 at age 75. She spent most of her adult life combatting MS in a nursing home.
Thank you in advance for any information you may have. And Lord bless all of you as I know that we all face these same type of troubles.
God's love to all: Harleyman

Hi I was diagnosed with nasal phyl carcinoma in March 2005 and had both Radio and Chemo therapy, I am 28 years of age and am white british. My Grandparents both died of cancer but different types. None of my family have been to asian or middle east so i dont feel connected to your family. My oncologist stated that even though rare in britain toxins can be a cause or i could of had Glandular fever which was undiagnosed which progressed into cancer. I have been in remission for seven months and apart from swallowing probs and hearing loss and i have a PEG to assist with food i feel ok. I have grommets fitted so i am able to hear. I has Cistplatin and 35 dosed of radiation. I have lost 2 stone but to be honest needed to lose a little. I hope your brother gets through the treatment ok.
God Bless
Lucy
uk

my husband was diagnosed almost a month ago with stage IV nasal pharyngeal cancer but because we have no insurance his treatment hasn't started.... do you have any idea how fast this grows.. the tumor in the left side of his neck is huge and they said last week that it has moved to the right side of his neck..... they are suppose to start radiation five days a week for the next 8 weeks with chemo every two weeks. but no one has given us any prognosis as far as what we can expect or how serious it is... any one with information .. would be appreciated.

When i was diagnosed i was at the same stage as your husband, My oncologist said that the tumour could have been there for the last two years and even though they said treatment would commence asap it was two months before it started. The radiation treatment was hard going every day for 7/8 weeks but i did'nt struggle with the chemo really and managed to keep most of my hair. Please stress to your husband that its really important he have a PEG fitted to make sure he gets enough nutrients as i could'nt swallow anything after about three weeks into treatment. Does your husband have any hearing loss?? What was his symptoms?
I realise i was lucky that treatment is available on NHS here in the UK and i'm sorry to hear that you had no insurance. If you need any info please email. I have been in remission for 1 and a half years and have since had a baby. Stay positive. My thoughts are with you.
Any cancer is of course serious but this cancer is very treatable.

Regards

Lucy x

my husband's started out with earaches, hearing loss and severe headaches.....a large lump then developed on his left side.... they tell us his nasal passages are almost completely blocked by the tumor..... and the cancer has spread to the right side now... CTs were done and there are a couple of suspicous spots in his lungs and his stomach.. we just had the pet scan done yesterday and are waiting for results on monday. They have scheduled to have the peg tube put in on December 11.... he had a button put in his left ear during the biopsy, but it fell out a week later due to all the pressure. His father was diagnosed with cancer 14 years ago (I found the knot on his neck in the same exact spot as my husband's) he was treated aggressively with radiation and chemo but it was in his lungs also - we aren't sure if it started in the lungs or in the neck. We've been warned about his throat being sore.. just worry about the nasal passages being blocked and the throat swelling with the radiation. He snores loudly and is in quite a bit of pain right now.

Hi to Everyone;

MY 36 yrs. old sister was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer  in June of this year. SInce then - she has completed   2 of the initially 3 chemo sessions required of her. They didn't think that the 3rd session would be of help at all so they proceeded to radiation for 39 days / 5 days/week for like maybe 15 mins... In January 2006 , she was experiencing alternate period of stuffy / runny nose which she thought was some kind of allergy. Weeks later - my family started noticing a small lump developing on the right side of her neck. Perhaps , not only  money was a first-hand issue in seeking a medical consultation but rather also a cultural "manana" habit or mentality ( putting it off until whenever...) In March - she finally went to see an EENT , who initially diagnosed it - of course - as an allergy. In April - the alleged "allergy" had progressed to a much visible ,  hardened mass so the very efficient EENT doctor had sent her for an aspiration biopsy. He concluded that the same bacteria causing TB on the lungs must have find it's way on her throat. Of course - massive antibiotic treatment was prescribed. A month later - the antibiotic obviously wasn't working , and all these times  we started getting seriously alarmed with her condition - so we demanded a referral to a specialist and be send for CT scan  right away. And there it was in May - I was downloading to my computer the scanned result of her first CTscan !  I was in tears! I was  frustrated of how slow the system works in the Phiippines. and felt guilty that both me and my older sister were not home to be with her on this trying time of her life. We all did the next best thing we can do to support her on this crisis - to educate ourselves, to extend  and rally for emotional , spiritual and financial support from relatives and friends. In between chemos - a second biopsy has revealed a secondary tumor behind her left eye causing displacement of the eyeball and double vision. This sounded not too promising so after spending weeks of sleepless nights and constant worrying, I decided to fly home. - to visit my sister! I spent time with her in Manila , accompanying her to PGH for the radiation treatment, took her to movie and dinner and to shopping mall. I knew there was a question in there  why should I had to drag her with all that stuff. She was extremely weak from the chemo and prior to starting the radiation but I took it upon myself  not to allow her to think of her illness as a disabilty. We infused her with all the natural stuff from INTRA, multi-vitamins , pomenengrate juice, to boost her strength and immune system and encouraged her to excercise and  do normal activities which she feels she can handle comfortably. The lump on the throat has decrease in size and we are just waiting for the result of the MRI to determine if the brain tumor has responded as well. She has regained back her strength , her appetite, her voice , sense of taste and smell and have observed noticeable improvement on her vision. She is more optimistic and happier  and more determine to give this illness a good fight!!!  It's just another Christmas miracle ... :)