My cancer has returned (again) with a growing nodule under my chin and one on my right collar bone.
I've now had 3 nodules removed on my right side since my major surgery last year and in a couple of weeks I'm having another neck dissection (this time on the right side),and radiotherapy in the new year.
My Oncologist tells me that due to the position of the reoccurrence under my chin the radiotherapy will involve some cross-over area of treatment from my previous radiotherapy (left neck/cheek area) in the autumn of 2011.This, he says, could cause severe side effects whereby the cells/tissue could 'die'or/and an artery could 'explode' ultimately leading to me having a hole or holes in my neck,anything upto 12 months after the treatment has finished.He brought up the figure of a 5% chance of this happening, but also said some severe side effects are up to 20%.
Last winter I lived through all of the fatigue,intermittant sleep,inability to swallow,mouth/throat mucus etc etc and knew I'd have to go through that all again. . . but I wasn't expecting this.
Wondered if anyone has any insight into the odds concerned,or indeed the side effects mentioned.