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Meet others living with Head & Neck Cancer: Introduce yourself
Head & Neck Cancer | Last Active: 2 days ago | Replies (545)Comment receiving replies
SCC , skin with deep involvement including facial nerve, zygomatic bone and periosteum, parotid gland and multiple anterior neck nodes as well as the majority of the skin.
Now on a 30 cycle proton radiation course with a weekly Cisplatin chemotherapy which is about half dose but being used to increase the sensitivity of the cancer to the proton therapy.
Interesting note is I’m A PA retired following a 43 year career In medicine starting with 4 years regular army and national guard then 39 years as a PA the last 32 years in a large Otorhinolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery group.
Could this cancer be karma for my lifes work?
Replies to "SCC , skin with deep involvement including facial nerve, zygomatic bone and periosteum, parotid gland and..."
Hello @larsonsec. I doubt that karma is involved, but perhaps other exposures over those years may have had an influence. My SCC began in skin deep in ear canal over 12 years ago. As a veterinarian I have had much more radiation exposure than the average human with restraining animals for radiographs. Even with lead aprons and thyroid protectors, we know about radiation scatter and that we cannot avoid it all. At least you are well versed and knowledgable about your medical situation and proper treatment. My tumor also involved facial nerve and temporal bone as my initial surgery was a subtotal temporal bone resection with partial parotidectomy and neck dissection. I hope your proton therapy is very successful with minimal side effects. I am lucky to have my last metastasis controlled by Libtayo immunotherapy and after 2 years on it and a year off, so far so good with NED. It sounds like you have a top notch group of doctors for your medical care. Good luck to you.
@larsonsec, oh the irony. I hope your experience as a PA in a otorhinolaryngology/head and neck surgery group helps you to be prepared for the the journey ahead and the questions to ask and people to consult.
How are you doing on the proton beam radiation treatment along with cisplatin? How many more PBT sessions to go?
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Hi @larsonsec and welcome to our head and neck group. No. Cancer is not getting back at you for all you have done. At a reach we could possibly see a virus connection to many if not all cancers. I think time will tell. The advances just in the last twenty years with Squamous Cell research are amazing.
If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask. I would think you could also help many here with issues beyond what our layman patient heavy group can advise others with.
I'd much rather welcome you to retirement or a gathering at the local Legion Hall but here we are, cancer vets. You can win this battle. You've got this!