| | Joined: Jun 2014 Posts: 13 Member | OP  Member
Joined: Jun 2014 Posts: 13 | Dad finished his radiation three months ago. His neck where lymphnode was removed is still somewhat swollen (swelling comes and goes down a little). He feels like he is swallowing stuff constantly and his stomach is really upset. Has anyone else experienced anything like this? I know that the outside of the neck was weeping for a long time till it healed. Does the inside of the throat weep as its healing?
robin
My dad age 62 lymphnodes in left cheek removed (two cancerous) chemo/radiation ended May 31, 2014
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2014 Posts: 286 "OCF Down Under" Gold Member (200+ posts) | | "OCF Down Under" Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2014 Posts: 286 | The inside of the throat does weep. A combination of dead skin cells, blood and other secretions are swallowed and can upset the stomach.
During recovery he should be regularly seeing a doctor to review symptoms and medications. A lot of the time its helpful to the recovery process to have a doctor look at what's going on just to tell you the recovery is proceeding as expected. When weird things are happening to your body its a relief to hear its all normal.
Certainly whenever there is a change in symptoms like you are seeing now, he should not hesitate to bring it to his doctor's attention.
Cheers, Dave (OzMojo) 19Feb2014 Diagnosed T2N2bM0 P16+ve SCC Tonsil. 31Mar2014 2 Cisplatin, 70gy over 7 weeks (completed 16May2014) 11August2014 PET/CT clear. 17July2019 5 years NED.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2014 Posts: 13 Member | | OP Member
Joined: Jun 2014 Posts: 13 | Thank you so much. We tried to contact his oncologist and nurse called back and said my dad so see his GP and if it's cancer related he can schedule appt. GP is nice but does'nt know and oncologist doesn't have openings for weeks.
robin
My dad age 62 lymphnodes in left cheek removed (two cancerous) chemo/radiation ended May 31, 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 | Recovering from rads can be a long road. A complete recovery can take a full 2 years post rads. Your father will have ups and downs with some setbacks from time to time during those 2 years. Most patients are doing much better about 4 or 5 months post rads with continued smaller improvements with fatigue, sense of taste and swallowing.
Does your father have a feeding tube? What type of things does your father eat or use in his feeding tube? It could be related to his food or maybe its acid reflux causing throat issues which in turn can even more stomach problems. Im 7 years post rads, 5 years post my third round of OC and have ongoing stomach problems. Im sick more days than Im not with no distinctive answers from my doctors. I do have to admit Im not the best with following this up. Please post if you find anything out about your fathers stomach problems.
Best wishes!
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: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 | At 3 months out, I would be concerned with infection. Please check your father's temp from time to time to rule that out. With platinum based chemo, it's not uncommon for the body temp to drop during treatment so what was a mild temp before may be more severe.
Also, excess production of stomach acid is something that can happen with radiation and with chemo. If that's what is going on, better to nip it in the bud.
I'm a bit concerned you are getting shuffled around so soon after treatment. Your father's oncology team should be insisting on seeing him for at least the first couple of years if not the first five. A GP won't have an idea where to go on many of the side effects. You should also be able to get in post haste with any issues at this point in recovery.
SCC Stage IV, BOT, T2N2bM0
Cisplatin/5FU x 3, 40 days radiation
Diagnosis 07/21/03 tx completed 10/08/03
Post Radiation Lower Motor Neuron Syndrome 3/08.
Cervical Spinal Stenosis 01/11
Cervical Myelitis 09/12
Thoracic Paraplegia 10/12
Dysautonomia 11/12
Hospice care 09/12-01/13.
COPD 01/14
Intermittent CHF 6/15
Feeding tube NPO 03/16
VFI 12/2016
ORN 12/2017
Cardiac Event 06/2018
Bilateral VFI 01/2021
Thoracotomy Bilobectomy 01/2022
Bilateral VFI 05/2022
Total Laryngectomy 01/2023
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,291 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2013 Posts: 1,291 Likes: 1 | Hi Robyn,
Telling your Dad to go see a GP for something almost certainly related to treatment is just wrong. It is not like he is complaining about his hand that got slammed into the car doorjam. A GP is not experienced with dealing with post treatment symptoms.
Since he had both chemo and rads, you got two offices to go to and demand an appt right away. Either the MO or RO should deal with this.
