Throat Cancer

Before I begin the weeks article, I'd like to say how pleased I am to be writing for Suite 101. And I hope that my articles can help people cope with cancer, including family and friends. My thoughts for these articles are to cover many of the cancers. I also want to talk about some of the things I went through such as; finding a support group, test, feelings, the professionals who work with us and much more. Please remember that I do not give medical advice, I am not a doctor.

One last, and most important item. I want to dedicate this column with love and much thanks to: all my friends who drove me to my chemo treatments, called sent cards and flowers, and always kept me in their prayers. To the two special chaplains, the oncology social worker, two excellent doctors, all the nurses on 11B (especially C.Z.) and to the nurses at the Cancer Care Clinic. And to anyone I might have missed on the staff at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio.

Throat Cancer

As I was deciding on my topic I heard about George Harrisons disclosure of his battle with throat cancer since last summer---and it appears he has won the battle. From a news release from the Chicago Times. The singer found a lump on his neck last July. He had surgery in August to remove the tumor. Which was followed by two courses of radiation therapy. In January the singer went to the Mayo Clinic, for tests and was told that the cancer had not returned, the paper stated.

This got me thinking about the other celebrities that have had throat cancer, Jack Klugman and my personal favorite former Los Angeles Dodgers, center fielder, Brett Butler. Most cancer caught in time can turn out positive.

Throat cancer (Phrynx) is a malignant tumor located in the passage that connects the back of the nose with the esophagus, most often develops in the mucouse membranes that line the passage. The primary cause of throat (phrynx) cancer is related to smoking, (pipes, cigars, cigarettes and chewing tobacco) and drinking alcohol, with the highest rate occuring in those who both smoke and drink.

SYMPTOMS

* hoarness---that doesn't resolve in 1 to 2 weeks

* sore throat

* neck pain

* difficulty swallowing

* swelling in the neck

* weight loss

* cough

* coughing up blood

* abnormal high pitched breathing sounds

DIAGNOSIS An examination of the neck and throat may show cancers of the throat. The sputum (spit) may appear bloody, a biopsy is mandatory for analysis and is often done in conjunction with an inspectiom through a viewing tube (laryngoscopy) of the larynx, lungs, and esphagus.

TREATMENT

The treatment varies according to the stage of the disease, digree of malignancy, type of tumor, age and general health of patient. Surgery, radiation and chemotherapy are the mainstages of treatment. Please call your doctor if you have any of the above symptoms. Throat cancer can be cured if detected early.

MY STORY Part2

As I stated in my last article I had a total hysterectomy, which include the removal of the uterus, fallopian tubes, the ovaries and cervix. Hysterectomys can be done vaginally (if a previous pregnany has occured) or an incision from the belly button down.I had the latter done. Wtih a total hysterectomy your period will ceases and you may enter a surgically induced menopause, in which I did. That evening after my surgery, my nurse had me up and walking. As I began my slow one foot at a time movement I winced in pain, I was sure each and every one of my staples in my incision had torn open. Obviously they didn't because it was bandaged. As if that wasn't bad enough, heaven forbid a patient with a stomach wound has to cough. My nurse made me a "little pillow" out of a towel and taped it into a square and put a "smiley face" and other silly things on it. For a brief moment I thought I was on the psychiatric floor instead of the gyn/oncology floor. Seriously, she told me when I needed to cough (which ofcourse they wanted us to do) hold the pillow firmly over the incision so the staples don't come out. The first couple of coughs I got the message and didn't think that "littlePillow" was so silly after all. I was on a gyn/onco floor and the nurses want the women who could to walk. On this floor the nurses station is in the middle and the rooms in a circle around it, the goal is to get us walking around that circle more (many more) times before being released. Okay picture this, three or four sometimes more or less women. Pushing an I.V. pole in one hand and our "smiley pillows" in the other. As we pass each other smiling or quick chatter. Then it happens, someone has been hit by a coughing spell, they stop and while standing hold our beautiful "little smiley pillow" over our bellies while we cough our brains out. It may not sound funny now, but if we didn't laugh about it we would have cried over the pain. Actually laughing hurt too, but not as much. With that I will end this weeks article on that note. Always remember we are SURVIVORS from the day we get diagnised. So if possible believe that thought. Untill next time- your in my prayers L.P