My Cancer Journey: A Multipart Series ->Part One

-

 What I'm dealing with now after laryngeal, oropharyngeal, & lung cancers, the treatments--surgeries, chemo, & radiation therapy. These are the major aftereffects:


  • First Bite Syndrome

  • Esophageal Stricture (was 0.5cm->now 1.9cm)

  • Facial Alopecia

  • Aphasia

  • Vertigo/Lightheadedness

  • Chemo brain

  • Mandible Osteoradionecrosis

  • Radiation Fibrosis

  • Dysgeusia

  • Facial Lymphedema

  • Dysphagia

  • Acute insomnia




(Photo is me during chemotherapy)

Links for definitions of above conditions

  1. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24603-first-bite-syndrome

  2. https://www.uclahealth.org/medical-services/gastro/esophageal-health/diseases-we-treat/esophageal-stricture

  3. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/side-effects/hair-loss

  4. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/aphasia/symptoms-causes/syc-20369518

  5. https://www.pennmedicine.org/for-patients-and-visitors/patient-information/conditions-treated-a-to-z/vertigo#:~:text=Definition,world%20is%20spinning%20around%20them.

  6. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chemo-brain/symptoms-causes/syc-20351060#:~:text=Chemo%20brain%20is%20a%20common,cognitive%20impairment%20or%20cognitive%20dysfunction.

  7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK430917/#:~:text=Osteoradionecrosis%20%28ORN%29%20of%20the%20mandible,least%20three%20to%20six%20months.

  8. https://www.ahns.info/radiation-fibrosis/#:~:text=Radiation%20Fibrosis%20Syndrome%20%28RFS%29%20refers,muscles%2C%20nerves%20and%20blood%20vessels.

  9. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22047-dysgeusia#:~:text=Dysgeusia%20is%20a%20taste%20disorder,the%20underlying%20cause%20of%20dysgeusia.

  10. https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/survivors/patients/lymphedema.htm#:~:text=What%20Is%20Lymphedema%3F,other%20parts%20of%20the%20body.

  11. https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/physical-side-effects/eating-problems/swallowing-problems.html

  12. https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/physical-side-effects/sleep-problems/what-are-sleep-problems.html


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts

weird scenes inside the gold mine

-
Image
Weird synchronicities, interesting events, and odd coincidences in my life ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------ -------- ------------------------------------------------------   I forgot to post this a few days ago on the proper day, so here it is a few days late! For you younger folks on my friends' list, back in the day when everyone listened to the radio, this song became a legend which was rarely heard due to its 18 minute length. When I was an university student, most rock stations would do an all-day Thanksgiving fundraiser for various charitable endeavors, most being for feeding various groups, since Thanksgiving is a feeding sort of holiday. I mean, when you really think about it,...
Read more

PET/CT scan results, 13 July 2023

-
Image
  Comments from the Doctor's Office I have reviewed the results of your PET CT scan. There is evidence of spread to the liver, bone, right adrenal gland, in addition to the known involvement of the lung which is more extensive than appreciated on your prior CT. The extent of disease at this point would prohibit the utilization of surgery. Primary treatment would be some type of systemic therapy. Please send me a MyChart message if you have any additional questions. Thank you for choosing MUSC! Jennifer Lynn Harper, MD Study Result Impression IMPRESSION: Intensely active left apical lung carcinoma with extensive bilateral hilar/mediastinal adenopathy, lymphangitic carcinomatosis throughout both lungs, intensely active osseous metastasis throughout the axial and appendicular skeleton not present 2 years ago on CT PET scan as well as numerous intensely active hepatic metastasis and right adrenal metastatic lesion. SIGNATURE: Electronically Signed By: Noel Phipps M.D. On: 07/13/2023 16...
Read more

Ravings of a Lunatic--Poetry from my younger days

-
Image
    Some of My Old Poetry Some of my old poetry for ya... **********************//// =================== ********************** Hooded Whisperings - 11PM Sitting there, legs crossed, cloaked in black A smile touches her lips, she gazes into my eyes, Her hands hold my vision, my escape, my peace In her folds, I peer out and and see the alien world Surrounding me, castigating me, persecuting me Her fingers caress the nape of my neck I shudder ecstatically, lost in her mind We watch those about us, amused, afraid On my path she's been as a shadow, another self My footprints she covers with her own Face concealed, hidden, only glints break through My reflection stares back from the depths Our meeting long forgotten, our visits brief Our time enjoyed, despised, sought after, run from See my accomplishments, my failure Accept my friend, feel her mirth, her ire Cringe not, embrace and be filled. ****************...
Read more