1. < Head & Neck Cancer

Oral Cancer, surgery done..waiting for further treatment

Posted by raj2020 @raj2020, Apr 19, 2020

Hi My sister got surgery for Oral cancer on 03/16/2020 ,doctors told us all marginal clear. After that radiation was supposed to happen 60Gy/30fr. but in surgery cheek was cut and there is complete hole that is filling/healing at slow pace, doctors put flash from chest to fill the cut/hole, doctors are saying radiation can't start until cheek wound gets better.
my concerns are 1. since almost 1 month is done how dangerous is that to get delayed.
2. how to find out what is condition of metastasis, should we do any testing , if yes what type of testing.
3. in the mean time we are waiting for wound to heal and for radiation what we can do to stop spreading.
4. if radiation can't be done, then what alternatives we have?
5. is Radiation enough or we need chemo also.

Caner Type : Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the buccal mucosa
Stage: T4N1Mo, Surgery Date: 03/16/2020

Thanks for advice.

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Mentor
William Olsen, Volunteer Mentor | @hrhwilliam | May 14 2:35pm
In reply to @gsc100 "Seven days ago! I was told no bread even though I eat tiny bites with liquid..." + (show)
@gsc100

Seven days ago! I was told no bread even though I eat tiny bites with liquid Did you have lots of swelling. If so is it better to eat hot or cold food. How long until pain in tongue resolves.

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Oh yes, lots of swelling and difficulty eating for weeks. Soft foods such as custard, oatmeal, scrambled eggs, cream of wheat, Ensure drinks, milkshakes, whatever works. I sipped on 7-Up and coffee or tea so hot or cold didn’t seem to matter.
Pain on the tongue as I recall took more than a year to resolve. Neck pain didn’t phase out completely for about seven years. But I have had many great experiences in life since cancer so don’t get discouraged.

REPLY
1 reply
gsc100 | @gsc100 | May 14 8:30pm
In reply to @hrhwilliam "Oh yes, lots of swelling and difficulty eating for weeks. Soft foods such as custard, oatmeal,..." + (show)
@hrhwilliam

Oh yes, lots of swelling and difficulty eating for weeks. Soft foods such as custard, oatmeal, scrambled eggs, cream of wheat, Ensure drinks, milkshakes, whatever works. I sipped on 7-Up and coffee or tea so hot or cold didn’t seem to matter.
Pain on the tongue as I recall took more than a year to resolve. Neck pain didn’t phase out completely for about seven years. But I have had many great experiences in life since cancer so don’t get discouraged.

Jump to this post

Did you have pain in the ear on surgery side?

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
William Olsen, Volunteer Mentor | @hrhwilliam | May 14 9:32pm
In reply to @gsc100 "Did you have pain in the ear on surgery side?" + (show)
@gsc100

Did you have pain in the ear on surgery side?

Jump to this post

Yes for months. Mostly an itchy ear that one cannot scratch but sometimes it felt like an ice pick having its way with me.
The radiation really left issues with nerves for years actually. And I recall a simple sneeze was most traumatic often bringing tears.

REPLY
1 reply
gsc100 | @gsc100 | May 15 6:13pm
In reply to @hrhwilliam "Yes for months. Mostly an itchy ear that one cannot scratch but sometimes it felt like..." + (show)
@hrhwilliam

Yes for months. Mostly an itchy ear that one cannot scratch but sometimes it felt like an ice pick having its way with me.
The radiation really left issues with nerves for years actually. And I recall a simple sneeze was most traumatic often bringing tears.

Jump to this post

Thank you! Everyone keeps saying its not related! Its good to have support. People act like its no big deal. I choke so easy and was given a mouth wash that caused swelling the size of a egg under chin and side of face! How long before pain in tongue subside. Thank you for listening helps me a lot!

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