1. < Head & Neck Cancer

New cancer 2 months after TORS Surgery chemo+radiation

Posted by phyllisg @phyllisg, Apr 16 5:57am

My husband had extensive TORS surgery Jan 25 for HPV + SSC. While hospitalized for aspiration pneumonia catscan showed cancer is back and biopsy revealed it's deeply embedded behind where tonsil was. He has to go to rehab for PT to regain strength before starting concurrent chemo + radiation. How hard is this on a 76 year old who was in good physical health 6 months ago? Looking g for suggestions or advice from experience of others. Thank you.

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roblem | @roblem | Apr 27 12:21pm
In reply to @phyllisg "My husband has not started chemo and radiation since the cancer was not all gotten with..." + (show)
@phyllisg

My husband has not started chemo and radiation since the cancer was not all gotten with TORS. We have not seen the results of the Petscan and will meet with oncologists in next 2 weeks. How bad will the chemo and radiation get? He is in constant pain now from nerve damage to right side of head and neck and jaw. I'm so confused. I have an arsenal of pain meds but from many doctors and don't know what to give and what I can give together so just try different things. Hoping one of his doctors, maybe ENT surgeon, will help. He has a pain management doctor but he was his doctor during back surgery. Don't know if he will help now. May refer us back to oncologist. Hoping they will be able to give him a pain management plan that will keep the pain tolerable. What is the med of choice now for nausea during chemo or does it differ for all. Guess I'm premature here and will get the answers in the coming weeks. I find these blogs very helpful and hopeful. Thank you to all~

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Two things during my cancer journey that helped me keep track of everything from diagnosis/treatment options to my medications or pain meds was one I recorded every appointment with every person I was in contact with.

One, I bought a Philips VoiceTracer DVT1160 ($42 on Amazon) to record providers so I could always go back and play so nothing is missed.

Second, for meds I used this attached pdf to keep track.

Hope this helps ease some of the frustration.

Shared files

Medication_Log sheet (Medication_Log-sheet.pdf)

REPLY
1 reply
phyllisg | @phyllisg | Apr 27 1:09pm
In reply to @roblem "Two things during my cancer journey that helped me keep track of everything from diagnosis/treatment options..." + (show)
@roblem

Two things during my cancer journey that helped me keep track of everything from diagnosis/treatment options to my medications or pain meds was one I recorded every appointment with every person I was in contact with.

One, I bought a Philips VoiceTracer DVT1160 ($42 on Amazon) to record providers so I could always go back and play so nothing is missed.

Second, for meds I used this attached pdf to keep track.

Hope this helps ease some of the frustration.

Jump to this post

I love the med log sheet and will definitely use it!! But I thought you could not record in a doctor's office??

REPLY
1 reply
roblem | @roblem | Apr 28 10:53am
In reply to @phyllisg "I love the med log sheet and will definitely use it!! But I thought you could..." + (show)
@phyllisg

I love the med log sheet and will definitely use it!! But I thought you could not record in a doctor's office??

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Never had any of my doctors or others and I have seen many over the years not allow it and some actually were glad so important information is not missed. I have done this in 2008 with my first tonsil cancer and more recently this year for my tongue cancer.

Best of luck with the journey.

REPLY
mjsweeney205 | @mjsweeney205 | Apr 29 1:33pm
In reply to @phyllisg "My husband has not started chemo and radiation since the cancer was not all gotten with..." + (show)
@phyllisg

My husband has not started chemo and radiation since the cancer was not all gotten with TORS. We have not seen the results of the Petscan and will meet with oncologists in next 2 weeks. How bad will the chemo and radiation get? He is in constant pain now from nerve damage to right side of head and neck and jaw. I'm so confused. I have an arsenal of pain meds but from many doctors and don't know what to give and what I can give together so just try different things. Hoping one of his doctors, maybe ENT surgeon, will help. He has a pain management doctor but he was his doctor during back surgery. Don't know if he will help now. May refer us back to oncologist. Hoping they will be able to give him a pain management plan that will keep the pain tolerable. What is the med of choice now for nausea during chemo or does it differ for all. Guess I'm premature here and will get the answers in the coming weeks. I find these blogs very helpful and hopeful. Thank you to all~

Jump to this post

Your Doctors should have already provided the pain med scripts as well as the anti nausea med
I was told to use the anti nausea med as a last resort because it can really bind you up

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