I have a very good friend who was recently diagnosed w/ throat cancer stage4. The tumor is on his left tonsil and lymph nodes in his neck are affected. He is 38 years old and otherwise healthy. He is not a stong person and is scared to death. He had all his teeth removed(they were bad) and a feeding tube put in. He had 1 chemo treatment last thurs., he was very sick for 2 days after. Started radiation this week. My questions are 1. Does this type (squamous cell carcinoma)spread rapidly?2. Is it curable?3.What can I suggest as far as diet? without teeth, he is dropping pounds. Trying to eat ice cream, shakes, eggs. I would be so appreciative for any advice. I am afraid for him also and worry constantly. Please help!

Hi Maur, I have cancer at the base of my tongue which is the primary with secondary tumour on my neck, I also have abnormal cells in my tonsil. My consultant tells me that tumours of this kind do not grow quickly, hence a wait of 3 weeks before my radical neck disection. I also think that they can be cured, hey we all hope that we can be anyway. However we live daily with the thought of it reapearing. Although who am I to give advice I haven't even had my surgery yet. But I like everyone else on this site are fighters and intend to win and will suport you all we can. Maybe if you read some of the stories they may give you some help in understanding what I am trying to say.
Cheers Maurice

HE SHOULD BE VERY PROUD TO HAVE YOU FOR A FRIEND, ,I HAD THE SAME CANCER BUT OF THE TONGUE IN 89,FLOOR OF THE MOUTH 99 AND IN THE JAW BONE 2003,MINE DID NOT SPREAD FAST,BUT EACH CASE IS DIFFERENT, IF HE HAS A FEEDING TUBE, , HE SHOULD MAINTAIN SOME WEIGHT WITH THE FEEDING TUBE UNLESS HE IS NOT USING THE LIQUID DIET THEY HAVE PUT HIM ON, YOU COULD CHECK WITH HIS DOCTOR AND FIND OUT HOW MUCH HE IS TO HAVE PER DAY, I HAVE KEPT MY WEIGHT WITHIN A POUND OR SO WITH THE FEEDING TUBE,,YOU SHOULD PROBABLY GO WITH HIM TO HIS DOCTOR AND ASK QUESTIONS AS TO WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP HIM OR BETTER YET WHAT HE CAN DO TO HELP HISSELF,,THIS IS NO TIME TO BE WEAK, :twocents: IF HE IS WEAK, HELP HIM TO GAIN HIS STRENGHT, HE WILL NEED IT AND HE WILL NEED TO PULL STRENGTH FROM WHEREVER HE CAN GET IT TO MAKE IT THRU THIS,,,HEY BORROW SOME IF HE HAS TOO,,,BE THERE FOR HIM,, BUT UNFORTUNATLY,,THE FIGHT IS ALL HIS TO DO. :alert: ..I WISH HIM THE VERY BEST,, AS THEY SAY BACK HOME IT IS TIME TO COWBOY UP,, WE ARE ALL HERE IF YOU NEED US,, FEEL FREE TO ASK US ANYTHING,, WE PRAY WE CAN BE OF SOME HELP,HE HAS A VERY LONG ROAD AHEAD OF HIM,,ALWAYS VICKI LYNN

Vickylynn,


Thanks for the reply. You must be one tuff cookie for all you have been through. I feel bad now for treating him like such a baby. Maybe I don't give him enough credit. I know he has to be strong. I pray for God to give him strength every day. He just has never been the one to get sick so this was all a shock. To have all his teeth pulled, a feeding tube and chemo+radiation all within 2 weeks was really tough. Plus when you hear the c word you freak out anyway. Did you have alot of side effects from your chemo and radiation? Any advice you guys could give me to relay to him would help. See, I feel helpless because we live in 2 different states. All I can do is help over the phone. This might sound strange but my friend is my ex-husband. I still love him in a wierd kind of way but we have known each other since we were 13 years old so this is all very very hard. Thanks for listening! Maur

