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Head & neck radiation side effects continue, especially swelling
Head & Neck Cancer | Last Active: Sep 17 9:00am | Replies (30)Comment receiving replies
Hello @jessskodal. I'm afraid I have no helpful tips. I have lymphoedema under my chin after a recent head and neck surgery with 6 pages of notes on how to do the massage. Because of Covid, most of my appointments with the physio have been via Zoom and I'm not sure if I'm doing the massage right either. But mine is not a big problem and I agree yours is not like the typical lymphoedema. Flexitouch sounds worth a try though.
I can only offer solidarity and perhaps the thought that you are still close to treatment and it can take about 6 - 7 months to recover from radiotherapy to the head and neck, I was told.
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Solidarity alone is helpful. I also find it helpful to know that you were told it can take 6 to 7 months to recover from radiation. My oncologist likes to tell me it takes 6 to 8 weeks, but we're far beyond that now and I am still having issues. One of my surgeons told me that it definitely takes at the very least 6 months. Having those two varying opinions confused me, but I was more inclined to believe what my surgeon said. I'm especially more inclined to believe what he said now that you tell me you were given a similar timeline. It's so frustrating to be told vastly different things about the same topic by different medical professionals. I don't know if you've had that issue as well. Hopefully not.