Back in September I had a brief flu-like viral infection, no ENT symptoms, just fever at night and chills.

Soon afterwards I have developed a sore throat that's been dragging now for eight weeks. I have some mucus in the throat and also some post-nasal drip. Have to clear my throat pretty often. Lymph nodes and thyroid are "normal", no lumps on the neck. Once in awhile I have a fleeting sensation of something stuck in my throat, always clears.

Saw a walk-in clinic doctor and two ENT specialists. Had Amoxicillin for ten days (did not help), then Amoxycillin and clav 875 mg for five or six days (did not help), was told by the ENT doctor #1 to switch to Clindamycin 300mg (taking it now for a second day). Also took Omeprazole 40 mg and tried to stick to a low-acidity diet (ENT doctor #2 thought it was GERD), it did not clear the throat either. (I never had acidic stomach, no heartburn).

Had two laryngoscopies, one regular, another one with video recording (Doctor #2). Told "looks like GERD", "no cancer", "no mass". Now she scheduled me for a video stroboscopy (of course I am worried).

I am not getting better and not getting worse. My throat is inflamed bilaterally. Pain is not that bad but quite annoying at this point . I have planned some travel for Christmas/New Year time now do not know what to do.

I smoked as a young man for 12 years, quit 34 years ago. A moderate drinker (5-8 drinks a week, usually wine). BP and cholesterol issues, taking meds, under control. An active hiker and jogger, retired recently.

I am new here. And it is my first forum. Would highly appreciate any advice you can give.

Hi Bad Kitty,

Welcome to OCF and I am so sorry to hear of your cancer and ongoing problems. As Chris noted, I had surgery and radiation about 5 years ago for stage 4 on my tongue. I had to learn to be very patient with radiation recovery. For reference, it took over a year before most flavors felt close to normal. Some, like sweets, I got back in a few weeks/months. Spices and complex flavors took much much longer.

As for swelling, infections, and pain, keep staying on top of it and communicating with your doctors. Find anything you can process best you can and focus on jamming calories. Mixing with a blender or Vitamix (think OCF gets a discount) can help. If you can not do liquids, which yours has gotten that bad, you should stay in close touch with your doctors and consider a PEG tube or nasal feeding tube. I had a nasal feeding tube after surgery. It was a pain but it worked.

I was fortunate and only had minor infections during radiation treatment and was able to keep processing food even though most of it tasted like dirt. I tracked my calories trying to hit at least 2000/day. I would give myself a small treat (favorite walk, favorite snack, etc) if I hit my numbers.

Please keep us up to date. Stay safe and keep the faith. Better days are ahead and we are with you.

Nels

My dad had his two mandiblectomies surgeries at Boston's Mass Eye and Ear. The surgeons who did his work teach at Harvard Medical School. Highly recommend if you want a second opinion. Dad's first one had an antibiotic resistant infection in the hardware, and then they discovered his cancer came back when they removed the hardware and scraped all the gunk off the bone. So, he had scapular one the second time. Now, he has to have his hardware removed because it's coming through his skin, but apparently that happens when you beat cancer in the long run. I wish you luck and that you find success in your treatments and know that you're not alone.

Hang in there Bad_Kitty,

I can't offer any advice, I have not been there, I can only express sympathy for your described suffering, as I have not had radiation. Hopefully Nels will be on here soon and see this as I know he has been down your path. I have not had radiation.

The infections complicate things even more, sorry you are experiencing that.

Regarding the PET and delaying the biopsy until after the PET, they may want to have it done so they can plan out biopsy locations.

Hopefully some of the stalwart veterans who have been through similar ringers as you are in now may have some tips.

Can you do ice chips or something like that? Or maybe consult with a pain management specialist? Or a palliative care specialist? (I just rechecked, and they don't just do terminal patients like my Dad, they do help people who are suffering immensly with curable diseases too).

My Dad's Palliative Care physician was an oncologist for many decades and finished out his career in palliative medicine, and he was a God send.

I hope you find some things that work for you and you can start to notice some improvements.

Sincerely,

Chris

just had my 2nd jaw plate surgery. first one broke? this one feels the same. hasnt felt normal since before original surgery in Jan.

Well the CT guided Fine Needle and Core Needle Biopsies of my Level 2 Right Axillary lymph node that was PET FDG avid (SUV 5.4 I think) was done.

I thought it went great. Cytotechnologist came down and looked at the FNA aspiration slides in near real time (with the introducer needle still in me, and still laying on the CT table).

Turns out the FNA needle got mostly all blood, some lymph tissue, but insufficient for characterization.

Core needle got all fibrous fatty tissue, not lymph tissue, also a non-starter for pathology.

So a bit of a set back, with more waiting. Its something like a 90% chance the PET avid lymph node is just reactive in my situation (maybe 99%), but would be nice to check that box off definitively and move on one way or another.

I reached back out to my regular ENT Oncology team to see if they need to re-order another attempt, or if Interventional Radiology would automatically call me to reschedule a second attempt.

