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Alpaca Offline OP
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I'm recovering from a horrible cold: sore throat, runny nose, cold sore, dry mouth from breathing through it. On my bad side I've had two selective neck dissections and at the moment that side of my neck is tender with one palpable node about the size of a smooth little pea. It's between my ear and collarbone but ironically I can't feel it right now!

I thought I'd give it a month to go down and ring the hospital if it doesn't subside. I'm not anxious, I'm really not, but I feel puzzled about the situation with nodes when we get a virus. I mean how does the lymphatic system work when we get sick when lots of its usual holding stations have gone?

How do other people cope with colds when the mouth is already dry and you can't breathe through your nose?


1996, ovarian cancer surgery + cisplatin and taxol.
September, 2007, SCC of left lateral tongue. Excision.
October, 2009 recurrence in scar tissue, T1NOMO. Free flap surgery from left wrist - neck dissection. 63 year old New Zealander. No chemo, no RT.
February, 2014. New primary in left buccal mucosa. Marginal mandibulectomy, neck dissection, right arm free forearm flap. T1N0M0 but third occurrence and some areas of concern: RT started 8 April and finished 19 May.
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Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
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Sorry for your troubles. If anything unusual or symptom doesn't go away in 2-3 weeks, if should be looked into by a doctor. I had a number of different palpable pea sized nodes through the years, and non nodes, that I went to my oncologist or ENT in less time than that, which were biopsied by FNAB. Hopefully it's just that, a reaction to the cold, and a good sign it can no longer be felt.

Good luck.


10/09 T1N2bM0 Tonsil
11/09 Taxo Cisp 5-FU, 6 Months Hosp
01/11 35 IMRT 70Gy 7 Wks
06/11 30 HBO
08/11 RND PNI
06/12 SND PNI LVI
08/12 RND Pec Flap IORT 12 Gy
10/12 25 IMRT 50Gy 6 Wks Taxo Erbitux
10/13 SND
10/13 TBO/Angiograph
10/13 RND Carotid Remove IORT 10Gy PNI
12/13 25 Protons 50Gy 6 Wks Carbo
11/14 All Teeth Extract 30 HBO
03/15 Sequestromy Buccal Flap ORN
09/16 Mandibulectomy Fib Flap Sternotomy
04/17 Regraft hypergranulation Donor Site
06/17 Heart Attack Stent
02/19 Finally Cancer Free Took 10 yrs






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Maureen,

Have you tried using the Breathe Right strips that you can stick across the bridge of your nose? Footballers use it sometimes. Maybe it is worth trying -- a non-medical solution.


Gloria
She stood in the storm, and when the wind did not blow her way, she adjusted her sails... Elizabeth Edwards

Wife to John,dx 10/2012, BOT, HPV+, T3N2MO, RAD 70 gy,Cisplatinx2 , PEG in Dec 6, 2012, dx dvt in both legs after second chemo session, Apr 03/13 NED, July 2013 met to lungs, Phase 1 immunotherapy trial Jan 18/14 to July/14. Taxol/carboplatin July/14. Esophagus re-opened Oct 14. PEG out April 8, 2015. Phase 2 trial of Selinexor April to July 2015. At peace Jan 15, 2016.
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Maureen, Im sorry you are getting over being sick. Im not sure if this would apply to you or not but it could be helpful. I have permanent sinus damage from the radiation treatments. Its like I have a head cold every single day 24/7.

At night I take childrens liquid benedryl to help dry my sinuses but it also dries out my mouth at the same time so I have to be careful with how much I take. I also use the Breathe Right nasal strips on nights when my sinuses are really bad. They really do help.

Feel better smile


Christine
SCC 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 smile
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"OCF Down Under"
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Would a humidifier help?


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.
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Alpaca Offline OP
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Thanks people! I have never seen the nasal strips in the pharmacy but they are certainly available online here so I'll keep a stock for when I get a cold again. It's such a pleasure to be able to breathe through my nose once more:)


1996, ovarian cancer surgery + cisplatin and taxol.
September, 2007, SCC of left lateral tongue. Excision.
October, 2009 recurrence in scar tissue, T1NOMO. Free flap surgery from left wrist - neck dissection. 63 year old New Zealander. No chemo, no RT.
February, 2014. New primary in left buccal mucosa. Marginal mandibulectomy, neck dissection, right arm free forearm flap. T1N0M0 but third occurrence and some areas of concern: RT started 8 April and finished 19 May.
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,606
Likes: 2
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
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Christine, have you tried Ipratropium Bromide nasal spray? It shuts down the mucus production at the source. Benadryl or antihistamines can compound the problem and cause other issues, including creating more mucus from the dryness and sinus infections. Mine drain 100% of the time, too.


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: Dec 2010
Posts: 5,260
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"OCF Canuck"
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Nodes are funny, and yes if a bunch are gone I imagine the remaining ones have more work to do, so I'm thinking because you've been sick your swollen node might be a loner trying to clean up the mess and getting all bothered about it but it doesn't hurt to have it checked, hugs


Cheryl : Irritation - 2004 BX: 6/2008 : Inflam. BX: 12/10, DX: 12/10 : SCC - LS tongue well dif. T2N1M0. 2/11 hemigloss + recon. : PND - 40 nodes - 39 clear. 3/11 - 5/11 IMRT 33 + cis x2, PEG 3/28/11 - 5/19/11 3 head, 2 chest scans - clear(fingers crossed) HPV-, No smoke, drink, or drugs, Vegan

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