I'm not sure how similar our treatments were. My surgery did not use a laser and they removed about 1/6 of my tongue. The intense pain only lasted for about a week and the swelling lasted around a month. Is it possible for your doctors to give you something else for your pain? Maybe a different medicine would have fewer negative side effects for you. I'm sorry you're having such a hard time. I hope it improves for you soon.


Tracy - 33 at diagnosis
SCC right ventral tongue Dx 4/11.
T1N2M0
1st resection 5/11.
Bilateral neck dissection: 2 pos nodes
2nd resection w/graft 6/11.
Erbitux x 11 completed 9/11. IMRT x 30 completed 8/11.
3 month MRI and PET/CT all clear.
6, 9, 12 and 24 month post treatment MRIs all clear.