Has anybody here undergone radiation treatments for tonsil/neck/throat cancer? What were the side

[sinkingfeeling]

affects? The radiologist scared the heck out of me, telling me I will have blisters in my mouth and throat, won't be able to eat or maybe even swallow, and will never be able to have a tooth pulled afterward and should have them all done prior to treatment. Also he wants me to have a feeding tube!


I posted this in the Health forum not knowing there was a cancer group.

[elleng]

1. My husband did.

You were at least lucky to be warned about SOME side-effects.

My husband had surgery (tongue) first, and I don't want to misstate any symptoms. A MAJOR one, even 10 years later, is significant loss of saliva. Eating has generally been a problem, due to the surgery. Speak with occupational therapist (at hospital) first.

'Strength' of teeth/bones is jeopardized, so future dental work at issue; check with your dentist.

Good Luck

[LeighAnn]

2. Hi. Have you called the Bloch Cancer Center?

I know I sound like a broken record here, but if you'll call this number

1-800-433-0464

they'll hook you up with a survivor of your kind of cancer that can help show you the ropes and let you know what to expect, etc.

Please visit their website:

http://www.blochcancer.org/

There are a ton of resources therein.

Sorry for the delay in responding to this!!! Hope you are doing okay!!

~*Peace*~

[santamargarita]

3. I'm about to find out

I have a lymph node on the right side my neck that is cancer but not the primary source. They suspect my right tonsil. Will be going for surgery soon.

[sinkingfeeling]

6. Hope you're doing better. I had the cancer on my right tonsil and a secondary on the left. Did the

surgery in Jan. 2009 and did have 33 radiation treatments. I did not have a feeding tube and did not miss a day of work throughout. The worst was the week immediately after the final treatments. I then fell into depression for a few months and had to have a few bone splinters removed from my jaw (caused by the radiation). Finally early this year, I began to feel normal again. Still have dry mouth, but about 85% of my taste is back.

[Redbear]

4. Story on Denver Nuggets coach George Karl who is going through that

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/news/story?id=4997277

[santamargarita]

5. Thanks for the link...

I'm not sure what else to say right now.

[Redbear]

7. Hope you are doing well. Let us know.

[AlienGirl]

8. Tongue cancer, 2002

The radiologist was right.

I have never gotten salivary function back, and carry water with me everywhere I go. I didn't have my teeth pulled (he didn't suggest it--I should have) and so I am stuck with numerous cavities, abscesses, and broken teeth that must be root-canaled because they cannot be pulled. I went down to 80lbs. and probably should have had a PEG tube, but I had so much hardware in me for chemo that I didn't want another tube.

The good news is in a year I was eating regular foods--though no longer able to handle any level of spice, which was a huge adjustment, as I had been a Sriracha fiend--and I had almost a decade of good, healthy years.

If I had it to do over again I'd get the surgery and save the radiation for the second occurrence, which has apparently now begun. That is the other thing about radiation: once you've had it, you've blown your wad and can never use that option again.

Tucker