Talk Cancer

Question:

*this was posted on sci.med.diseases.cancer instead of support*  I had a neck resection to remove lymph nodes and a sample of a saliva gland  (on right side). It included putting a flap on the right side of my tongue,  taken from the wrist. (2/26/01) –enough margin was left so I can slop out some  speech. lucky(?) for me.  All seemed well following that, until six weeks of Radiation treatments were  given.  Has anyone experienced what I’m going through?  The symptoms are classic: extreme dry mouth, hardly any working taste buds, soreness where the saliva glands are.  I’m unsure of the amount of radiation received, but do know they were Gamma rays for the first five weeks, followed by four exposures of Electron rays.  Radiation treatments ended 6/5/01. I have a suspicion the saliva might be permanent. I’ts my understanding how much time?   Taking three Saligen tables for saliva  stimulation a day. Very worried about my remaining teeth so I’m loading up on flouride treatments. ALSO- –

 I have not had any CT   scans or X-rays following the treatments. The only  thing the radiation onocologist and surgeon have done is feel my neck and  sides of face, then  looked down the throat.    This is squamous cell carconoma, stage 3-4 that  was cut out and radiated.  Shouldn’t there be scans and x-rays of  the area where the  cancer was?  Shouldn’t this agressive form of cancer invaded my brain and  lungs? Is this the common protocol?  –sorry to have left a double-themed post to this group–  Thanks for the understanding,  John

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – *this was posted on sci.med.diseases.cancer instead of support*  I had a neck resection to remove lymph nodes and a sample of a saliva gland  (on right side). It included putting a flap on the right side of my tongue,  taken from the wrist. (2/26/01) –enough margin was left so I can slop out some  speech. lucky(?) for me.  All seemed well following that, until six weeks of Radiation treatments were  given.  Has anyone experienced what I’m going through?  The symptoms are classic: extreme dry mouth, hardly any working taste buds, soreness where the saliva glands are.  I’m unsure of the amount of radiation received, but do know they were Gamma rays for the first five weeks, followed by four exposures of Electron rays.  Radiation treatments ended 6/5/01. I have a suspicion the saliva might be permanent. I’ts my understanding how much time?   Taking three Saligen tables for saliva  stimulation a day. Very worried about my remaining teeth so I’m loading up on flouride treatments. ALSO- –  I have not had any CT   scans or X-rays following the treatments. The only  thing the radiation onocologist and surgeon have done is feel my neck and  sides of face, then  looked down the throat.    This is squamous cell carconoma, stage 3-4 that  was cut out and radiated.  Shouldn’t there be scans and x-rays of  the area where the  cancer was?  Shouldn’t this agressive form of cancer invaded my brain and  lungs? Is this the common protocol?  –sorry to have left a double-themed post to this group–  Thanks for the understanding,  John

Hi John. Saliva reduction will certainly be an issue. The severity/permanence depends on the fields of radiation used. You are doing the right thing with your teeth. Taste usually returns to normal in 3-6 months. Clinical examination is usually as good as a scan if the patient has no specific or progressive symptoms. Brain and lung mets are seen in advanced head and neck cancer, but are not common. Many stage 3 and 4 head and neck cancer patients are cured.

Response: