I finished treatment (radiation/ chemo) late October 2019. I experienced a lot of pain prior to treatment that was treated with hydromorphone which helped. During treatment, a combination of slow release hydromorphone and lyrica kept pain well managed. Around Christmas 2019, jaw pain flared back up - apparently due to swelling caused by radiation necrosis. The pain was treated with increased dose of hydromorphone and lyrica. Around March, I started to gradually reduce hydromorphone and then lyrica. Totally off pain meds now and no real pain - i have some residual trismus - but no pain unless i try to force my jaw open.


Preliminary diagnosis of SqCC at base of tongue August 2, 2019.
Biopsy surgery on August 15
Confirmed sqcc from biopsy Aug 20 - hpv type 16
33 radiation treatments ended October 25, 2019.
3 (large dose) cisplatin treatments.