Lymphatic massage - get permission from your dr. definitely then wait. Personally I would wait until all rads and chemo are done... why? Well frankly I am paranoid maybe. When I first heard about it my concern was, if there is still some microscopic cancer in my head do I really want to encourage the movement of that fluid throughout my body??? So I waited until after rads and chemo were done, my neck had healed (though frankly I had no blistering or redness... mostly I just tanned there) then I started it. After researching recurrence rates related to lyphatic massage. (there was no correlation between lymphatic massage use and increase in recurrence). But as I said I would wait until the chemo and rads have had a chance to do their jobs.

Foods, acidic and irritating foods cause swelling. stick to soft non acidic foods but some that require tongue movement and manipulation. Movement of your tongue should help decrease it. Go for a walk, a few times a day, try yoga, maybe some cardio (went to the gym up to week three.)

Sleep- on the bad side. helps compress the area.

I was exactly like you... went to physio for my shoulder asap, up to about week three of rads, then started again about three weeks after treatment finished.

Now I am at about 98% though I think I slept on it wrong a few days ago so it feels like it used to a few years ago when I had a pulled rotator cuff. :oP

take care!!!