| | Joined: Aug 2013 Posts: 6 Member | OP  Member
Joined: Aug 2013 Posts: 6 | i finished 35 radiation treatments and chemo sept 27th 2013. just had a biopsy last week...looking good. had stage 4 tongue cancer and docs told me back in aug i had 20% chance to be here now. I made it! my nerve damage kicked in 2 weeks ago. im taking about 10 ibuprofen 800's and 4 30mg roxys a day and still plenty of pain but whats really bugging me is my speech...any advice for the speech or the nerve damage pain? thanks | | | | | 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 | Congrats on finishing your treatments! As far as your pain meds go, seek out a pain specialist doctor to help you to manage the meds. There are many pain meds available that you can try to find one that works for you. Nerve pain is brutal, there is a liquid medicine I used to take but I cant remember the name right this second. Im sure another member will help by knowing what its called, starts with gu????
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 2013 Posts: 6 Member | | OP Member
Joined: Aug 2013 Posts: 6 | thanks Christine. any ideas on how to improve my speech a bit. is it possible that i still have swelling after almost 3 months and it will get better by itself. would steroids help (someone told me they would)? I will get my signature fixed as soon as i get the info from my docs | | | | | 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 | Your welcome!
A speech pathologist can work wonders with helping you to recover your clarity of speech.
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: 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 | Yes swelling that lasts months is very possible. Steroids could help but as a last resort. Your body will eventually heal, it just takes time. Lots of time!
Best thing you can do is to keep a good watch on your intake. this is what will help you to recover quicker. Every single day a minimum of 2500 calories and 48 oz of water should be your minimums. Adding high protein whey powder (after checking it with your doc) also will help speed healing.
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 2013 Posts: 6 Member | | OP Member
Joined: Aug 2013 Posts: 6 | Christine, I am getting 3000 calories at least and over 100 oz of water per day. Doctors said my tumor was the 3rd largest in Vegas this year and it is completely gone but it left a huge hole. I feel so blessed but I really need to speak like I used to. I will contact a speech pathologist right away. You are helping a lot of people. I really admire you for that. Thanks again. | | | | | 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 | Was it inside your oral tongue?
It is very normal for the swelling particularly after rads... it takes a long time to heal. Best of luck and welcome.
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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