 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 | Jan, this sounds pretty typical for this stage of treatment. It might a little worse even before you start to turn the corner. The full radiation effects continue for several weeks post Tx. So the burns, mucositus, etc. will continue. The skin on the neck is the first to heal, last being the tongue and tissues in the throat. There was an FDA "Dear Doctor" letter issued about Iressa - ask your oncologist. I posted more detailed information in another area of the site.
Figure about 3 weeks to turn the corner and progress measured in three increments for a couple of months. Patience!
Gary Allsebrook
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Dx 11/22/02, SCC, 6 x 3 cm Polypoid tumor, rt tonsil, Stage III/IVA, T3N0M0 G1/2
Tx 1/28/03 - 3/19/03, Cisplatin ct x2, IMRT, bilateral, with boost, x35(69.96Gy)
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"You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14 NIV)
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