Hi,I am new here.My husband was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in August 080.He has undergone treacherous radiation/chemotherapy treatments.Anyone been there,done that?Does it get better.He's in so much pain all the time in the mouth/throat area.
Thanks.

Hi

Welcome to the club no one wants to join! I just want to let you know you're not alone.

The folks on this site are really helpful and supportive, and I'm certain that at least a few have had nasopharyngeal cancer. I had stage 2 tongue cancer N0M0, so I'm really not able to answer your questions, but Dr Joshi or one of the other fine people here will certainly be able to.

How are you holding up?

Hello

Several members have had experience of NPC directly or as carers and they will be along sometime to give you the encouragement you need. It can get better, as Chelle will tell you. You might find this patient story helpful.

(Can you give us some other name to address you by?)

Best wishes
Vinod

quote:

Originally posted by nasopharyngeal cancer:
Hi,I am new here.My husband was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in August 080.He has undergone treacherous radiation/chemotherapy treatments.Anyone been there,done that?Does it get better.He's in so much pain all the time in the mouth/throat area.
Thanks.

Hey,

I totally agree, radiation is treacherous. Chemo is painful as well. I was diagnosed with NK/T-cell lymphoma in the nasopharynx. Yes, it gets better. It takes time. If he can take some pain medication then itll be good. I spend a good few months on morphine and hydrocodone. Make sure he eats, doesnt matter if its Ensure, Boost or some other healthy shake. If it wasnt for my mom and sister forcing me to eat, drink,I wouldnt be here.

If your husband had alot of radiation to the mouth area, then he'll probably have some problems opening his mouth, as the muscles, and even the bones of the face hurt. In my case, I actually have a hole in my mouth. I use an obturator to close that and I still cant speak properly, though thats in the works.

Overall its just that it takes time getting back to normal. Some things take longer. I hope the information helps.

If you need anything more from me, please let me know.

Hello ,my name is Bell and my husband went through the same treatment for Nasopharyngeal stage 4 .He had a very bad time and took almost a year to get back on his feet.He was literally bed to chair and back to bed all he wanted to do was sleep and when he was awake for alittle while was sick. His mouth and throat were totally shredded and full of ulcers and sores his face and neck were very badly burnt as he was radiosensitive ,he also took nutrapoenia sepsis in week 3 .So recovery was long and hard ,you do feel as if they will never recover but he will with the right combination of medication and nutrician things will improve .

My husband also had bad trembling and peripheral atrophy due to chemo side effects in his right hand and feet.This also settled and went away .He also experienced neck and face swelling with sensitivity and pain for a good wee while.He was on peg feeding for around a year .His mouth never regained much in the way of saliva but now he has adapted well with the use of glandosane saliva in a spray and uses all the biotene products plus nasal douching for the copious mucous production which does lessen in time.The douching helps clear out and also helps prevents the mucous from becoming like concrete and blocking nasal passages .

So ..he did not fare well through treatment and after a year once different help with medications and nutrican he got back on his feet.Could you maybe tell us your name and explain exactly what the main issues are and we can all maybe help by telling you what medications , feeding tips etc helped our husbands .Depression can also be a problem at this stage and the frustration of dealing with everthing can really bring them down .

It is hard for you through this stage as you need to keep positive and deal with your partner being somtimes unresponsive to your help .My husband hardly spoke for months as it was too sore and he seemed to be in a vacuum and did not want to see anyone at all .

He will come through this but it will take a few months at least so here you can find some help and tips to make things a little easier.A lot of people come through treatment not too badly and usually it is the eating and terrible mouth problems that cause the problems but with the nasopharnyx it plays havoc also with hearing and train of thought.Oral thrush and skin infections depending on severity of burning can also need attention but part of recovery in some instances .I think my poor hubby nearly had everything that could have been possible.

Look forward to hearing from you and if you could maybe detail more of the issues your husband is experiencing we could tell you how we dealt with them and give you some added support.After this treatment even 2 years down the road side effects can appear in form of sensitive face pain and bad swelling in neck area out of the blue ,this can come and go but again with the right advice and some massage also helps reduce this .Some patients don't get this and some do all depends on where the RT has been given

Hang on there ,things will get better .

Best wishes ,
Bell.

Hi,
I finnished treatment for Nasopharyngeal Ca 2 years ago and went through the grueling treatment regime.It honestly does get better!
& it helps to keep it in mind when you're gping through the darkest times that there is a light round the corner. I'll p.m you with some tips and details.
Michelle

hi im also new to this. i was diag aug 08 with nasopharangeal c stage 2 its been a tough year, i finished treatment in dec 08 and had to look at everyone eat christmas diner while i peg fed my ensure.in the morning i go for my one year check a bit nervous but hoping it goes ok . i can eat now and drink i have dry mouth and a better will to live than ever before. i have more this year than i could even dream about last year so i hope every thing works out for your husband.happy christmas and healty new year

Jimmy,

Best of luck at your appointment on Wednesday. The recovery time for oral cancer treatment is hideously long, isn't it? It seems so barbaric but it works for most of us, although far too slllooooowwwwwwllllyyyyy.

Hope you have a happy Christmas and a wonderful feast.

Mimi

hi mimi thanks . im home now and the news was all good(for another 6 months anyway) ijust have to go up monday and have this peg removed they wont have to fight me for it.i dont mind the slowness as long as were going in the right direction.im floating 2 ft above the ground now.happy christmas mimi.

Hi, Jimmy B. Congratulations for the good news (all of us go from six months phases, from one set of examinations and controls to the next one).
Have a happy Christmas and an excellent 2010!

Shoshana

Hi Jimmy, good news indeed. It always feels good when things start working out. Hagg.

thank you Shoshana and Hagg for replying it makes me feel part of a verry special group. i have a family who love me and have gon through hell watching me, but only other cancer dudes know whats going through my head.hagg your an inspiration to us all. HAPPPPPY CHRISTMASSSS. TO ALL MY NEW FRIENDS.

Nasopharyngeal cancer: ESMO Clinical Recommendations for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up
Annals of Oncology 19 (Supplement 2): ii81–ii82, 2008

quote:

follow-up
Follow-up for patients includes periodic examination of the
nasopharynx and neck, cranial nerve function, thyroid function
and evaluation of systemic complaints to identify distant
metastasis. EBV serology monitoring might be useful.

Full text at:
Nasopharyngeal cancer: ESMO Clinical Recommendations for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up