Good News for Tongue Cancer Patients

September 11, 2009 | Filed Under alternative therapy, cancer, chemotherapy, research, squamous cell carcinoma | No Comments

According to a new study by Rush University Medical Center, Transoral (through-the-mouth) laser surgery to remove cancer at the base of the tongue is as effective as more invasive open surgery and may improve quality of life.

The study, published in the July issue of the scientific journal Otolaryngology -Head and Neck Surgery, involved a chart review of 71 patients who underwent transoral laser microsurgery for squamous cell carcinoma of the base of the tongue. At 24 months, overall survival was 90 percent and disease specific survival was 94 percent. Quality-of-life data, obtained for 46 patients, revealed the majority had mild or no pain, minimally impaired to normal swallowing, and normal speech.

Historically, the tongue base could only be safely accessed through complicated open surgical approaches through the neck. Delicate structures in the neck, such as the voice box, the trachea, the esophagus, lymph nodes, muscles and large nerves make surgical resection difficult with significant complications including speech and swallowing impairment.

Advances in transoral laser microsurgery have transformed the surgeon’s ability to treat cancer that was not otherwise amenable to surgical therapy. The surgery is performed through the opening of the mouth using an endoscope with a lighted camera and microscopic lens to view the area. Using a CO-2 laser and micro-staging, surgeons carefully remove the tumor in small pieces minimizing disruption to nearby tissues, thereby reducing complications and the likelihood of infections. With magnification of normal and abnormal tissue the surgery is very precise which contributes to very good cancer outcomes. In fact, due to the precision of this type of surgery, many patients do not require adjuvent therapies.

This Just In

September 11, 2009 | Filed Under Hypothyroid, health, prognosis | No Comments

Received the results of my latest blood work.

Looks like the thyroid med is doing it’s job — my TSH levels are within normal range. However, my platelet count is still low. Although, if I’m remembering the previous results correctly, they are marginally higher than last time. Unfortunately, my liver enzymes are much higher than last time. I’m not sure what any of this means right now. Given my history, my recent imaging tests, the fact that I’m experiencing no symptoms of liver disease, and my current weight, I’m guessing that the liver enzyme levels are reflective of a recurrance of the fatty liver problem I had in 2006 which corrected itself after I lost all that poundage during my battle with cancer. What that means is that I have to lose weight and I’ve been having a hard time doing that. Oh well.