Latest Throat Cancer discussions http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/cancers/head-and-neck-cancers/throat-cancer/1,0,119,39,6.htm Sun, 06 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT Sun, 06 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ hi, its been over two weeks since my last treatment(radation) i can now eat food but items like pop and chips seem to still burn my tongue does anybody know how long this will take.. http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,25083,0.htm scrmin05 Mon, 16 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT Hi everyone, I'm new here...  I'm 27 years old and drink and smoke occasionally. I have been researching for the past few hours oral and throat cancers, as I have symptoms of them.  I have red patches in the roof of my mouth with white spots, and they come and go and move around sometimes onto my gums, sometimes they are on my tonsils.  I have a big 'nodule' looking thing in my throat right next to my tonsil as well that is reddish with white.  I am going to get an ENT to test for cancer.  My question is, I see people saying everywhere it's all about early detection.. What exactly is early detection?  Is it within a year of symptoms?  I got these symptoms last May.  I got a fever of 105 and was hospitalized and they said I had strep throat.  After a few weeks the fever came back and i had a white blood count of 35, and they said it was strep again.  After a few weeks it came back mildly and since then i haven't gotten the fever at all but occasionally (after drinking or smoking especially) get the sores i described above inside my mouth.  Only earlier today did I use a flashlight in my mouth to really see the sore spots and the nodule thing in my throat, and i was alarmed by how similar they were to pictures of oral cancer. If diagnosed now, a year later, is this considered early detection?  Are there any other disorders that you guys are aware of that have these same symptoms?Thank you so much in advance for your help... http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,24127,0.htm duaneatat Sat, 17 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT 9 weeks after radiation mucositis is still happening, but it seems tha dry mouth or a lack of saliva is the biggest impediment to eating hard foods.  Any solutions? http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,23401,0.htm Tonydew Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT   All of you here are such wonderful people. I wrote a post the other day (about my brother in law)and someone named Amy answered me so quickly with her story and some good advice and information. I wish i had reached out when my husband was going thorugh his ordeal and I was the caregiver. But happily it all turned out so good (Thank God) its been four years now going on five for Joe and he's doing great. They happen to catch his early(nasophyarangeal) and used IMRT along with regular radiation and chemo(Cisplatin) to cure him. Again thank you and God bless you all for being the most wonderful and kind caring people.  Denise1156       http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,21530,0.htm Denise1156 Sat, 01 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT my husband has just finished his radiation and chemo for tonsil cancer stage 3.  he is now burned up pretty bad and has lost weight. going thru the treatments, he did fine.  When we finished our 7 weeks, he started to burn bad and now has horrible mucus that chokes him day and night.  we have been using dr. katz mouth rinse for dry mouth and it helps alot. i as a caretaker am now tired and worried about the after affects.  Any help or suggestions.  i also suggest zofran and phenegran for nausea as well as making sure that you keep all door knobs, tables, etc clean so they do not get infection.  we also have three large doses of cisplatin. all treatments completed. http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,20669,0.htm Century21 Tue, 05 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT hi, i am new to the message board. my dad is currently undergoing chemo for throat cancer. he's 63, did radiation and a fairly new procedure called cyberknife. he had a feeding tube put in about a year ago. this last month has been very tough. he lost 10 pounds in one month. he's been using ensure and baby food, but apparently it's not enough for him. he can only swallow small amounts of water. any advise or suggestions are greatly appreciated! http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,20523,0.htm jeanned Thu, 31 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT I am having my RAI treatment in a couple weeks.  I am not staying in the hospital afterwards- not a option I guess.  I will be staying at my inlaws house for 3 days afterwards (lucky they are out of town for the winter).  My question is after I return home what precautions do I need to take? I have two kids 4 and 7, I'm scared about the exposure to them.  Every thing I read seems to be different.  