Hi Everyone;
A couple comments and questions. I had a neck dissection in February and then had reccurence found in July. Just finished Radiation and chemo just about 4 weeks ago. The mucus has improved dramatically over the last week or so and I am tking a little bit by mouth now (combined with a lot of water when I do eat a little). My throat is still very irritated and sore and I have numerous "ulcers" in my mouth. Some go and new ones come. Dr.'s say I'm getting along well though. These ulcers scare me though, especially the one's that are right around the scare tissue from my surgery. Is anyone else experiencing these sores and for how long? It almost sounds like eating actually may hinder healing process. A few of you mention Carnation VHC. What is VHC and where do you get it? I learned the hard way at the worst time in treatment (just as I started getting the sores) that I was allergic to the soy products and they would come back up the minute I put them in the tube. OUCH! So I have been on Carnation Instant Breakfast, but it doesn't have the calories you all are talking about. My Dr. didn't give me the lidocaine but had me mix the water - 1 gallon drinking water and 1 tablespoon each salt and baking soda. When I first tried, it really burnt too bad, but about two weeks out it really started making a difference. As Mary stated it really does help, just stay with it.

Steve,

It's best to start your own Post so that complete attention to your question can be given. Go to the topic you want to Post under and click New Topic at the top of the screen.

As to VHC....Only pharmacy's carry it, like Walgrens or CVS. Call the Pharm Dept and they will get it for you in 1 to 2 days. If you don't have a large pharm like those e me and I'll give you the tele number to find out who in your zip code carries it.

Thank you David. I'll remember that. I did find some info on the carnation from their website, but it wasn't clear if it is soy based or not. If it is I sure want no part of it. Sounds as though you are eating pretty well after just a few months. That's wonderful!!

Rhank you for your help.

Yipee, i got my tube out!!! Thanks for all the concern about me pulling out my own tube. Haha, i didnt do it, ok, i waited until the doctor did it, and guess what, it didnt hurt at all but for all of you that are wanting to get that tube out....DONT PULL IT YOURSELF, thank goodness i didnt do it, cause it had an anchor on the end of it, and it would have ripped my skin! So, let them doctors earn that money and leave it to them. OK, about eating...wow, life is getting better and better everyday! Ummm...."food" finally!!! Damn, i never thought some days, that i would taste again and enjoy eating again, but all of you were right, it does come back, slowly everyday! Spicy i can still live without but i cant wait to eat this good ol' tex-mex food!!! I have gone to my check ups and so far so good. They had some concerns about my lymphnode not completely disappearing yet, so i go in for a ultrasound on the 28th and if they see concern, then i will do a needle bio. so......waiting, waiting, but i will have to say, my rad.doctor is not concerned, so i think of it this way, i can sit here and let it ruin my holidays worrying about it, or i can enjoy them and think about it when i have to. And i see those choices as a no brainer, so everyone enjoy your holiday and your families and enjoy tasting that wonderful food!!!

Oh i did have a question, has anyone gone through physical therapy for their neck? Just wondering...i have a little of skin under my chin, that they say has fluid in it and they are going to show me how to get rid of it? How rude is that...i do not look like a turkey!!! Ok, maybe it wasnt there before, but hell you really gotta look for it, to even see it!!! Has anyone experience this "floppy skin" under the chin???? :rolleyes:

The "turkey chin" seems to be a fairly common side effect.

Hi Linda, Glad your tube came out with no problems or pain. Just letting you know that one of my enlarged lymph nodes never shrank after treatment and that was seven yrs. ago and I have not had any issues. A lot of head and neck cancers can't be picked up by scans, a lot of our cancers are found by blind biopsies. The important part is that yours was found and treated. I had floppy skin under the chin also and it eventually went away. I don't recall how long it took but it did disapear. Enjoy your friends and family over the holidays and happy eating.
Mark D.

Hi Linda,
Yes PT can help with the fluid in the neck. It also helped with saliva production as I was also getting intra/extra oral massage. And the moist heat felt wonderful. Like going to a spa. Insurance should cover it. Get your doc to recoomend a good PT.

Take care,
Eileen

Thanks for all the encouragement! And for all that would like to know, there is a name for what i call "turkey chin" it is called "Lymphedema" and it is a real condition for people that has had radiation or has had the lymph nodes removed. Here is the correct definition of Lymphedema-it is a collection of protein rich lymphatic fluid. It is caused by interruption on normal lymphatic flow often due to surgery,radiation,infection, or trauma. It is the protein in the fluid that makes it difficult to treat. The protein acts as a magnet for more swelling and serves as a food source for infections.* Crazy huh, who would have ever thought it??? Haha, and I was just praying that this turkey neck was not due to old age!!! Yessssssssss, i have a condition, haha. Well,the cure is treatment...but listen to this, it is covered by insurance and its like getting a massage, wow how great is that? I went for my first appointment and they had to evaluate me then took pictures and measured it, then they started the treatment, Oh i thought i was in heaven, it felt sooooo good, haha, this is a good part of all the "hell" we have to go through with this cancer! I was told to find the positive side of this cancer and i think i just have! Mark, thanks so much for letting me know about your lymph node, that really helped take the edge off of this waiting game! Thats what my radiation doc had told me too, but i just needed to hear it from someone that has been through this. You know how some docs seem to sugar coat stuff! Eileen, it is going to be like going to a spa, i agree! Can't wait till my next appointment haha. Everyone have a great day

Hey everyone its been a long time...been busy with the Christmas thing, shopping for 4 kids and their spouses are enough to wear someone out!!! Good news here, the turkey neck ordeal is going away Yipee!!! Got a few more treatments and thats it, damn, im going to miss my daily massage though, thats for sure! Well, i hope everyone is doing great and having fun, until we meet again....