Head and Neck cancers Support Group

It's hard to write about this as it is still fresh....

My dad had stage 4 Laranyx cancer. He was going to do chemo and radiation solely and see what happened. His surgeon went above my dad's wishes and if he was to get treatment he had to have the surgery first. The cancer was so extensive that they had to completely remove the voice box and accidently severed some nerves in his tongue. From then on he could no longer speak and had trouble eating and swallowing. I know that surgery is a good choice for people in the beginning stages of cancer, but I think for someone with stage 4 it was a bad choice that greatly hindered my dad's quality of life.

Lollie

aww lollie. i am sorry about your dad sweetie

Lollie , My husband had two bouts of surgery for oral cancer. The first in 1986 in conjunction with masive radiation therepy. After a couple of years they did the reconstruction of his jaw bone. After all was finished. They discovered the Cancer was back. More surgery down to 1/2 a tongue. That was 1991. Till this March that was the last of the cancer.
Alan is now in Stage 4, It is moving fast. The cancer is in the new jaw bone the tongue the larex the inner ear and they just did a CT scan to see if his headaches were caused by brain cancer.
I think you dr. is an idiot. Unless there was cancer in the servered area some one screwed up. Surgery is a good option for oral cancer as long as you haven't had rediation. The radiation makes it hard for the tissue to heal. Sometimes it doesn't. That could be why the dr. wanted to do the surgery first.

On 06/22/06 I had a tumor removed from my salivary gland.Then 36x radiation. The surgeon wanted to do surgery before the radiation. 2 other dr said do the radiation to kill remaining cells. After the radiation the CA was in lymph node. No surgery because already had radiation. Noone told me you couldn't have surgery after radition. Now in 2 neck lymph nodes too. Getting chemo. I'm bald and have numbness in 3 toes left foot. Otherwise I'm doing great. Supportive loved ones and neighbors helps a lot. My hubby keeps saying keep up the fight. I've had 2 IV chemos. Stay strong, don't think about CA 24/7. Live life as long as possible.

I've had six surgeries in 12 months to remove a large tumor from my sinuses, five with a scope, and a big one via craniotomy. I'm now and expert on nasal surgeries and the surgery prep procedures. Most of them weren't scary because I was happy to have it cut out. Take it all and more is what I always told myself. Send me a message if you are going through anything similar and have questions. I've helped a couple of others prepare for surgery and they both told me afterwards that it was a relief knowing what was going to happen ahead of time. Good luck!

After my first chemo I had pain in my legs and still have it after 5 rounds. Difficult to walk. Unlike arthritis the pain is in the long parts of the bones; however, the joint pain is the worst. Med Onc said it was from the Taxol chemo drug. Sit in recliner, legs propped up on feather or very soft pillow. Massage helps. Put hot compress towel wrapped around legs helps. Distraction with TV and conversation. Every day I walk around the block with my little dog. I'm happy to be still alive. I pray to God to take my CA. Say rosary. I try different relaxation techniques. Hope my suggestions help. Of course, listen to the doc.

My sergeons let me down a little i fee, I know they did there best and only wanted the best for me but i was told after two opps to remove cancer from my jaw that it had returned. after having most my jaw removed my fascial nerve cut and 24hours of opps in three days my pathology from what they removed came back all clear. I then have a sergeon ring me to tell me they had mistaken two screw holes for tumours from a plate that was removed, but removing my jaw wasnt a bad thing as better be safe than sorry. Four hospitals four sergeons in 18 months not reading each others notes has left me in a bad way. I dont blame any one and i cant turn back the clock, my responce to my doctors was allways to say you know best do what you feel is best, i only wish a little i had got more invoved in what was happening to me, just being frightened stopped me i suppose. Cancer is so frightening but many people make it and become even stronger in them selves. My heart goes out to anyone with the illness or involved with the illness be strong ive been very involved with things for two years and have seen many many pull through

Sorry to hear bout your jaw surgery. My chemo has changed. Now I have it 3X month instead of once a month, to help with side effects. Instead of getting all the Taxol at once, now it is given at one-third dose. It's kinder. I pray to God to take my CA. I believe it is getting better??????Well I feel sad I tell the devil to go back to hell. I choose to be happy in life. Everyone has to try to enjoy the time they have.

i have had 5 surgeries the last one split my jaw open like a chicken took half of tongue neck disection took meat from forarm to replace tougne now togune will not move makeing it hard to eat and swallow. thoughy that was it but 1 year later its back now 4-5 nodules in both lungs start chemo today. have been fighting this for 9 years

I had a complete removeal crainiotomy Jan. 25, 2011 and as of right now I am tumor free, but it has a 90% chance of growing back so we have to really watch it. I am now living a happy and normal life for the first time in 5 and a half years.