If anyone has had a similar experience I could use some tips. Can I hug them? Can they even be in the same room as me?   I am very confused.  Please helpP.S. LID stincks http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,19411,0.htm skylog Sat, 05 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT At 11 tomorrow morning my 48 year old husband with scc of the left tonsil stage 4a will have a bilateral radical neck dissection.  Scared is not even close to stating what we feel.  He is 10 weeks post radiation/chemo treatments (9 cisplatin/90 rads).  His weight is falling and his energy level is dramatically decreasing.  This surgery is his only chance since the tumor is still active and growing quickly again, is encasing his carotid artery and there is mets to other areas of the neck, base of the skull, spots on the lungs, etc.Anyone have any experience with a bilateral radical??  http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,17948,0.htm Weezy Tue, 13 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT At 11 tomorrow morning my 48 year old husband with scc of the left tonsil stage 4a will have a bilateral radical neck dissection.  Scared is not even close to stating what we feel.  He is 10 weeks post radiation/chemo treatments (9 cisplatin/90 rads).  His weight is falling and his energy level is dramatically decreasing.  This surgery is his only chance since the tumor is still active and growing quickly again, is encasing his carotid artery and there is mets to other areas of the neck, base of the skull, spots on the lungs, etc.Anyone have any experience with a bilateral radical??  http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,17947,0.htm Weezy Tue, 13 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT My 48 year old husband - SCC stage IVa - diagnosed in May - 10 weeks since end of chemo (9 cisplatin) and radiation (90 treatments).  We went yesterday to meet the new radioncologist at MD Anderson.  He did some scans and read the scans that were already done.  He thinks that surgery this week is not going to happen as he has concerns about the original tumor site and the apparent tumor that has developed on the other side and is not sure if the surgery will be an option next week. He wants to contact and conference with the radioncologist that did treatments. I watched the scope of the throat and cannot believe the damage done but the tumor/radiation/scar tissue.  I could clearly see the two tumors in the throat.  Scary as hell to see what is there.  He said that they would have to do a radical on BOTH sides of the neck now.  BOTH....   One thing we did find out is that the tumor mass and/or radiation  destroyed his soft palate and the speech that he has now is the best it is going to get, no speech pathology will help.  They did swallow testing and helped us find foods he should avoid since the lack of soft palate allows food to get pushed through his nose (no puddings, sticky things that cannot pass smoothly).   Interesting when a doctor keeps saying :wow.. this tumor had to be massive:  over and over again.  He left the exam room three times to go back and look at the scans.Weight is now back down to 105.  He still goes to work but is majorly fatigued.  Having surgery hanging out there has him a nervous wreck. http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,17857,0.htm Weezy Sat, 10 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT My husband had PT/CT/MRI testing results today after completing 90 radiation treatments and 9 chemo treatments just over 8 weeks ago.  He is stage IVA squamous cell of the tonsil and only 48 years old.  Of course we had prayed for the best but we THOUGHT we were prepared for the worst.. we weren't.His tests reveal that he has not beaten the cancer YET.  He has evidence that mets to the sinus cavity, base of the skull and possibly the lungs appear.  The part that was the initial tumor, though smaller, is still alive and wrapped around the carotid artery, what the Dr. calls worse case.We are seeking further care from MD Anderson, the clinic in Orlando is where we went.  They are testing further but looking at scheduling surgery in two weeks for a radical dissection.  I need words of encouragement that this surgery IS the right step.  The possiblity of losing the voice, use of his shoulder, etc is scary.  The fact that they cannot remove the carotid artery and if the tumor is wrapped around as they suspect they will have to perform the radical and implant radiation seeds for what the Dr describes as :last ditch:  They will have to remove muscle from his chest to implant in his neck as the carotid artery will be left with skin only between it and injury.Anyone have this surgery?  