Hello All,

I am 17 days post op with a neck disection and pech flap. Throat and chest is still sore and am eating 8 cans of insure + 1200cc of water per day. Weight is holding at 124lbs. Can't seem to gain any weight. Is this normal?

I go for a cat scan on Friday with the rad on'gist
this will be 22 days post op. They have IMRT rad
but Who and what determines what type of rad I will receive. How is a cat scan different than an MRI and will the cat scan be able to determine if there is still cancer present? I am anxious to start eating through my mouth, how long is the normal waiting period before I can try and eat?
Thanks for your help, Dan

The fact that you are not losing any more weight is a good sign. In time you'll start putting it back on when you can get more food in you. Won't be long before you have to start worrying again about eating too many glazed donuts!! Well, that will only be for a few weeks till the radiation gets going.... but there is a food break in there between all this. Take advantage of that little window of opportunity between the healing of the surgery and before radiation kicks in full bore to put on some pounds with foods that you love. Sounds like you are on track for where you are in the whole process. You can try to eat as soon as the basic healing in your mouth takes place, too soon and you may pull some stitches and such. As to the radiation type, you are a big part of the decision making process in this, combined with what the institution has to offer and the doctors opinions. While I did not have it, IMRT seems the way to go these days. If it is available, you will likely end up with more saliva in the end, and less healing time. Glad to hear you are doing well.

I agree that you need to eat anything and everything you can in between the surgery and start of radiation. Radiation takes the fun out of eating. I finished on July 10th and I still use my tube although I make sure to experiment with one type of food each day.
Question: Did anyone have any trouble with their ears after radiation?? I read somewhere that radiation can make the wax harden can cause pain in the ears. Is this true?
Thanks! Minnie

Minnie,

Just from my experience I was told that the radiation can effect the eustation(sp) tubes in your ears. I have trouble with moisture sometimes. Don't know about the pain, I get little stabs at times. Someone else might come along and know about the wax?

The head and neck department at MD Anderson routinely checks hearing as part of oral cancer treatment. I was checked before , during and after treatment. The chemo and radiation can definitely affect hearing. I learned that I can't hear worth a darn ( which I already sort of knew anyway...my ex wife made it pretty clear to me! ).
After my last test the audiologist suggested that I go check into hearing aids. I will, I will, but I am still a little too vain so I am dragging my feet.

Danny G.

Understand Danny - all we need to hear is the next call for Margueritas right. As if!!!

No one has checked my hearing yet, but I can tell the damage has happened from the chemo.

If I don't have it checked then they can't tell me to get a hearing aid, right?

Take care,
Dinah