Well, four weeks ago I was about as happy as I could be. Husband had made an outstanding recovery from his pharyngolaryngectomy for hypopharyngeal cancer - despite having radiotherapy-damaged neck tissue from his previous tongue cancer eleven years ago. He was coming to terms with not having a voice, findings ways to manage around it, and starting to enjoy life. But at his first whole body scan they found cancer in a neck lymph node, confirmed with a biopsy. It can’t be removed as it is too close to the carotid artery. He can’t have RT as he has had his lifetime dose. So, we are waiting to see what combination of chemo and / or immunotherapy will be offered. And to get some sense of the prognosis, which is difficult to evaluate as there isn’t an active cancer site outside this lymph node as far as we know. Yet. But can immunotherapy and chemo prevent spread, or will they only slow it?
I’d be really grateful for feedback from anyone who knows more about the effectiveness of immunotherapy and chemo as primary treatment for aggressive head and neck cancers.
thanks, Alison
Hi Alison
For heaven's sake that is awful news. You've both been through so much
Immunotherapy has some good results and we have a forum member who is three years clear of his last infusion of Pembrolizumab. He is no longer stable but NED Anson's cancer blog He has done a lot of work for the oracle Cancer Trust but I'm sure he has stepped back from there and from this Community to get on with his life. So Ive just given you a link to his blog.v
I have another contact who has been on Nivolumab for must be five or six years with stable disease. I think Nivolumab is now licensed for continual therapy whereas Pembro is a two year course.
You can also explore the vaccine trial for recurrent HNC. The one getting all the publicity is AHEAD-MERIT
I hope you can get the help your husband needs quickly.
I'm sure somebody else will pop on with first hand experience
Dani
Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019
Good evening Alison, sorry to be reading this, it has been a long time since i last had surgery/treatment in 2010, the main treatment was chemo and radiotherapy, but new treatments are on offer like immunotherapy, they are also trialing new drugs etc so hopefully he will be offered something that can help, i wish you both all the best, good luck.
Chris x
Its sometimes not easy but its worth it !
Well, at the oncology appointment they immediately offered the option of joining the AHEAD trial via the Birmingham Queen Elizabeth hospital.
That’s good news. I hope it’s the answer. Hugs
Dani
Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019
