← Return to Severe long term side effects from head and neck radiation

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Profile picture for Colleen Young, Connect Director @colleenyoung

Hi @mysister, you might find the comments in this discussion that @hrhwilliam started a bit ago to be helpful:
- Radiation side effects with H&N cancer. When will they ever end? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/radiation-side-effects-when-will-they-ever-end/

Late side effects from radiation unfortunately do happen. Can you share a bit more about what type of late effects she's developed over the past 4 years? I'll try to connect you with related discussions and members who have had similar issues.

You obviously care deeply for your sister. Caregiving from a long distance is hard.

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Replies to "Hi @mysister, you might find the comments in this discussion that @hrhwilliam started a bit ago..."

@colleenyoung thank you!
She has seen specialists, been to two different pain clinics, had some physical therapy. She’s on a feeding tube for life because of pain and stiffness in her jaw, severe dry mouth, swelling of the lips and tongue, intense pain, burning and feelings of pressure in the face, mouth and neck. She has plates in each side of the jaw due to necrosis of the bone, a skin graft on her neck due to a draining dental abscess that would not heal, tooth loss, near death from sepsis due to an infection in the area where the feeding tube attaches to her belly. These are just some of the issues. She is not able to speak in a way that people can understand due to limited mobility or the mouth and tongue. If she could get control of the pain and intense uncomfortable sensations she would be able to manage the rest.