Radiation side effects with H&N cancer. When will they ever end? Part II:
Members have reminded me of a couple of issues which I had forgotten about but actually still cannot ignore so I will include them here today. I live with these (6,7, and 8) and don't even think about it.
5) Neck/Throat Pain from a sneeze, severe enough to cause tears in the eyes. This lasted about 10 years. When I felt a sneeze coming on, it was terror. Now I actually enjoy a good sneeze.
6) Nose "Runs" when eating. This is probably a saliva re-route after radiation turned my mouth into raw hamburger. This continues to this day but has been improving over the past two years. Must always eat with a napkin to dab my nose. This can be done discreetly however.
7) Thyroid Bruised. The radiotherapy I had was Photon so as a result my thyroid was bruised. The thyroid went low about six weeks after treatment ended and suddenly too. Then it went high. A scan showed one enlarged wing (there are four like a butterfly). Twenty plus years out I continue to take a very small amount of medicine to reduce the thyroid output so I don't get jittery and have a shortness of breath. I can live without the medicine but with it life is easier. To have the thyroid ablated I would be totally dependent on thyroid replacement medicine. I take Methimazole 5mg twice per week, a very minimal amount.
8) Food Pockets. I once had a nice oral cavity the way God intended, but after radiation bombardment I was left with ridges and scarring. Within these folds and pockets food particles like to hide. Spices are the worst but it all needs to be delt with after eating. It improved within a year or so after treatment but never back to original so for that reason I brush after every meal regardless where I am and I travel with a water pick just in case it is necessary to use it. Often a good water swish will suffice. Oral care has been a top priority since early recovery.
9) Loss of specific memories. Radiation about four or five weeks in literally blew the hair off the back of my head in a very finite line. I have no doubt the brain took a bit of a hit as well. I had a photo and am still searching for that. Anyway I lost specific memories about people, places, math formulas, foreign languages, etc. One does not know what one does not know and that can be scary. When you don't recognize an old friend or swear you have never been to a certain town yet know exactly where the hardware store is, that can throw you off a bit.
More to follow. I appreciate the other members who have inputted their thoughts and comments. All any of us have been through has just been a difficult but not impossible road. I wish all of you could end up enjoying a new normal and I know many of you have. Time heals all wounds, even cancer.