Good luck,
Don
Don Male, 57 - Great health except C Dec '12 DX: BOT SCC T2N2bMx, Stage 4a, HPV+, multiple nodes 1 tooth out Jan '13 2nd tooth out Tumor Board -induction TPF (3 cycles), seq CRT 4-6/2013 CRT 70gr 2x35, weekly carbo150 ended 5/29,6/4 All the details, join at http://beatdown.cognacom.com | | | | | Joined: Jun 2013 Posts: 32 Likes: 1 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | | Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2013 Posts: 32 Likes: 1 | I am almost 3 months post-treatment and have stomach issues as well (that no one can figure out). I even posted about this before. Its gotten better to some degree but still going on. A few things to consider: constipation, acid reflux, Cdiff (infection) and ?tube feeds/food sensitivity. I did not have a PEG but drank only Boost VHC for almost 3 months and I think some of my issues were due to the soy or dairy protein in it. I got some relief just from eliminating the Boost. And agree with everyone else here; all sxs at this point should be considered cancer or treatment related, and should be dealt with by the oncologist. Good luck; I hope he feels better soon.
Laurie
42 yo
Pediatrician
No smoke, social drink, HPV neg
May 2013 - SCC Right lateral oral tongue - stage 1 (T1N0M0)
Partial hemiglossectomy and sentinel node bx NEG
NED 5/29/13
3/2014 - Cancer back (never gone) in one right sided cervical node
Modified neck dissection 3/2014, N1 with microscopic ECE,39 nodes neg
30 Rads and 2 cisplatin done June 13!
PET in 3-4 months but no clinical cancer and I'll take it!
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 | Laurie, I'm confused why no one can figure out your stomach problems. There are a finite number of things it can be and almost all are manageable.
SCC Stage IV, BOT, T2N2bM0
Cisplatin/5FU x 3, 40 days radiation
Diagnosis 07/21/03 tx completed 10/08/03
Post Radiation Lower Motor Neuron Syndrome 3/08.
Cervical Spinal Stenosis 01/11
Cervical Myelitis 09/12
Thoracic Paraplegia 10/12
Dysautonomia 11/12
Hospice care 09/12-01/13.
COPD 01/14
Intermittent CHF 6/15
Feeding tube NPO 03/16
VFI 12/2016
ORN 12/2017
Cardiac Event 06/2018
Bilateral VFI 01/2021
Thoracotomy Bilobectomy 01/2022
Bilateral VFI 05/2022
Total Laryngectomy 01/2023
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2013 Posts: 32 Likes: 1 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | | Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2013 Posts: 32 Likes: 1 | Oh....often stomach problems can't be figured out. So I wasnt very surprised by that. However the good news is that Im all better! All sxs resolved. Appetite now great, taste improving and stomach pain gone. I think it was just a transitional phase after the treatment -- feel like it just did a number on me in so many ways including this one. I also think the VHC Boost I drank for 3 months played a role. Anyway just glad to be better
Laurie
42 yo
Pediatrician
No smoke, social drink, HPV neg
May 2013 - SCC Right lateral oral tongue - stage 1 (T1N0M0)
Partial hemiglossectomy and sentinel node bx NEG
NED 5/29/13
3/2014 - Cancer back (never gone) in one right sided cervical node
Modified neck dissection 3/2014, N1 with microscopic ECE,39 nodes neg
30 Rads and 2 cisplatin done June 13!
PET in 3-4 months but no clinical cancer and I'll take it!
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2013 Posts: 32 Likes: 1 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | | Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2013 Posts: 32 Likes: 1 | Oh....often stomach problems can't be figured out. So I wasnt very surprised by that. However the good news is that Im all better! All sxs resolved. Appetite now great, taste improving and stomach pain gone. I think it was just a transitional phase after the treatment -- feel like it just did a number on me in so many ways including this one. I also think the VHC Boost I drank for 3 months played a role. Anyway just glad to be better
Laurie
42 yo
Pediatrician
No smoke, social drink, HPV neg
May 2013 - SCC Right lateral oral tongue - stage 1 (T1N0M0)
Partial hemiglossectomy and sentinel node bx NEG
NED 5/29/13
3/2014 - Cancer back (never gone) in one right sided cervical node
Modified neck dissection 3/2014, N1 with microscopic ECE,39 nodes neg
30 Rads and 2 cisplatin done June 13!
PET in 3-4 months but no clinical cancer and I'll take it!
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