Respiratory culture

Positive for Staphylococcus aureus. Starting cephalexin today. Perhaps this infection is the cause of my cough and post-nasal drip. Seems common for NPC patients: http://dribrook.blogspot.com/2010/12/sinusitis-after-irradiation-therapy-for.html

Other than that, my check-up with my ENT last week was uneventful. I'm scheduled to get another CT scan of sinus just to make sure things are clear up there. I'll see my doctor again in three months.

Happy holidays.

Return to normalcy

I may need you to speak for me, to lift something for me, to wait on me while I slowly chew my food. This is now my normal way of life, often a burden to those around me, especially loved ones. For that I am sorry.

This phase may be perhaps the hardest part of dealing with cancer. Nothing I do can change what is.

To inject or not to inject

That is the question.

I saw my CyberKnife radiation oncologist today. Since my last two PET scans were clear, I no longer need to see him. He recommends that I get the vocal cord injection for my vocal cord paralysis.

We have made it three years. Let's go have a beer. I'm buying.

Can you hear me now?

No sinus surgery as my sinus seems to be behaving much better.  And my PET scan last month was all clear.

However, my voice is gone not because of post nasal drip but because my right vocal cord is paralyzed.  ENT make a referral to a speech therapist so I'll have to learn how to speak again with only one vocal cord. The nerve that controls the right side of my tongue is also not moving my tongue so well, which makes the simple things like chewing and swallowing difficult.  I have to eat slower and with smaller bites.

I promise to no longer scream at you.  You are welcome.

Radiation-related cranial nerve palsy in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Ethmoid sinus, allergies (or sinus infection), and no voice

First, I'm happy to report that my neck pain from the scar issue is completely gone.

For the last two weeks, my ethmoid sinuses have been acting up again.  Six to eight months ago, I could not breathe at night due to the congestion.  The last two weeks, it's not only at night but all the time.  And due to the post nasal drip, I have now lost my voice even though I feel tons better after starting on claritin about ten days ago.  I see my ENT doctor in a few weeks.  He will probably recommend surgery as he did six months ago.

And lastly, I now have ptosis of the right eye.

Another great NPC article: http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijol/2011/638058/

Neck pain update

Cool NPC story: http://www.newfaceofcancercare.org/stories/380

For ten weeks now, I haven't been able to sleep at night due to the pain in my right neck.  At times, I'm not able to turn my neck without considerable pain.  I have even struggled with swallowing and speaking, especially "b" and "v" for some reason.

But this week, the pain is 1000 times better.

Hopefully, the scar tissue is finally fully developed.  And speaking seems to be better now.

My hearing has not improved much in the right ear, but the ringing (from chemo and/or radiation) is considerably less.

28 months later

Had a PET scan last month.  It was clear.  Oncologist agreed to stop chemo.  Fuck you cancer.

I developed a nasty sinus infection in my ethmoid sinus, which meant I couldn't sleep on certain nights.  ENT prescribed cefuroxime and metronidazole.  Much better now.

It is now four months post CyberKnife and my right neck is developing a painful scar tissue at the exact location of the CyberKnife treatment plan.  Hopefully this will eventually disappear.

I continue to see my doctors for regular check-ups and scans.  Life is such a wonderful gift.