| Joined: Aug 2009 Posts: 32 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | OP Contributing Member (25+ posts) Joined: Aug 2009 Posts: 32 | Hell all. New here have been on cancercompass for a while and just found this site. I finished treatment for stave IV tonsil back in Dec, then had a dissection in Feb. I've been feeling pretty good till the last few weeks. I'm tired, constantly coughing up mucus, and throat gets sore occasionally but only for a short time and usually after eating. I go back for my 2nd PET this week and I'm feeling really antsy. Last time I was relaxed and calm but this coughing has me worried. Is it normal? Anybody who had had to deal with this coming back, what were your symptoms?
Thanks.
Last edited by brickster; 08-03-2009 04:27 PM.
Dx 8.14.08. 42 at diagnosis. Stage IV Tonsil. Tonsillectomy 8.25.08. Induction chemo (9.29.08) (taxol and carboplatin) 5 weekly treatments. 35 rad and 6 concurrent chemos. Finished 12.22.08. No peg, no port. Neck dissection Feb. 09
| | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | Being tired could very well be that your Thyroid was fried by the radiation. Mine crapped out 4 months post Tx. It's called Hypothyroidism and a lot of develop it after our radiation. Have your TSH checked during a routine blood workup. If that's the case a simple one a day pill corrects that.
Being tired can also just be a part of the slow recovery that we all experience. Our recovery can take every bit of 2 years with the first year usually the worst and slowest.
The mucus is normal and remember each of us can be different but even almost 3 years post Tx I still have more mucus production today than I did pre Tx.
The coughing may be due to the excess mucus.
The temporary sore throat may be just from the amount of coughing that you are doing.
As with every thing that goes on post Tx, be sure to write all your questions, fears and worries down and get an answer to all of them at this next appointment.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
| | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Welcome to OCF. What type of treatment did you have? Radiation can have long lasting side effects.
Symptoms of a recurrance are the same as what the original symptoms are. Depends on where its located. Just being tired, a sore throat and coughing doesnt necessarily mean that you have a recurrance. The sore throat could be caused by the coughing and the mucous which could be post nasal drip.
A PET scan can also give false positives. Ive had it happen. The only way to tell for sure is a biopsy.
Worrying will not help or change test results. It will only make you feel worse. Please dont let a scare of a recurrance waste your time. Cancer can steal your days away from you. If you arent feeling well, go to the doctor and talk this over with them.
Best of luck with everything. ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive | | | | Joined: Aug 2009 Posts: 32 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | OP Contributing Member (25+ posts) Joined: Aug 2009 Posts: 32 | Thanks Y'all. I'm worrying over nothing I'm sure it's just that the mucus and everything else were gone and I was feeling great. Now the cough, tiredness yada yada yada. It's not post nasal drip, ole snoz is clear as a bell. Anyway, just came home to an air conditioner leaking from the attic and dropping a chunk of my living room ceiling so I guess I'll let that worry me for the time being.
Thanks for the replies. I get my PET Friday and meet with oncologist Monday
Dx 8.14.08. 42 at diagnosis. Stage IV Tonsil. Tonsillectomy 8.25.08. Induction chemo (9.29.08) (taxol and carboplatin) 5 weekly treatments. 35 rad and 6 concurrent chemos. Finished 12.22.08. No peg, no port. Neck dissection Feb. 09
| | | | Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 794 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 794 | Your good sense of humor is going to serve you well through this "adventure." (sorry about your ceiling!)
Colleen--T-2N0M0 SCC dx'd 12/28/05...Hemi-maxillectomy, partial palatectomy, neck dissection 1/4/06....clear margins, neg. nodes....no radiation, no chemo....Cancer-free at 4 years!
| | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 | Brickster, good luck repairing the ceiling. I had a stuck commode run water into my basement along with part of the ceiling coming down in my garage.LOL it is messy. As for thr sore throa=t and cough, this can and probably wil last for several months. I past 2 years yesterday and mine still holds my attention but meds can ease it. It's the life we live now. Good luck friday and welcome to our home.
Since posting this. UPMC, Pittsburgh, Oct 2011 until Jan. I averaged about 2 to 3 surgeries a week there. w Can't have jaw made as bone is deteroriating steaily that is left in jaw. Mersa is to blame. Feeding tube . Had trach for 4mos. Got it out April. --- Passed away 5/14/14, will be greatly missed by everyone here
| | | | Joined: Aug 2009 Posts: 32 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | OP Contributing Member (25+ posts) Joined: Aug 2009 Posts: 32 | [quote=August]Your good sense of humor is going to serve you well through this "adventure." (sorry about your ceiling!) [/quote]
You gotta laugh. If not you'll go mad. My mother always told me you have to be able to laugh at yourself, and I give myself and everyone around plenty of material!
Dx 8.14.08. 42 at diagnosis. Stage IV Tonsil. Tonsillectomy 8.25.08. Induction chemo (9.29.08) (taxol and carboplatin) 5 weekly treatments. 35 rad and 6 concurrent chemos. Finished 12.22.08. No peg, no port. Neck dissection Feb. 09
| | | | Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 507 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) Joined: Jul 2008 Posts: 507 | Brickster, I also developed an occasional but persistent post TX cough that lasted for a good five or six months. I would notice myself coughing a bit every hour or so.
My ENT said everything was fine and it was just a lingering side effect -- part of the healing process.
My cough seems to have finally gone away.
Good luck with the PET.
Don TXN2bM0 Stage IVa SCC-Occult Primary FNA 6/6/08-SCC in node<2cm PET/CT 6/19/08-SCC in 2nd node<1cm HiRes CT 6/21/08 Exploratory,Tonsillectomy(benign),Right SND 6/23/08 PEG 7/3/08-11/6/08 35 TomoTherapy 7/16/08-9/04/08 No Chemo Clear PET/CT 11/15/08, 5/15/09, 5/28/10, 7/8/11
| | | | Joined: Aug 2009 Posts: 32 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | OP Contributing Member (25+ posts) Joined: Aug 2009 Posts: 32 | Pet came back clean, worrying over nothing. Thanks everyone.
Dx 8.14.08. 42 at diagnosis. Stage IV Tonsil. Tonsillectomy 8.25.08. Induction chemo (9.29.08) (taxol and carboplatin) 5 weekly treatments. 35 rad and 6 concurrent chemos. Finished 12.22.08. No peg, no port. Neck dissection Feb. 09
| | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | Congrats on your good news Glad everything is ok, hope you have many more successful scans. ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive | | |
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