http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,17550,0.htm Weezy Tue, 30 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT I have small red bumps all over my throat. When I swallow I feel them everywhere inside! What could this be! I have no STD's so I am confused on what it is  http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,16344,0.htm angelkissed Thu, 20 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT Hi, I am a nineteen year old college student who is questioning her health. I certainly do not mean to make light of those on the site with diagnosed cancer, a friend of mine was recently diagnosed and I think I understand just how much no one would like to think they have cancer. That being said, I have had the stragest lump on my left tonsil for about two weeks now. In the beginning it hurt to swallow and stung, when I went to the GP he said that it was an ulceration and nothing could really be done for it. So I went home and took Aleve like he suggested and did salt water rinses all to no avail. I wasn't really concerned until my mother became concerned that it might be something more serious because it wasn't healing. The thing is, now it is not nearly as painful, although occasional pain comes and goes. It looks sort of like a bunch of grapes in terms of texture, it is mostly bright red so I was wondering if it might be tonsilitis? Now though, I have noticed that my upper gum is bleeding and sensitive as well. Also I have had a sinus infection this summer which was pretty severe but went away after two courses of antibiotics. Now I am feeling that twinge of sinus pain I usually get before them and increasing sinus congestion. Okay, I am sorry this email is long I just sort of wanted to air out my concerns before I see the campus health services sometime next week to ask them about my throat. Anything you can tell me, especially if you think I am crazy for worrying, would be great! Thank You! http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,15701,0.htm AlwayHopeful Tue, 28 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT I have a friend, who was diagnosed with stage 4 throat cancer, I am trying to be there for him emotionally and help him through this difficult stage, I have known him for a while, I truly care for him any pointers on what i can do to help him , currently his is on a feeding tube, I can only imagine what he is going through, any ideas on how to brighten his day, and show him he is not alone http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,15540,0.htm beautyluv Wed, 22 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT My husband has stage 4 tonsillar cancer with lymph node involvement and very advanced.He has had 8 rounds of chemo along with radiation.  Fortunately he did not end up needing the PEG tube, he has been able to continue eating and drinking on his own, although his weight is not at just 100 pounds he is doing well, no severe effects from the chemo, mostly constipation and mild nausea.Radiation treatments were very aggressive.  The first 2 weeks he had just one treatment a day, 5 days a week.  Then during week 3 he had one a day Mon to Weds and Thursdays and Fridays two treaments (one morning, one afternoon).  Then a week later they started him on 2 a day 5 days a week.  They are continuing that to current.  The tumor has definately gone down, you can tell that from the outside alone.  He was only able to open his mouth an inch or so and now can even bite into a sandwich.  Eating is mechanical at this point but he is doing it.  His speach is still severly affected.  He has an appointment with the Doc's this Friday, during the planning for his new radiation mask they "found" something and want to discuss it with us.  The oncologist thinks this is his last chemo treatment but that was prior to the radioncologist's discussion.Had anyone else gone through this aggressive treatment before and if so how long did it take to recover?  The oncologist said that 95% of his patients could not do this treatment that he has put him through and that none he has had go through it were off a peg.  http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,15089,0.htm Weezy Tue, 07 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT Anyone connected the HPV virus as  the probable cause of their throat cancer? My husband, who was diagnosed Stage 3 (pyriform sinus (hypopharnyx) with regional spread to his lymph node was a non-smoker all his life and a non-drinker. His pathology came back positive for HPV. http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,14617,0.htm Julie21 Sun, 22 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT Hi everyone!  I recently went to the walk-in clinic for a redness I've had on my neck for over a month.  It sometimes gets red like sunburn, and gets itchy, prickly and sore...no bumps...more of a flat red color.  The doc says its an "alergic reaction" to something and gave me Prednisone, which really doesn't seem to be helping that much.  She didn't ask any questions, such as a smoker, etc....which I am.   I'm wondering if this could be a sign of cancer or if anyone knows someone who had the same symptoms.  The redness goes from under one ear, around the front of my neck over to below the other ear.  It seems to feel worse in warm, humid weather. Any info would be greatly appreciated!   