1. < Head & Neck Cancer

9 days after end of treatment, mouth and throat questions

Posted by robolobo @robolobo, Nov 3 9:39am

Hello again everybody! Did I ever tell you how much I appreciate all your sage advice and wisdom? Well, I do! This is a great forum. So, I am starting to feel significantly better in some ways. Fatigue has lessened, mucus production is decreasing and my neck burns have healed up nicely. So that's all positive. But I am just wondering about my mouth and throat. It still hurts to swallow, but I assume that is par for the course? As for my mouth, i took a look at it with my mini flashlight and saw where I have a particularly sore spot under the tongue, almost a cut. The magic mouthwash helps a bit with it, but I am now applying Anbesol with a long Q-tip. It kinds keeps me from sticking my tongue out all the way (i.e. stretching my tongue) Also, although I have been assured by my wife that I don't have Thrush, there is a small, rectangular white spot on the top of my tongue. At first I though it was more mucus, but it's not. It's not painful at all, it's just there. So are these odd mouth things also par for the course? Thanks!

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sandy8043 | @sandy8043 | 22 hours ago
In reply to @johnbonani "I echo some of the other comments. You are doing great! I'm 20 weeks post radiation/chemo..." + (show)
@johnbonani

I echo some of the other comments. You are doing great! I'm 20 weeks post radiation/chemo with all the usual stuff. No saliva so very dry mouth 24/7, can only eat very soft or liquid foods, lymphedema of my neck and very rough surface of my tongue. The Xylimelts definitely work for dry mouth and allow me to sleep through the night. One thing to share if I may, do not get your feeding tube removed until you are sure you can make up the calories by mouth. Mines been out about 4 weeks now and it is definitely more of a challenge keeping up my weight than when I had the tube. Keep up the good work sounds like you're ahead of schedule.

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Ditto on the food tube. You decide when you are ready. My radiation oncologist was a nag about it. But I kept mine till I was comfortable with my eating.

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lilypilly | @lilypilly | 19 hours ago
In reply to @sandy8043 "Lymphedema remains my biggest challenge, too. When it flares my mouth is drier and tongue is..." + (show)
@sandy8043

Lymphedema remains my biggest challenge, too. When it flares my mouth is drier and tongue is swollen. I did the massage but it only worked to a point. My Mayo surgeon prescribed a lymphedema pump machine made by Tactile Medical. It uses a mask and vest that uses light air pressure to massage your face, neck, and torso. I use it once a day, sometimes twice if I need to with each treatment taking about 30 minutes. It works great and has made all the difference for me. I still do some self massage as well. I also wear the band and foam chip bag at night. My mouth does not dry out at night if I wear the band. Hope this helps.

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Thank you

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rosie100 | @rosie100 | 18 hours ago
In reply to @colleenyoung "@robolobo, it's now 21 days after treatment (if I did the math right). Any update? How..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

@robolobo, it's now 21 days after treatment (if I did the math right). Any update? How are you doing now?

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It is amazing to see that other cancer patients have same symptoms. I am still getting treatments. I had one heck of a time. But I never lost sense of taste or smell. I am going through a bad time right now with excessive saliva. It is embarrassing to drool The doctor in Rochester ordered some patches for me Stay on for 3 days and then put another one on. It's the same as what you get to combat sea sickness. I have tongue cancer so I am working on my tongue, mouth and swallowing. It is not the most enjoyable deal . I said I never asked for cancer and now I have to work harder to improve. The patch they gave me is seeming to make the saliva less embarrassing, but patch does make me tired So I am hoping someone will see this and share some ideas with me. Otherwise I feel really good. Have been reading a lot of books. Getting more active. I was really sick. Am amazed they have medicine available to make this cancer go away. So far. So good,! Thank you for sharing. Pat Rosenberg.

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rosie100 | @rosie100 | 18 hours ago

Good luck mytime62
I am about 8 months out of treatment Still having treatments every weeks. Have had a couple pet CT scans and cancer is going away. I just have that saliva problem. I just got some patches, like what they use for sea sickness. These seem to be helping. I have less drooling. That is my main irritating problem. And learning how to talk again. At least I don't get a lot of phones. All my friends know I can't talk very well but I am improving.
Good luck to you and all the rest of us cancer patients. I hope these patches work. God Bless You!

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