| | Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 50 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | OP  Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 50 | It's still killing me. I truly hope I just irritated my tongue. I'm 2 months out of radiation. Doesnt this seem really unlikely.
Large sore on right side tongue. Had for 3 mos. biopsied came back stage 2 well differentiated tongue cancer. Partial tongue removal and neck disect. On feb142012. Rads for 6weeks finished in June. Couldn't speak or eat for 5 months. Clear pet scan dec 2012. Former smoker hpv- 27male. Recent ENT visit said "as far as I can tell you're cured" 💗
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | It does not sound like anything you need to be worried about. Sounds like you just hurt yourself eating which is very easy to do when relearning to eat again.
PS.... It would greatly help to respond to your questions by using your signature as a guide. Please add one. Thanks!
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive  | | | | | Joined: Aug 2011 Posts: 596 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2011 Posts: 596 | I'm glad that your appointment is Monday and hopefully you mind will be set at ease. Best of luck, my friend.
P.S. I like your OCF handle...Winteriscoming...
37 y/o fem at Dx (23 wks preg @ dx on 3/16/11)
SCC L oral tongue (no risk factors)
L partial gloss/MND 3/28/11 @ 25 wks preg
T1-2N0M0; no rads/chemo
Tonsillectomy on 8/6/12 +SCC L tonsil T2-3N1M0 (HPV-)
Treated with 35 rads/7 carbo & taxol (Rx ended 10/31/12), but many hospitalizations d/t complications from rx.
Various scans since rx ended are NED!
Part of genetic study for rare cancers @ MGH.
44 years old now...I wasn't sure I would make it! Hoping for 40 more!
| | | | | Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 267 Gold Member (200+ posts) | | Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 267 | I'm sorry you're so worried. My tongue was a mess at two months out from radiation. Still is sometimes. The tissue is so sensitive in there and it seems really likely that you just irritated or injured it somehow.
Tracy - 33 at diagnosis
SCC right ventral tongue Dx 4/11.
T1N2M0
1st resection 5/11.
Bilateral neck dissection: 2 pos nodes
2nd resection w/graft 6/11.
Erbitux x 11 completed 9/11. IMRT x 30 completed 8/11.
3 month MRI and PET/CT all clear.
6, 9, 12 and 24 month post treatment MRIs all clear.
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 50 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | OP Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 50 | Saw my oncologist. She said no way could it have come back this quickly, took a look, said it was surface irritation and even if it doesn't heal in a week that if I come back we will ONLY be looking at ways to heal it. Thank god.
Still have that little voice in my head saying "it still could be" but I'm ignoring it. It would be easier if it just healed.
Have anyone of you injured your tongue post treatment and it took a while to heal?
Large sore on right side tongue. Had for 3 mos. biopsied came back stage 2 well differentiated tongue cancer. Partial tongue removal and neck disect. On feb142012. Rads for 6weeks finished in June. Couldn't speak or eat for 5 months. Clear pet scan dec 2012. Former smoker hpv- 27male. Recent ENT visit said "as far as I can tell you're cured" 💗
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2011 Posts: 945 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2011 Posts: 945 | Really glad to hear your good news. It just takes radiated tissue longer to heal, and you are certainly not alone with this problem!
CG to husband - SCC Tonsil T1N2M0 HPV+ Never Smoker
First symptoms 7/2010, DX 12/2010
TX 40 IRMT (1.8 gy) + 10 Cetuximab
PET Scans 6/2011 + 3/2012 clear, 5 year physical exam clear; chest CT's clear of cancer. On thyroid pills. Life is good.
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 | WIC
Great news. RELAX. That little voice in your head is wrong.
I have not heard of anybody who has had radiation to their tongue , healing fast if they get an injury post treatment. Radiation is the gift that keeps on giving. It will always take irradiated tissue longer to heal.
Charm
65 yr Old Frack
Stage IV BOT T3N2M0 HPV 16+
2007:72GY IMRT(40) 8 ERBITUX No PEG
2008:CANCER BACK Salvage Surgery
25GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin
Apaghia /G button
2012: CANCER BACK -left tonsilar fossa
40GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin
Passed away 4-29-13
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2011 Posts: 78 Likes: 1 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2011 Posts: 78 Likes: 1 | The progress as you get out from radiation is painfully slow in my experience. I had a little ulcer on the back side of my tongue for almost 4 mos. It was horribly painful!! I am not sure exactly when it went away, but around 5-6 mos out- it was gone & I felt great!!! I swear in those first months it could have taken a feather to cause another sore!! Time is your friend in the healing process! That little voice- we all know it well!! Keep it around as our instincts a great defense, but hopefully you can silence it for now as the experts have been in there to quash your worries.
Here's to healing!!
Sally, 38 years old
T1N0M0 Left Tongue Lesion, Moderately Differentiated
10 + year history Leukoplakia, Mild Dysplasia before cancer diagnosis 8/2011
Scheduled Partial Glossectomy & Neck Dissection 9-17-11
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 50 Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | OP Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 50 | Thank you so much. I'm afraid I'm going to be a nut job until it goes away. How did you survive 4 months?!
Why does it take so long to heal after radiation?
Large sore on right side tongue. Had for 3 mos. biopsied came back stage 2 well differentiated tongue cancer. Partial tongue removal and neck disect. On feb142012. Rads for 6weeks finished in June. Couldn't speak or eat for 5 months. Clear pet scan dec 2012. Former smoker hpv- 27male. Recent ENT visit said "as far as I can tell you're cured" 💗
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 3,082 | WIC
The technical answer is that radiation damages not only the cancer cells but also healthy skin and tongue. According to the National Cancer Institute at NIH (National Institute of Health)
[quote]Slow healing and infection are indirect complications of cancer treatment. Both chemotherapy and radiation therapy can stop cells from dividing and slow the healing process in the mouth. Chemotherapy may decrease the number of white blood cells and weaken the immune system (the organs and cells that fight infection and disease). This makes it easier to get an infection.[/quote]
Unfortunately, this means that the your tongue can't heal normally.
Charm
65 yr Old Frack
Stage IV BOT T3N2M0 HPV 16+
2007:72GY IMRT(40) 8 ERBITUX No PEG
2008:CANCER BACK Salvage Surgery
25GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin
Apaghia /G button
2012: CANCER BACK -left tonsilar fossa
40GY-CyberKnife(5) 3 Carboplatin
Passed away 4-29-13
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