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Meet others living with Head & Neck Cancer: Introduce yourself

Head & Neck Cancer | Last Active: 16 hours ago | Replies (493)
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@karenjf

Hi, I'm Karen. Diagnosed with SCC of the mouth in January '19, surgery in February '19, finished 6 weeks of proton therapy on 5/17/19. I'm wondering what to expect as far as pain and discomfort post proton. I was told to expect 2 weeks before healing would begin, but will I be in pain for that entire period? I'm really hurting now and trying not to overdo the pain meds, Proton therapy was the hardest thing I've ever had to endure and I hoped there would be some relief when it was over, but so far.......none. What have others experienced?
And, though I complain, I am eternally grateful to Mayo Clinic and everyone there.

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Replies to "Hi, I'm Karen. Diagnosed with SCC of the mouth in January '19, surgery in February '19,..."
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | May 26, 2019

Hey @karenjf, it's been almost 10 days since your last proton therapy treatment. How are you feeling? Has the pain subsided?

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Merry, Alumni Mentor | @merpreb | Jun 9, 2019

Good morning @karenjf. My name is Merry and I am a Mentor for Connect, mostly lung cancer and smoked for 35 years. I am so sorry that you have to endure so much pain as a result of treatments. It just doesn't seem right, does it?
I'm 72 years old and have had 4 lung cancers. I have had 2 surgeries, chemo and both proton and photon radiation. I had Proton radiation about 2 years ago for my 4th cancer. It was my first introduction into SBRT. The machines are huge! It's scary too lie under them and hope they work but not fall on you! lol
I'm happy that you are feeling some relief. As was explained to me it will take a full 6 months for the fatigue to start to dissipate but then you will start getting back to "normal".

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