Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
#97307 06-13-2009 09:50 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 54
Supporting Member (50+ posts)
OP Offline
Supporting Member (50+ posts)

Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 54
After 1 week of IMRT told to stop talking because voice almost gone. I was shocked at how fast I was affected. Since I'm 350 miles from home, I save it too talk to my husband every evening for a few minutes.

My daughter is my caregiver. She is a 2x Hodgkin's survivor and 4 weeks rad treatments. She's here from England and we're staying with my sister and her husband. Its a real family affair.

Only 26 more treatments to go. I've stopped producing saliva on the side of my cancer. That leaves me a really dry tongue, cheek and throat. Dry, dry, dry. Drink, drink, drink. Sucks, sucks, sucks.






















Sweetpea
********
2/09 MEC Rt Submandibular Gland,Tumor Exc,age 68; 4/09 Rt Neck Resect, Excise Rt Lingual Nerve, 10 nodes; 1 month later- Lge Abscess Drained 5/09; 4 more cancers, final path report; 6/09 IMRTx33
Sweetpea #97317 06-14-2009 12:20 AM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,844
Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Offline
Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)

Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,844
Sweetpea, it does suck and I'm sorry you are having a rough go of it. I had to whisper for the better part of 3 months and like you lost the glands on the side of my tumor. Hang in there though, you can do this, if I did it you sure can.

I'll tell you this though, after treatments it does get better. I chew gum and have a spray that helps keep my mouth nice and moist (both Biotene). Just keep applying the aloe moisturizers to the radiated area, keep the lip balm flowing and you'll do fine.

Keep you chin up soldier, I'm pullin for you!

Eric


Young Frack, SCC T4N2M0, Cisplatin,35+ rads,ND, RT Mandiblectomy w fibular free flap, facial paralysis, "He who has a "why" to live can bear with almost any "how"." -Nietzche "WARNING" PG-13 due to Sarcasm & WAY too much attitude, interact at your own risk.
EricS #97420 06-15-2009 08:53 PM
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 104
Senior Member (100+ posts)
Offline
Senior Member (100+ posts)

Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 104
How's your voice now? Was that a temp thing, or is it pretty gone for good during treatment (of course you can't foretell the future...)?


GM, for John who has SCC Rt tonsil with 3+ nodes, Stage T1 N2b MX; surgery 04/09; Rad X 33 completed 7/14/09...f/u imaging and scopes looking good as of Feb 2011
mgmichael #97436 06-16-2009 07:00 AM
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 8,311
Senior Patient Advocate
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Offline
Senior Patient Advocate
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)

Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 8,311
My wife tells me that was the best part of my Tx. I wonder what she means by that?


David

Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
davidcpa #97442 06-16-2009 07:29 AM
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 148
Senior Member (100+ posts)
Offline
Senior Member (100+ posts)

Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 148
I lost my voice periodically during treatments but usually only for a day or two at a time. Completely concur with your last paragraph!


Bill . . . SCC - originated in right tonsil, drifted into neck ( 28 lymph nodes removed - one positive ). Radical neck dissection in September 07, completed 34 radiation tx on January 4, 2008. Used Peg. Non smoker, 61, good shape, no previous health issues. Second year PET scan - "all clear".
William1949 #97444 06-16-2009 07:57 AM
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 666
"Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Offline
"Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)

Joined: May 2007
Posts: 666
I also lost my voice for a time, it was not so much loosing it as it hurt to talk. Still there were notepads and hand signals..... (so I am told)

What helped me temporarily was viscous lidocaine, although I only needed that later on. It seems you are quite sensitive to the radiation to get these effects that early. Make sure you have adequate pain control lined up.

M



Partial glossectomy (25%) anterior tongue. 4/6/07/. IMRT start @5/24/07 (3x) Erbitux start/end@ 5/24/07. IMRT wider field (30x) start 6/5/07. Weekly cisplatin (2x30mg/m2), then weekly carbo- (5x180mg/m2). End of Tx 19 July 07.
mgmichael #97448 06-16-2009 09:10 AM
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 507
"Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Offline
"Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)

Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 507
GM,
My voice loss was temporary for a day or two. It came and went, off and during the last couple weeks of Tx and first week after.

For me it was not painful.


Don
TXN2bM0 Stage IVa SCC-Occult Primary
FNA 6/6/08-SCC in node<2cm
PET/CT 6/19/08-SCC in 2nd node<1cm
HiRes CT 6/21/08
Exploratory,Tonsillectomy(benign),Right SND 6/23/08
PEG 7/3/08-11/6/08
35 TomoTherapy 7/16/08-9/04/08 No Chemo
Clear PET/CT 11/15/08, 5/15/09, 5/28/10, 7/8/11

DonB #97484 06-16-2009 07:32 PM
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 104
Senior Member (100+ posts)
Offline
Senior Member (100+ posts)

Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 104
David, ha ha!


GM, for John who has SCC Rt tonsil with 3+ nodes, Stage T1 N2b MX; surgery 04/09; Rad X 33 completed 7/14/09...f/u imaging and scopes looking good as of Feb 2011
mgmichael #97528 06-17-2009 12:01 PM
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 54
Supporting Member (50+ posts)
OP Offline
Supporting Member (50+ posts)

Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 54
My voice is down to a whisper. Saw Dr yesterday and it is probably gone for the duration. Mouth doesn't look too good and very hard too swallow. Feel like my throat and larynx have been scorched. Starting on magic mouthwash. I probably shouldn't take up fire swallowing.


Sweetpea
********
2/09 MEC Rt Submandibular Gland,Tumor Exc,age 68; 4/09 Rt Neck Resect, Excise Rt Lingual Nerve, 10 nodes; 1 month later- Lge Abscess Drained 5/09; 4 more cancers, final path report; 6/09 IMRTx33

Link Copied to Clipboard
Top Posters
ChristineB 10,507
davidcpa 8,311
Cheryld 5,260
EzJim 5,260
Brian Hill 4,912
Newest Members
Jina, VintageMel, rahul320, Sean916, Megm37
13,103 Registered Users
Forum Statistics
Forums23
Topics18,166
Posts196,921
Members13,103
Most Online458
Jan 16th, 2020
OCF Awards

Great Nonprofit OCF 2023 Charity Navigator OCF Guidestar Charity OCF

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5