| | Joined: Aug 2011 Posts: 596 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | OP  "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2011 Posts: 596 | I am currently 19 days-post my last day of radiation. One of the nurse practitioners described this phase very well by calling it "Ground Hog Day". You wake up feeling the same day-after-day and keep waiting for something to break the monotony (or current cluster of symptoms) to change for the better. Well, I noticed that I sometimes experience left ear pain with a hard, more central swallow of water. Most of my swallows are shot down the right side (good side) by using a straw. I do small-to-moderate sips this way, with moderate-temperature water or gatorade. I, of course, intend to report this to my MO when I see her the week after next. I was just wondering if this is a typical occurrence for some. I know that radiation is such a damaging treatment modality and didn't know if this could secondary to scar tissue. Any thoughts you may have or shared experiences would be greatly appreciated.  Kerri
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: Nov 2012 Posts: 7 Member | | Member
Joined: Nov 2012 Posts: 7 | I still have some ear pain...mostly now when I press on the ear (as if to plug up my ears from noise) ...but I certainly remember after radiation I did have pain in the ear.
I'm told by others that the inner ear is affected by the rads...tender, red and can even have fluid on it ...my primary even said to me one time soon after rads that my ears inside were red / inflamed.
Good to report it all the same....no doctor here but I think you will find it is post rads normal
Best,
Tim
Tim Cogdill
Base of Tongue Stage III w/ 1 lymph node SCC HPV +
DX October 2011
Last Radiation January 2012
Most Recent Scans have been NED
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2011 Posts: 596 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | OP "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2011 Posts: 596 |
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: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,264 Likes: 5 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,264 Likes: 5 | I swear because I'm required then cooked I there I sometimes get what I have drunk in my ear canal. Not kidding...  hugs your almost there - things will get better.
Cheryl : Irritation - 2004 BX: 6/2008 : Inflam. BX: 12/10, DX: 12/10 : SCC - LS tongue well dif. T2N1M0. 2/11 hemigloss + recon. : PND - 40 nodes - 39 clear. 3/11 - 5/11 IMRT 33 + cis x2, PEG 3/28/11 - 5/19/11 3 head, 2 chest scans - clear(fingers crossed) HPV-, No smoke, drink, or drugs, Vegan
| | | | | 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 | You will experience two steps forward and one step back for the next couple months. Very soon the good days will outnumber the bad ones.
Hang in there!
Last edited by ChristineB; 11-20-2012 06:57 AM.
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: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,264 Likes: 5 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,264 Likes: 5 | Okay seriously I have to learn to proof read. Let me reiterate... all those canals are connected... throat, ears, etc... I have been rewired aka surgery (not required) then cooked... aka rads... so have you... this being the case nothing in there is normal. You are likely still red and sore in there... chances are your ear canals are too. I do get fluid in my ear canal when I drink sometimes... bizarre but true. ;o)
Cheryl : Irritation - 2004 BX: 6/2008 : Inflam. BX: 12/10, DX: 12/10 : SCC - LS tongue well dif. T2N1M0. 2/11 hemigloss + recon. : PND - 40 nodes - 39 clear. 3/11 - 5/11 IMRT 33 + cis x2, PEG 3/28/11 - 5/19/11 3 head, 2 chest scans - clear(fingers crossed) HPV-, No smoke, drink, or drugs, Vegan
| | | | | Joined: Aug 2011 Posts: 596 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | OP "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2011 Posts: 596 |
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!
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