I finished Chemo and Radiation last week...... the burning on my tongue has driven back to pain meds which I hadn't taken since the first week or so of treatment..... this has me nervous that maybe the cancer has come back.... the doctor seemed optomisted, but in my mind I am forgetting exactly how the first pain from the cancer was..... I thinkI'm just nervous as assuming the worst... although up until the past few days I have been pretty hopeful and optomistic..... how long does this post radiation / chemo pain of mucositis last? My neck is doing well.... a large blister was about to form a few weeks ago.. but lots of lotion and I've headed it off I think... still lotioning up the area a few times a day. Thanks for any responses.... Julie :))

Julie, congrats on finishing treatments. It is usually 2 or 3 weeks before you begin to feel better. Try rinsing your mouth several times per day with a salt, baking soda and water mixture. It will help your mouth heal. Also try magic mouthwash, swish that in yoru mouth about 20 seconds and then spit. That will numb your mouth for a short while. Magic mouthwash is a prescription medication which has several options, mine was lidocaine, benedryl and malox.

We all have the fear of a recurrance. After going thru chemo and radiation treatments its only natural to be afraid that your cancer will come back. Its very tramautic going thru tx. Please allow yourself to rest and heal without worrying too much.

Best wishes with everything. Let the healing begin!!!!

Thanks Christina.....

Julie,

I was like you. I had ulcers that didnt heal for 3 weeks and i was so sure it was a new cancer that has developed. Well now i'm into my 6th week and that persistent ulcer is still there but starting to get better. The fear of cancer reoccurrence is with me everyday still so you are not alone. Take one day at a time and hopefully that strategy will get you through the next few weeks before you start to see improvements. Finishing TX is such a momentous occasion, we expect to feel better right away and when we dont we start to stress that its cancer reoccurence. As you can see fron everyone's posts, it takes months and even years before we start to feel good.

Minh