I did physical therapy, starting at a month out from surgery. I had to stop for about 2 weeks toward the end of radiation because my neck was too burned. But, during physical therapy I would do some different workouts and then finish with getting my neck massaged and my muscles in my neck stretched out - especially those muscles down around the collarbone area, because they always seemed to get super tight. I am 6 months out from the end of treatment and I still have some edema and I work on massaging it several times a day on my own. It's caused from a build up of the lymphatic fluid in your neck and my RO told me it can be caused from the surgery, or it can be caused from the radiation, and when you put both of them together, well, you get the point. He said it can take at least a year for the lymphatic system to open back up and start moving all the fluid again. Hope this helps some.
Stephanie, 23, SCC on the right side of my tongue, surgery on 5-19-08, over half my tongue removed, free flap constructed from my forearm, bilateral neck dissection, one positive node. Radiation (32) and chemo (carboplatin) started on 6-16-08. Recurrence 4/09 in lungs.
**** Stephanie passed away 12.15.09.... RIP our dear friend****
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