http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,13807,0.htm Lorijg Tue, 26 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT I just finished 7 week course of radiation with chemo; how the hack is my peg tube going to be removed?? Noone has explained that one to me yet http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,12935,0.htm Girlcat36 Wed, 06 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT I am looking for support and information.My husband of 27 years was diagnosed with left Tonsillar Pillar cancer this week.  He is 48 and the progression has been scary.  No previous health concerns prior to this, in fact, the man has never been in the hospital nor had a serious cold in the past.He had a sore throat on Mothers Day, just sort of scratchy, no surprise there because our sons had just gotten over the flu and he thought it was his turn.  The next week the voice started changing.  He started talking like a stroke patient would, sounding like a balloon was in his throat.Since that weekend and to now he has lost approx 35 pounds (down to a staggering 115 lbs at last weeks Dr's visit).  He was sent for a CT, PET and biopsy of the mass they could see in the back of his throat.  Diagnosis:  Stage 4 - T3, N2, M0.  The mass is "highly metabolic with a very aggressive process".  There is "involvement with adjacent cervical lymph nodes and a metastasis to other lymph nodes".  Lung, heart, liver, brain and all other organs were clear.  (Although with the way this thing is moving I am sure that may not still be true).There is an SUV of over 16 in this area with the mass (what exactly IS this Standard Unit Value anyways?) There is also evidence that activity is on the right side and the mass (at that time) was preventing him from opening his mouth more than an 1.5 inches and cannot stick out his tongue.  Now he can open approx 1 inch or less.  The Dr. showed me how you can see the tumor and how LARGE it is.  The mass appears near his upper back teeth and you can see it disappear back into his throat.  We meet with the oncology team on Tuesday but I have also sent his report to the M.D. Anderson Clinic for a 2nd opinion.  In just the past two weeks this tumor has grown double in size and has already displaced his hypopharynx.  Enough of the medical jargon... I am looking for someone that may have experienced this type of aggressive growth.  In just the past few days (since test results) there has been more deterioration in him physically.  He is ashen grey and has lost more weight.  I will encourage the Dr. to insert a G-Tube immediately since he is already having trouble with swallowing and I do not want to wait until it is too late. His spirit is strong and confident.  He won't even take any pain meds except for Tylenol.I am not sure what they can do for him due to the rapid growth.  I do believe in the Power of Prayer... http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,12747,0.htm Weezy Sun, 03 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT I know that i shouldn't be writing this on a board, but go to the doctor and i'm gonna do that tomorrow. But i just can't go to sleep now! I'm scared to death! Almost 2 weeks ago i had a runny nose and tearing eyes so i went to the doctor and he wanted to do an allergy test. I was scared of the idea of somene cutting me so i refused and wanted to try medication first. At first it worked pretty good but then i got a lump in throat, which i first thought was because i was panicky about getting Asthma from the Allergy (it actually started WHEN i first became really panicky about it, so i thought it was related). At first i even thought it WAS Asthma progressing. It always seemed as it was going higher up and then the "thing" in my throat dissapeard and came up again. Something when i was thinking of something else it was practically gone. The "joke" is that the allergy thing is barly noticable since i got the lump and i don't take the medication anymore. It just came into my mind today that maybe it doesn't come from the Allergy but from cancer. I thought i had cancer before when i was reasearching something on Osteosarcoma. I did have a lump in throat from the panic back then so i was thinking it was painc once again...but as far as i remember that was different, it felt different. I also posted it on a cancer board back then and people told me to relax as it probably wasn't cancer. I eventually did and the throat thing went away and the pain in my leg too. I'm only 16 and already thought that i had cancer twice (once at 15 and once at 11). When i was 11 i wasn't even scared...i just thought i had a tumor when i first realized that i had "female organs"..and i wasn't even scared i though "Oh well...i got a few more weeks or years, right?" I was one crazy kid...got the kind of hypocondriac thing from my grandma...but it got a lot better since i got over the Osteosarcome thing, i never thought that i had anything until now. But clearly, i don't trust my own judgement and there is no reason to http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,12740,0.htm Sydney00 Sun, 03 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT I'm going on 30, returning student who lacks health insurance.  