Unfortunately, cancer can recurr at anytime, although not common in several weeks, or can be reminiscent, but the symptoms may just as well be treatment related, and as the doctor said, the morning swelling can be from the lymph fluid pooling. I sleep on an incline, which I find helpful. I'm almost 4 years out from radiation, 3 years from my first neck dissection, and still have swelling, more so on the most radiated right side, and under chin. Everyone is different, had different Tx, and it's not easily understood why some have lympdemia while others don't, but it's not uncommon. Some do PT, have manual lymphatic drainage massage, which may help prevent fibrosis, but check with your doctors first. I had so many recurrences I wasn't letting anyone play around with my neck, except my ENT.

Good luck with the MRI. The majority of post treatment scans at three months are clear of cancer.


10/09 T1N2bM0 Tonsil
11/09 Taxo Cisp 5-FU, 6 Months Hosp
01/11 35 IMRT 70Gy 7 Wks
06/11 30 HBO
08/11 RND PNI
06/12 SND PNI LVI
08/12 RND Pec Flap IORT 12 Gy
10/12 25 IMRT 50Gy 6 Wks Taxo Erbitux
10/13 SND
10/13 TBO/Angiograph
10/13 RND Carotid Remove IORT 10Gy PNI
12/13 25 Protons 50Gy 6 Wks Carbo
11/14 All Teeth Extract 30 HBO
03/15 Sequestromy Buccal Flap ORN
09/16 Mandibulectomy Fib Flap Sternotomy
04/17 Regraft hypergranulation Donor Site
06/17 Heart Attack Stent
02/19 Finally Cancer Free Took 10 yrs