Over 2 months from the end of my tx and my neck has been swollen from what my RO says is fluid from my lymphnode system. He suggested pinching the skin up and dowm the neck to move the fluid out. Is this the best way to handle this? Any input would be greatly appreciated. He said this would eventually get hard and permanent if I didn't work the fluid out. Thanks.

He is correct about the lymph fluid build up, which can become permanent for a while, turkey neck too under the chin too, leather neck, but may eventually go way on its own when fluid slowly channels out, most of mine did. I never heard of pinching the skin up and down per say, but did hear, read, about lymphatic lymph drainage massage, by a licensed practictioner, that has to be done in certain directions, circular motions, certain pressure on the neck, near the ears, face, whole body too, which may include skin pinching, and cupping, and Myofascial Release Massage too. I never practiced it on my own, not wanting to cause harm, do in the wrong direction, and was never really cancer free for more than a few months, so I didn't want to cause any extracapsular spread or damage my carotid artery, which can occurr from manipulation, even by a chiropractor. If your doctor gave you the clear, maybe look into Physical Therapy, and or a Licensed Lymphatic Drainage Massage Therapist, Myofascial Release Massage Therapist. As far as my concern, only my ENT is touching my neck lol.

Other things also help with lymph drainage. Light exercise like walking, swimming, swinging the arms overhead or heart level, which can be done while walking, a trampoline (caution with that), steam room, sauna, hot bath, sweating. Medication, toxins, chemicals also back up the Lymphs, so eating a healthy balanced diet may help too.

Good luck with everything.

I found the best way to get rid of it was to start back exercising, riding my bike was my preference.

Hey,
Timely topic for me too. I am 7 months post now. I went to ENT/surgeon last Friday and we discussed the sort of toughness in the neck right along where the node tumors were and also around the BOT where the primary was located. He said same thing that it is fluid build up as the rads screwed the area's drainage ability.

Since it is tight I have been massaging the area a lot and it does help loosen things up. The throat area is not as easy to massage but the doctor said given time it will probably soften up a bit.

This is true... it gets your circulation going and motivates your lymph system too. Since you didn't have surgery david likely you're nodes are not nearly as bad as someone who has had a neck dissection (though admittedly radiation does it's own special brand of damage - when surgery is involved the drainage path is destroyed/disrupted/nonexistent - in the surgical area, so exercise will help a little - but not as much as lymphatic massage that works force the fluid to make new pathways).

That said. I would want a certain amount of time and a certain number of clear scans to pass before beginning lymphatic massage - the lymphatic system runs parallel to your circulatory system - it works to clean your blood, so it had access to everywhere. If there is any cancer left, you do not want to be sending it off to distant areas.

hugs.

Does anyone know roughly how long one has before the drainage problems become permanent if not addressed? My RO is quite conservative and doesn't want any massage or treatment until I have a clear scan, which may be a while.

I guess I should wait until after my PET scan, which is in about 3 weeks. I have been massaging my neck the past week, as my RO suggested. I guess if anything is still there I can't do much about it now. I'll just wait for the scan results before I do anything else... The fun never ends, does it?