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Meet others living with Head & Neck Cancer: Introduce yourself
Head & Neck Cancer | Last Active: 3 days ago | Replies (721)Comment receiving replies
Good morning , I am 77 years old recovering from Squamous Cell carcinoma . In August of 2025 I finished 35 radiation treatments . Today , July 19, 2026 I am struggling with all the side effects . Sore throat , abundance of phlegm, dry mouth , cough, no taste/bad taste when trying to eat , an aversion for food, sick to my stomach and throat most every day . As a result I have been on a PEG TUBE for almost one year .
I have heard side effects from radiation for this cancer can take one to two years to recover .
Any insights and responses are welcome !
Replies to "Good morning , I am 77 years old recovering from Squamous Cell carcinoma . In August..."
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@ernierogersquamus123 Hello and welcome to the head and neck cancer group. It seems your recovery is slower than most however that could be attributed to age. The older we get, the slower we heal. Sorry you have to go through these after effects for such a long period of time.
If you can, measure your progress on a month by month basis. If you are not seeing improvement in some areas in that amount of time, seek out medical help. Some things can't be fixed but many issues can be. It might take physical therapy or a small surgical repair. And don't hesitate to ask of your medical professionals if they have experience in head and neck cancer recovery. Most do not. Find one who does.
Anyway that is my non-medical advice. In the meantime don't hesitate to ask questions of this group. Starting your own discussion is usually the best way to get many eyes on your questions.
Welcome.