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Healing process after throat cancer treatments: What to expect?
Head & Neck Cancer | Last Active: Jun 13 9:52pm | Replies (30)Comment receiving replies
I am 3 weeks out from 15 radiation treatments for throat and mouth cancer. Doctor has now ordered a very expensive medication for chronic lymphoma tic leukemia. I am hesitating, as my salty taste buds are starting to return; my mouth is EXTREMELY dry, and my tongue is still very sore. My energy level is still quite low. I wish I could feel normal again and return to my active life. The new medication is (1) cost prohibitive, and (2) comes with a whole new set of side effects.
The throat pain, up to now, was unbearable. I tried to get healthy shakes down with a straw and drank Ensure (tasted awful.) Tampering with eating caused me to experience diarrhea and constipation. As a friend said, "This is NO FUN." Although doctors and nurses appear to give flippant responses - Why don't you just... Or prescribe magic mouthwash - ouch! They have not experienced this type of pain that does not respond to regular pain medication.
I've learned a lot. Never take a single good day or good meal for granted. Praise the Lord for all the many times you have enjoyed life and forgot to be thankful. We are not entitled to much of the goodness that surrounds us. I seek normal days and pray my friends experiencing throat and neck cancer will completely heal and take a new look at this life we have been given.
I am an 83 year old woman, but don't tell anyone.
Replies to "I am 3 weeks out from 15 radiation treatments for throat and mouth cancer. Doctor has..."
@panevills
I am little over 2.5 years out since radiation treatments and things are Slowly getting better. Everything they suggested tasted Disgusting and was difficult to swallow. Ensure was absolutely disgusting but now I can drink it mixed half milk half ensure and it’s not bad. The entire process has been a living nightmare of an experience. I’m now able to eat things I never thought I’d be able to again…. Pizza, steak, pasta, bagels, etc etc. now I do have to be selective on which types of the foods I just stated like I can eat ribeye but not sirloin, I can do thin pastas but not thicker ones( the easiest is Angel hair ), pizza is thin crust, bagels need to be toasted, bacon has to be crispy but not too crispy and Not thick sliced. I still have some problems if I go out to eat because everything has to be cooked to my specific needs… Good thing my Mom taught me to cook. I Pray Everyday, sometimes multiple times a day, I am grateful to still be above the grass and hopeful for the future. Even at this stage I have my own worries and anxiety about my morbidity but am starting to realize that my life is, not so simply, just a new type of “normal “ . I’m looking at another surgery very soon and honestly I’m afraid to go through it all again learning to eat chew swallow speak and trying to open my mouth enough to brush my teeth and get food in. With all of this I do believe that God has His plan for me and will continue to guide me. I’m fortunate for the friends I have that stand with me and try to understand what I’ve been going through. Hang in there and Have Faith. Thing Do Get Better.
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@panevills I know exactly what u r talking about. Asa nurse myself the medical profession hasn’t experienced so they really have no clue. I had 35/7 my last treatment was 10/18/24 the first 6 months were horrible but doable considering the alternative. The second 6 months no mouth or throat pain but lymphedema was so bad I could not move my left arm for months. I used Dr Ellie’s (YouTube) mouth regimen to get rid of burning mouth syndrome ( I will continue this for the rest of my life) and i have the tactile medical machine which pump the fluid off my head, neck and chest (i can now move my arms and shoulders, and breathe much better). I just had to accept that things will pop up and move on. Alkaline water and Dr Pepper for whatever reason did not burn my mouth and others have had the same experience. Dr Ellie’s I had improvement immediately but took 4-6wks to go away ompletely