I looked at the calendar today. 6 months and 9 minutes (who's counting like me) ago today I took off that damn mask and got up off moving table for the last time. (Fingers crossed). So far so good. Both the RO and ENT say they don't see or feel anything.

Neck muscle are still and always sore. I strech them 5 or 6000 times a day. Side to side, front to back, twist left twist right. Then there is the mouth stretch thing. Anybody here do the Jim Carey call of the wild face multiple times a day.

I am sitting in high level meeting with execs from all over the world and I am contorting my neck and making strange faces. I can't imagine what they are thinking.

So I get dry mouth at night because my nose is stuffy. I find Afrin, it works great. I sleep the whole night. A week later I reed the back "Do not use for more than 3 consecutive days". WHAT IS THIS IT GOING TO GIVE ME CANCER???

New Issue TMJ Both sides. Hurts wih lateral pressure on jaw. Not so much talking and chewing but side pressure. I think I might have over done it with the Therabite.

Last Question. Survivor status does the clock starts Day of Dx or End of Treatment.

PS I could not Stand IPA's before Treatment. I will let you know the verdict after the weekend.

Sounds good. They now say a survivor starts from the day of diagnosis, maybe American Cancer Society source I read it from, but I will always be a fighter! Keep up the good work. Btw, what is IPA's?

I decided cancer is a b$&@$ and only gets ONE day, I went down the list and decided on Clean PET Day (10/28/11). Cancer should just be glad it gets that much recognition from me...

IPA's are fantastic. Find myself leaning towards stouts of all sorts.

Ok...what are IPA's....What are we missing??
Congrats on the 6 months out!! We are 18 months out now, from the last IMRT.
Kathy

Alex and I have stopped counting (out loud anyway) as we found there comes a time when one thinking of oneself as a cancer survivor starts to define one. Having said this it is easier said than done.

Afrin: Is that a spray that helps with a stuffy nose? If it is, the reason they say not to use more than a few days is that it causes "rebound congestion" which means it causes the very condition that you are trying to treat. This just means that you might have to use it for the rest of your life or go through a few weeks of a stuffy nose without it until your body gets used to not having it anymore. As I always say to my Mum who is worried about getting "addicted" to some of her medications, it is only a problem if you are not planning on using it for the rest of your life.

with regard to survival, in my opinion the clock starts on from the day you start treatment. I say this because the stats on survival are based on the trials which all begin with the first day of treatment. However, Alex and I found some comfort in marking the anniversaries based on diagnosis and end of treatment as well.

An IPA is an India Pale Ale - my favorite type of beer pre treatment. Who knows if I'll like it anymore once I get the all clear for alcohol but I'm hopeful.
Never liked stouts too much. It seems like that is popular with the post radiation crowd though.

Congrats on 6 months!

oops, Paul is right survival is likely counted from day of diagnosis

Atta boy hockeydad...Kicking ass, taking names and drinking beer. You sure you're not Canadian like me?

Keep on keeping on. I am 9 months and 4 days from Dx, and 7 months and 6 days from surgery...dry mouth sucks. I chew gum now. Martini's also work.

Hi Kathy, the IPA I think refers to my post on http://oralcancersupport.org/forums...;Main=15045&Number=165106#Post165106 where ChrisN and I digress on to the changes in our taste buds having developed a greater likeing for bitter tastes. IPA is a very hoppy flavoured beer which gives it a bitter taste. India Pale Ale was an export beer developed for Brits in India in the days of the Empire and extra hops were used to help it through the long journey by sailing ships. Hops have a lot of antibcteria propeties, so I am sure they are healthy and good for us too! Sally

I drink an occasional beer, and find the darker types, unfiltered, even stout, has less carbonation and more taste as opposed to Light beer or other types. I cook with beer, so I keep it on hand lol. Wine I stay away unless I cook with or make sangria. Hard liquor I stay away from too and tends to burn my mouth.

Now this is my kinda thread: beer talk, lol...if I had a dollar for every IPA I ever tried...love the stuff, or rather I did: taste buds still awol or just wonky.

Oh no, imagine if now I only liked another type of ale post treatment? Yikes, just think of all the research I'd need to find the perfect pint! Wouldn't that be awful? hehehe

To answer the Jim Carey question, oh yeah. At home, in the car, in the shower, at the dentist...

Look forward to your beer research. I am thouroghly enjoying mine! Sally

I celebrate both the day I was Dx'ed and the day I finished that horrid Tx. Why not, I deserve two days!!!

I also loved beer as opposed to "hard" liquor pre Dx and most nights I have my favorite beer (one) pre dinner. Ice House.

Congratulations on the 6 month mark!

A non medicated way to help with nasal congestion is the use of Breathe Rights. They can take some getting used to but they enabled Eric to breathe with his mouth closed there fore helping a mite with the dry mouth.

Good luck...and cheers!