Back in Oct I started to develope tiny bumps in my throat--the entire oropharnyx--bumps spread behind lower back molars. The bumps are flesh colored. I, like another poster with similiar problems, also have an inflamed left tonsiI, and I too have impacted wisdon teeth. I believe that I have had tonsil stones in the past--another wierd throat scare that I ened up dismissing as a cyst when it popped--and possibly post nasal drip.This is why I'm scared. I have had hpv for yrs, never had any real problems, but logically believe that I do have the virus in my throat. I have also smoked and drank for years. When I go to doctors(not specialist), I'm told they see nothing, don't know what it is, or say it's nothing. Since I have no insurance I'm convinced that they are (1)incompetent (2)lying to me about the information they have regarding hpv and throat cancer(I have had 2 women doctors tell me there is no connection before this Hopkins study was released (3)refuse to do anything because it may be in the begining stage (4) make me feel crazy by giving me pysc drugs to take my mind off of the fact that I can't get help because that would entail some sort of "socialized healthcare."So I'm crazy and scared. My schooling is falling apart, am now practically disabled my feelings of hoplessness, and broke. My whole life has already been to hard. If anyone can give me any information about what this could possibly be, please help. http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,12265,0.htm Suicidal Tue, 22 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT Don't know where to start. I discovered a lump in my neck, that could not be seen, on about Feb  2007. I went to the Dr. and he treated it for infection. About 3 weeks later it got noticible to people. Then I went to the ENT and we disscussed it and we decided to take it out, even though it looked minor. But after he got inside he found a cyste the size of an egg. He said it had hid, because of my neck being so thick. He had it tested and it showed some cancer cells in it. The next step was he sent me for the PET scan, it only showed 2 little hot spots in the area of were the cyste was removed. So we disscussed it further and decided to take out the tonnsils that looked perfectly health, just in case cancer was inside of them. It proved to be a good move. I was told today that the left tonsil was heavy with cancer cells. So know my ENT is sending me to the specilist in about two weeks to discuss my options. He is telling me that we got the sorce and the cyste allready, so now it is like a mop up procedure, to get any cancer cells left by radation and that this type respondes well to treatment and everything will be fine. I guess I am just worried and not really sure what is coming up in the future regarding the treatment. I will know more after my appointment with the specilist, But was just going to ask your help in what type of Question to ask and any recommendation people might have when I first go see them. I know to most of you it will seem like I am jumping the gun, but this has caught me off gaurd and don't really know where to turn for ansewers.    http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,11739,0.htm Redbus1 Tue, 01 May 2007 00:00:00 GMT I am 58 years old and thru with my radiation and Erbitux treatments. It has been 9 months now. I was wondering if anyone has had a pain in the left side of their stomach after any sort of exercise? This has troubled me after I was able to get out and walk. I tried to bird hunt again and after a short hunt when I went to get out of the truck the pain would start. Now I wonder if I will able to race again.I thought it was strange that they always pushed on my stomach while I was getting the Erbitux.   http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,11177,0.htm Openwheel 40 Tue, 10 Apr 2007 00:00:00 GMT has anyone had experience with the new TOMO Theraphy radiation machineWill greatly appreciate your feedbackStephen http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,10021,0.htm Smoker Thu, 01 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT He tries to eat 4 cans a day (the doctor wants 5 cans per day), he can't most days lucky to do 3 cans. At six four in height and one hundred and twenty pounds he's very skinny just bones. When I eat he can smell the food and he them misses the food and sometimes the smell will make him ill. I cannot afford to eat out all the time and I don't want to leave him alone with his seizures. He very angry right now I can't understand what he says and when he has to repete he gets so bad. He has a hard time talking to anyone, therfore he cause lose contact with a lot of people and has become a loner. Laughter is far and few these days. Touching him is a no, no. I mean to just put my hand on his head is a major problem. Please is this right? I ask the doctor to do the zoloft at 200 mg per day and he still does the same as above. Please let me know if all is normal if so I can adjust and handle. I strong I can take the blame if in the end he is alive. Thanks, Cee http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,7812,0.htm Charlotte2 Wed, 15 Nov 2006 00:00:00 GMT