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Experience Details
Date Entered at Shared Experience: 10/27/2004
Cancer Type:	MOUTH
Diagnosis:	Mother 78 years old. Quit smoking 1989. Diagnosed May 2001 SCC of the tongue with lymph node involvement. Doctor recommended radical neck, partial glossectomy followed by radiation. Returned home after brief stay at relatives. Had feeding tube removed in July 2002.
Chemo Drugs:	Taxol 2 times. Running low grade fever at 3rd chemo so it was discontinued
Treatment:	Opted for radical neck and radiation only. Had 2 chemo sessions as well. Had g-tube when in hospital for radical neck. Radiation was very tough and the feeding tube was a godsend. In December CT scan showed tumor was again growing and there was jaw and floor of mouth involvement. Surgery in Feb. 2002. Partial glossectomy, removal of right jaw bone to center of mouth and removal of partial floor of mouth. Used titanium inplant for jaw and flap from under breast for floor of mouth. Out of ICU in one day. Infection in skin flap caused hospital stay of 1 month. Everything looked pretty good until PET scan in April of 2003. Spot on lung. Fine needle biopsy showed SCC cancer. Isolated to right lung only. Recommended removal of lung. Talked to doctor about other options. Radiation could be used, but only palliatively. Opted for no treatment except palliative pain care. Passed away October 22,2003.
Quality of Life:	Period during radiation was very uncomfortable for her. Thankfully she was carrying some extra weight and had a feeding tube inserted. Saliva was a problem and towards the end was a constant source of discomfort for her. She had the feeding tube removed in July of 2002, but food consisted of very pureed foods and ENSURE. Eating was not easy for her, but she was able to live on her own until just 3 weeks before she passed away.
Information Gathering:
General Comments:	Awful disease. Make sure to have dentist check your mouth for signs of cancer whenever you visit.
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