I said I'd be happy for a 2nd attempt or an excisional biopsy if a surgeon thinks it's a good candidate all things considered.

Will update once there is some more progress/decisions.

This is my first post here, although I have been lurking since I was diagnosed. I am almost 3 months out from 35 rad treatments for SCC HPV+ of my tongue. I did not have chemo, as I was stage 1. Now, I am MISERABLE! I am in so much more pain now than I was during treatment. I am losing my mind, and was hoping you guys could give me some advice or direction.
About a month ago, my tongue started developing new ulcers and hurting more. My ear started hurting, and after a visit with the ENT he said it was referred pain from my tongue. By the end of that week my neck was swollen and painful to the touch, I couldn’t eat, I couldn’t talk, and it hurt just to swallow my own spit. Long story short, I was told I had a staph infection in my neck. I was on Augmentin for 17 days. My neck swelling reduced but the tongue ulcers grew together, and some kind of white covering has been taking over the area. The ENT says it’s a scab, and that scabs look very different in your mouth, but is still concerned by the way it is growing. They said I need a biopsy, but plan to wait until after my PET scan results. I am now on Doxycycline for another 10 days.
My scan is in 2 days, but the reading of results will be the next week. I don’t think I can make it that long!! I am in so much pain!! I don’t understand why we need to wait an extra week to do a biopsy. I was told not to take Advil anymore because it can create ulcers, but Advil was the only thing helping my inflammation! Tylenol and Tramadol don’t do anything to touch the pain. The other opioids make me vomit. I have been using so much viscous lidocaine and magic mouthwash that I’ve also been throwing up from swallowing so much. And of course the vomit hurts my mouth more. I also just feel really unwell, and my neck hurts. I use all my strength to just take my dog outside, and then I just lay in bed. I feel like I have been going to all of my different doctors ( oncologist, radiation oncologist, ENT, a second ENT, the hospital, urgent care) and nobody is actually helping me.
Has anyone had this kind of issue after treatment?? I don’t know what to do anymore, and I’m at the end of my rope. I feel so desperate for help. Does anyone have any advice? I don’t think I can make it one more week like this.

Hi All!

Long time, no talk. Dad's been doing well. It's been 5 years since his recurring cancer. Now, however, his hardware has started to come through his chin. Our surgeon tells us this is quite common when someone lives this long after having their mandibulectomy. They say he can either have surgery to have it removed, which will take about two hours and has the risk of damaging some nerves, or leave it poking out and take antibiotics every time it starts to get infected. Apparently some folks opt for the latter.

Did any of you experience this? Any thoughts? This will be dad's 4th surgery related to his oral cancer.

Interventional Radiology Imagery Guided Needly Biopsy Scheduled for Thu 10/30.

Here is hoping they are able to get good tissue samples and a definitive answer, not just a vague, "likely reactive". Of course I'd rather have the likely reactive conclusion. I've just heard of quite a few false negatives on the needle biopsies only for them to find things later.

Such is the nature of the beast, one step at a time.

Hopefully they can find them and get to them ok.

Will update once I get results.

Happy Halloween!

Howdy Folks,

Had my first PET/CT last month. Head and neck wise it looks decent, some uptake, but I guess that's common and usually just reactive (infectious / inflammatory) response from oral cavity and all the germs, and radiologist deemed "likely reactive".

The armpit lymph nodes are concerning to me.

Hoping to get scheduled for a fine needle biopsy here soon (would kind of like them excised out, but I guess that's a complicated surgery with significant risks and likely long term effects...).

With my micro invasive and small tumor no neck dissection or sentinel lymph nodes were taken.

Had a CT a year before, but this was my first PET.

Only mention of an actual spread from tongue eventually to armpit lymph nodes here on the forums comes from, Rest in Peace, Cindy721. That was like 4 years after her neck dissection and treatments, after she had a recurrence from much more advanced disease.

My concerns mostly lie with a second primary cancer.

Radiology at the CCC was supposed to be looking at the images to determine if a fine needle biopsy would be a good option. Has been a couple weeks and have not heard, so just "re-pinged" them tonight.

Very few instances of this kind of thing in the literature that I could find too.

Could just be reactive to a Vaccine a month prior, or a stupid yellow jacket sting.

I am itching to just get them biopsied.

Reading from Cindy's (RIP) accounts, it sounds like she had several experiences with false negatives on the fine needle aspirations, and insisted on excisional her last go around with them.

From what I've read on here, some folks are dead set against them, others seems to think when done well they are a reasonable initial step.

Has anyone experiences something similar? Or have any suggestions?

Thank you,

Chris

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HEAD AND NECK: Mild mucosal thickening in bilateral maxillary sinuses. Scattered
subcentimeter bilateral cervical lymph nodes in level IB, II and III with mild FDG
uptake, likely reactive.

CHEST:
Lymph Nodes: Several FDG avid right axillary lymph nodes, for example:
* 10 x 10 mm right axilla level 3 lymph node with SUV max 3.5 on image 133
* 15 x 7 mm right axilla level 2 lymph node with SUV max 5.7 on image 139


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