Last weekend I able to sneak away to fine local establishment and watch my favorite local Reggae band. The bar had an IPA on tap going under the brand Strong. After ordering one, I can report good news, some of my taste buds have returned and I can say definitively, that IPA taste as bad after chemo/radiation as it did before chemo/radiation.

I sorry but, just because some drunken Brits found that extra hops prevented beer from becoming rancid when held in a ship hull for weeks at sweltering hot temperatures, does not mean this swill is at all tolerable or enjoyable. I can honestly say when given a choice between any IPA and the locally produced beer market under the name King Starr made in Zhengzhou China made from, who knows what, and served at Aloft hotel barbeque, I would order King Starr. And I will next week.

Also, my TMJ was not great before the �fun started�, it certainly is not any better now. Has anyone found improvement after seeking professional help? Also what was it that actually helped?

Make sure the TMJ is not due to dental issue - if you are drinking beer you could probably manage a (gentle) dental cleaning.

Heinen's has GL Smokey Porter on tap - I picked up a growler of it last week and am really enjoying it.

Maria

I had TMJ before treatment, my jaw would often crack when opening my mouth, had tinitus too, still do, but never diagnosed nor seeked treatmrnt then or now. Have you been diagnosed with it, could be something else as Maria suggested, trismus too. Maybe Accupressure may help if it is, PT, massage, acupuncture?

I tried many beers in my past life, got tired of the flavored ones, and like a good lager beer mostly, American, German, Chinese, Thai, Mexican, polish, Korean, Russian. I'll drink anything I guess lol. Although, Belgium ones are good, like lambic, almost like champagne, but not an all nighter. Samuel Adams makes a few special brews.

I was at the dentist just last month. I am currently seeing him every three months. Teeth are in good shape, no issues. I don't have a clicking problem in my TMJ. Its a muscle stretching pain, and it is on both sides, but more on cancer side. I have the therabite system. It stretch it out very well, but boy does it hurt. I stopped a week ago to give it a break. I have a call in to the pain management clinic at the hospitol. I will let you know how it pans out.

Hi Sally, just noticed u r a fellow Scot! I left Edinburgh in 98 to travel and met the wife in NE Ohio thereafter...been here ever since! My oh my do I miss the patter of the pubs, nevermind a Deuchars or Caley 80. Hope u r well and those new Trams r finally running lol

Hi hockey dad, my neck and face was so sore after treatment. I found great relief from a head and neck physical therapist. She helped with the lymph edema and the stiffness in my neck.

Good luck to you and I hope you have more good days than bad.
Allyson

[quote=shortconnery]Hi Sally, just noticed u r a fellow Scot! I left Edinburgh in 98 to travel and met the wife in NE Ohio thereafter...been here ever since! My oh my do I miss the patter of the pubs, nevermind a Deuchars or Caley 80. Hope u r well and those new Trams r finally running lol [/quote]
Hi Shortconnery, well you are missing some great new beers here, though Deuchars is still going strong. Edinburgh roads have been blighted by roadworks since 2007 and still no trams running yet! What a fiasco. Sally

Just had my 7 mo check up. RO said every thing looks good, see you in 2 Months. The next day my ENT took a look and said neck and throat look good, but I want to sample a small pimple on Floor of mouth. He said is probably nothing but he is going to sample anything and everything he sees. He numbed it up and cut it out. Its less than a mm. ARGH........ Results Tuesday'ish.

I do have pain when I push up under my chin on the left/cancer side. The pain has been there every since treatment. The pain is sometimes more sometimes less. Now its the only pain remaining so its the worst one. It feels better when I strech it, so I strech is all the time. I also had the lymph node removed on that side. I can't tell what it is.

Any of you fellow BOT'er seen this.

Thank God for diligent physicians. They are what has kept me on earth these past number of years. I have had more biopsies than I can count, and yes, I worry like crazy about every single one of them, but each time they take one I am very pleased that they did. I would much rather be safe than sorry.

So worry if you must (it won't help a dang thing) but more than anything give thanks for a great doctor. Cancer caught early has options, and your doctor is making sure you are in that position.

Good luck - keep us posted.

Donna

Biopsy back, Benign, not cancer. Nothing to see here, move along. I will take it. To all, Happy 4th and many more.

Great news! Happy 4th.

YES!!!!!

GET OUTTA HERE!!!!

Fantastic news on the biopsy. Nobody wants to face the beast again.
[quote]I do have pain when I push up under my chin on the left/cancer side. The pain has been there every since treatment. The pain is sometimes more sometimes less. Now its the only pain remaining so its the worst one. It feels better when I strech it, so I strech is all the time. I also had the lymph node removed on that side. I can't tell what it is.[/quote] I have something similar. Under back of chin, near back of lower jawbone. It is the only pain I have too now and I can get it give me an ouchie if I make a big yawn as that is stretching those muscles/tissues back under there. I am wondering if it just happens to be an area where they loaded on the radiation rays and that it is still healing or if scarred does that allow pain? Just curious too.

Yipppeeee!!!!

Congrats on the great news!!!!