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DiscussionWhat is the survival rate for 65 yr Male w/ squamous cell carcinoma
Head & Neck Cancer | Last Active: May 9 12:02pm | Replies (41)Comment receiving replies
Replies to "Thank you very much for your reply, I guess???? I have my diagnosis from Dr, Kansara..."
@bupster first; remember that everyone is different and treatments affect everyone differently. As for me, I had too much cancer for surgery so I was hit as hard as they could because they said they had one chance to kill it and if they failed the outcome was not good.
I had 35 radiation and 3 rounds of Cisplatin.
Prior to treatments I had to do the following:
Have oral surgeon examine my teeth; he extracted my wisdom teeth, two molars with crowns and two molars with fillings. Then I had to sit idle for 21 days of healing then oral surgeon gave the okay for next steps, which was the following:
1. File for SSDI
2. Meet with general surgeon
3. Surgery to install feeding tube and injection port
4. Get fitted for radiation mask
5. Barium swallow study
6. Tour of treatment areas and instructions as to using the feeding tube.
7. Assigned to nutrition person and instructed as to what I needed to purchase
8. Begin treatment
Radiation was 5 days per week and chemotherapy was once every other week (I think)for 3 rounds and fluids every day during treatment and for several months post treatment.
I was not able to eat by mouth for nearly a year in which I was totally dependent upon the feeding tube.
During all of this time I was on several medications for pain(which included fentanyl), nausea, anxiety etc.
I was able to get off the pain medication much earlier than the care team expected…they made me so tired that I was sleeping all the time.
I had a few PETCT Scans throughout this time as well as weekly scoping.
My dentist fitted me with a fluoride tray so I could treat my teeth daily.
I’m 8 1/2 years out now but I suffer from many after affects: chronic migraine, chronic fatigue, tinnitus from Cisplatin, joint pain, brain fog, dry mouth, tight jaw, swallowing problems, I also think I suffer from PTSD but I have never spoken to anyone about it. Having to go on SSDI was a very difficult thing for me to deal with because I have worked since I was very young.
Anyway, I’m grateful to be ALIVE!
Hope this answered your question.
MOJO
So basically you do have a diagnosis but awaiting biopsy results as to type and panel screen. Some SSC’s are relatively simple to combat whilst others require Chemo. Once the biopsy results are known, then you will know your path to addressing the cancer. Until then, we could tell you fifty different approaches you could expect.
I know you are scared. If you have surgery then you will have to heal a while prior to radiation and/or Chemo or other non-Chemo approaches. Best thing to do while you wait is to learn as much about these cancers as possible. Make some life plans such as work, obligations, finances, etc.
The experience of waiting can be brutal for many. I for one presented by hemorrhage of a tonsil pillar, which resulted in emergency surgery, which resulted in mass removal and a biopsy within hours. By the time I woke up in hospital I was told the facts and prognosis. I went from daily life to cancer treatment in a very short timeframe.