| | Joined: May 2013 Posts: 63 "OCF Kiwi Down Under" Supporting Member (50+ posts) | OP  "OCF Kiwi Down Under" Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: May 2013 Posts: 63 | Hi everyone,
I'm now 5.5 months post surgery and nearly 3 months post radiation/chemo treatment finishing. About 10 days ago I started getting a bit of a cold and noticed a swollen lymph node on my left side (neck dissection was on the right side). Thought it was just related to the cold.
The cold never eventuated and I've been feeling normal except the swollen node is still there, maybe even slightly larger, and I've got a sore throat on the inside kind of equivalent to where the node is.
I'm going to call the doctor on Monday to get it checked out but it would be lovely to hear some of your experiences with things like this - good or bad!
Thanks,
Mel.
39yr old female, DX BOT SCC Stage IVA (T1N2bM0) HPV+
28 May 13 - Pharangoscopy & tongue biopsy
29 May 13 - BOT Surgery & right ND (lvls 2-5)
31 May 13 - Hemorrhage, emergency trach, critical care
BOT clr mgns, 9/67 nodes & extracapsular extension
Finished chemo (cisplatin) & 30 rads
| | | | | Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 4 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,267 Likes: 4 | It could be anything, but it's a good idea to have it checked out by your doctor. The only way they can really say if it's cancer or not is by a direct biopsy or FNAB or if it clears up. Good luck.
10/09 T1N2bM0 Tonsil
11/09 Taxo Cisp 5-FU, 6 Months Hosp
01/11 35 IMRT 70Gy 7 Wks
06/11 30 HBO
08/11 RND PNI
06/12 SND PNI LVI
08/12 RND Pec Flap IORT 12 Gy
10/12 25 IMRT 50Gy 6 Wks Taxo Erbitux
10/13 SND
10/13 TBO/Angiograph
10/13 RND Carotid Remove IORT 10Gy PNI
12/13 25 Protons 50Gy 6 Wks Carbo
11/14 All Teeth Extract 30 HBO
03/15 Sequestromy Buccal Flap ORN
09/16 Mandibulectomy Fib Flap Sternotomy
04/17 Regraft hypergranulation Donor Site
06/17 Heart Attack Stent
02/19 Finally Cancer Free Took 10 yrs
| | | | | Joined: May 2013 Posts: 188 Likes: 4 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: May 2013 Posts: 188 Likes: 4 | No sense in worry. Allow the testing and review process to take it's course. Possibility this is Lymphedema associated with ND and radiation. You have come too far. Work through this and stay focused on recovery. Which by the way is coming along well?
Age 55 HPV 16+ SCC, BOT 050613 Stage IV
great team at OSU
Tx 6 weeks of rad started June 3
8 weeks of chemo started May 28
RTOG Phase III trial Cetuximab group.
Treatment completed 7/16/2013
PET Scan completed 10/08/13
Results discussed 10/11/13
NED - Free but am I
Next part of the journey?
1year PET 10/24/14 NED
Good reports now 10 years out.
| | | | | Joined: May 2013 Posts: 63 "OCF Kiwi Down Under" Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | OP "OCF Kiwi Down Under" Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: May 2013 Posts: 63 | Yes, recovery is going great. I know no-one can tell me anything until I get it checked out. Just wish it wasn't even there...
Stupid body!
39yr old female, DX BOT SCC Stage IVA (T1N2bM0) HPV+
28 May 13 - Pharangoscopy & tongue biopsy
29 May 13 - BOT Surgery & right ND (lvls 2-5)
31 May 13 - Hemorrhage, emergency trach, critical care
BOT clr mgns, 9/67 nodes & extracapsular extension
Finished chemo (cisplatin) & 30 rads
| | | | | Joined: May 2013 Posts: 188 Likes: 4 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: May 2013 Posts: 188 Likes: 4 | I understand the stupid - don't let it rob you though
Age 55 HPV 16+ SCC, BOT 050613 Stage IV
great team at OSU
Tx 6 weeks of rad started June 3
8 weeks of chemo started May 28
RTOG Phase III trial Cetuximab group.
Treatment completed 7/16/2013
PET Scan completed 10/08/13
Results discussed 10/11/13
NED - Free but am I
Next part of the journey?
1year PET 10/24/14 NED
Good reports now 10 years out.
| | | | | Joined: May 2013 Posts: 63 "OCF Kiwi Down Under" Supporting Member (50+ posts) | | OP "OCF Kiwi Down Under" Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: May 2013 Posts: 63 | Thanks James. 
39yr old female, DX BOT SCC Stage IVA (T1N2bM0) HPV+
28 May 13 - Pharangoscopy & tongue biopsy
29 May 13 - BOT Surgery & right ND (lvls 2-5)
31 May 13 - Hemorrhage, emergency trach, critical care
BOT clr mgns, 9/67 nodes & extracapsular extension
Finished chemo (cisplatin) & 30 rads
| | | | | Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 33 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | | Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Joined: Oct 2013 Posts: 33 | Sorry you are worrying about this but i am sure it was related to your cold. However you should of course have the docs check it. I am the same way with every bump or ache. I am just starting this journey but I have found exercise and getting out of the house takes my mind off everything. Good luck and congrats on being a survivor.
Curt
Age 43, nonsmoking, social drinker
Left tonsil cancer
SCC HPV+16
Stage IV
tonsillectomy, robotic radical tonsillectomy and neck dissection
4 of the nodes removed had cancer. 2 had extra capsular spread.
3x cisplatin 33x rad 11/18/13
Completed treatment 01/08/14
| | | | | Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 1,024 "OCF Kiwi Down Under" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | "OCF Kiwi Down Under" Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2011 Posts: 1,024 | I echo what everyone else has advised. Get it checked.
Are you due for a PET about now?
Tammy
Caregiver/advocate to Husband Kris age 59@ diagnosis
DX Dec '10 SCC BOT T4aN2bM0 HPV+ve.Cisplatin x3 35 IMRT.
PET 6/11 clear.
R) level 2-4 neck dissection 8/1/11 to remove residual node - necrotic with NED
Feb '12 Ca back.. 3/8/12 total glossectomy/laryngectomy/bilat neck dissection/partial pharyngectomy etc. clear margins. All nodes negative for disease. PEG in.
March 2017 - 5 years disease free. Woohoo!
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,264 Likes: 4 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,264 Likes: 4 | Yes have it checked, it could be a flare u from the cold but better safe than sorry. Hugs and best of luck
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
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