I did not mean tocome off mean or harsh but I was being honest..I appologize if I upset you..You are not babying him,,he will gain strenth thru you, it is so hard to be strong but at least it is over the phone and he will not see the teardrops fall. He is in for a whole lot, and he already has been. Trust me there is a bunch more coming.I had side effect with radiation, thirsty all the time. i could only drink warm coffee and tea..nothing cold..this was me now others may be different. My biggest problem was constipation..I mean BIG, i got impacted about 5 times,,talk about painful,,O M G. it was. I found this at the medical supply store. It is called a soap enima..And you literally flush youself out with soap..It took me 39 hours just to go to the rest room..but please don't let it go that far..Or get that bad,,I now use konsyl, I had to learn the hard way if this helps one person it was worth writing it..Other than the usuall which I am sure you have read all about. Be there for him, listen to him, sounds like he has a wonderful in you...I hope I have helped in some small way, Always Vicki Lynn

Vicky lynn,

You didn't upset me, please don't think that. I guess it just that everyone tells me I treat him like a baby. I was always """like the man""" in our marriage and protected him instead of the other way around so I guess this is just my pattern. But regardless I love him like my best friend. I am scared for him and I am just trying to get an idea of what he can expect. Like when you said """there is alot more to come""" like side effects?tests?pain? I need details, because when these things do happen to him..he will freak like he's the only one this has ever happened to. He won't even go to the doctor alone, he makes his dad go. I know what you mean that he has to do this one alone though because that is the truth.Did you have stage 4 also?Was it in your lymph nodes? Were you in remission when it came back again? I am new to all of this and again any advice you can give would help. Right now we are working on his weight. He is small and cannot afford to drop anymore weight.thank you again and I do appreciate your honesty.

Yes I haved stage 4 cancer. This was the second time I was in """remission""". This was the last hope for me, the surgery. He should be putting on weight with the feeding tube, I can't understand why he isn't. I do 5 feeds a day. 8 oz. each. I believe it is 2375 calories a day. However I was very under nourished. I hadn't eaten anything except pudding and for the last 3 months before my surgery, that is how painful my mouth was..Part was radiation the other was the cancer that had come back in the jaw bone. I am so sorry that this happening to you and your friend, I am sorry that this happens to anyone..Get him too eat tho for this will build up his strengh so his body can fight.. Explain this to him. The cancer was not in my lymph nodes. They were clear. For now please try to get him to eat something that will put the weight on, mashed potatoes and gravy, puddings, eggs, breads with fluids to swallow them if he is eating by mouth,, if not ask his doctor to up his feeding tube intake...Please keep in touch with me and let me know how you both are doing,, Always Vicki Lynn

Hi Maur, I have read your posting I had Cancer on the floor of mouth & Neck 36 radiation treatment.
You can read my ongoing saga DB's Story and it will give you an idea what it is like.
I am honest but thats the way I am.
I am still only 9.5 stone and eat VERY well.
I am waiting to have my teeth out now and go today to see the Consultant but its going to be a a risky buisness.
I see Vicky has replied to your messages such a wonderful person stiock by her and you will be very good and strong for each other.
I guess your mate is having a really bad time at the moment I dont know what to say but my GP expained to me Mouth & Neck Cancer is not that straight foward and has alot of complications afterwards and trust me to get the lot
But I am here for today and will make most of it

Paul

You are too sweet Paul,,Love ya,,

Vicky or Paul,

Thanks for your replies and info. I really appreciate it. My friend just recently started having bad headaches to the point that it is making him sick. Could this be a side effect of the radiation? My mind is already thinking the worst like the cancer has spread. Can that happen this fast? Please help!

Well this never happened with me..I never had headaches. Hummm. I didn't have throat cancer but I did have radiation twice. Carconia to my knowledge does not grow very fast, not like other cancers. Please try not to panic, this will only upset him. I would contact a doctor right away and ask all these questions to him. He will probably order some tests to rule anything out of have the answer. As for me tho I got sick and threw up but not from headaches. Much luck to the both of...Always Vicki, ps. keep us updated ok.