post treatment pain increasing #197980 03-15-2019 02:46 PM 03-15-2019 02:46 PM |
Joined: Feb 2019 Posts: 6 jane k OP
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Posts: 6 | My husband was diagnosed with stage 4 oral cancer at the end of September. He is a little over 2.5 months out from treatment (radiation and chemo). He didn't have surgery. His pain had started to decrease slowly, but over the past couple weeks, it has increased to where it is debilitating at times. This week he increased his oxy to around the clock (was only taking it at night before) and his doctor increased the Fentanyl patch from 75 to 100 mcg and added nortriptyline. He still gets very intense pain despite the increase in pain meds. In addition to the pain where radiation hit in his jaw and mouth, he now has pain around his right temple. So far, none of the docs has a good explanation for that or a strategy that has relieved pain.
We would be interested in hearing about pain relief that has worked for you - either non-narcotic medication or things that don't involve meds.
Jane
Jane, wife of oral cancer patient
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[Re: jane k]
#197981 03-17-2019 09:49 AM 03-17-2019 09:49 AM |
Joined: Aug 2018 Posts: 268 ConnieT
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Posts: 268 | I'm wondering why the pain so much now. My husband ended his rad and chemo for stage 4 beginning of October. I will say it wasn't a picnic for him but now 6 months out, he's had some pain where a tooth was extracted but not really complained of anything else. I always like to look for the root cause or origin of symptoms and wonder what would be causing his pain at this point. Hoping some of the seasoned members have some thoughts for you. I will say mine barely took pain meds during or after treatment. The feeding tube was the most painful thing for him. I suppose everyone is different explains a lot.
Spouse of 56 yr old with BOT cancer Stage 4a HPV16 positive 3 chemo treatments cisplantin 35 radiation treatments 7000 cGy former smoker/chewed tobacco for 38 yrs. | | | Re: post treatment pain increasing
[Re: ConnieT]
#197983 03-19-2019 06:42 AM 03-19-2019 06:42 AM |
Joined: Feb 2019 Posts: 6 jane k OP
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Posts: 6 | Thanks for your response, Connie. The pain had subsided a month or two after treatment, but now has ramped up in intensity to a level of 7 out of 10. It isn't all the time, just when he gets up after a nap. He paces and does neck stretches for about 10 minutes to work through it. The docs don't seem to have an idea about the root cause, which in addition to pain that isn't under control, is an additional source of frustration. Jane
Jane, wife of oral cancer patient
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[Re: jane k]
#198310 05-08-2019 06:49 PM 05-08-2019 06:49 PM |
Joined: May 2019 Posts: 17 TongueCancerBeGone
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Posts: 17 | It has been awhile Jane, now is your husband now?
Mark Non-Smoker, HPV+ Squamous cell carcinoma tongue and in 1 lymph node neck, 4.8 centimeters. Surgically removed March 2019. 30 radiation treatments starting May 2019
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[Re: ConnieT]
#199129 09-26-2019 04:11 PM 09-26-2019 04:11 PM |
Joined: Jul 2019 Posts: 7 Virginia Beach, VA Tom In VA Beach VA
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Posts: 7 Virginia Beach, VA | i have been seeing a return of pain when i try to eat after the 7 week radiation and chemo therapy. Stage IV orophalangeal cancer. just finished treatment 4 weeks ago. The pain is no fun. It's definately worse when I"m eating. I'm treating it with advil and magic mouthwash first, then tramdol and then liquid oxy if i have to.... i wonder a bit if it's not a return of the thrush I had at the end of the treatment. Anyone else have that experience? tom
Tom from VA Beach, VA Orophalangeal cancer treatment july/ aug 2019 chemo and radiation 7 weeks. Tumor under tongue spread to lymph nodes.
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[Re: Tom In VA Beach VA]
#199137 09-27-2019 03:22 PM 09-27-2019 03:22 PM |
Joined: Jul 2012 Posts: 3,255 NYC PaulB
Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
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Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
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Posts: 3,255 NYC | Tom,
You’re right, it could be thrush! It’s a pesky condition, that actually could become invasive candiasis that could go further into your esophagus, blood stream, which happened to me! Treatment usually consists of anti-fungal meds. The doctors office can look in your tongue/throat to see it and or do a culture swab.
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
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[Re: PaulB]
#199150 09-29-2019 09:42 AM 09-29-2019 09:42 AM |
Joined: Sep 2019 Posts: 17 Rochester Y ArdenDD
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Posts: 17 Rochester Y | My husband was also bothered by thrush, made a bit more complicated because they needed a med that he could take via tube and wouldn’t interact with methadone to cause heart issues. The biggest issue now seems to be the constant thick mucous, for which he is swishing several times/day; taking guafenesine to thin it out and running a nightly vaporizer. His pain level has dropped to a level 2-3 but it’s still too painful to swallow.
We are wondering how far out the mucous issues will continue.
Spouse of patient 7 weeks post radiation as of 9/30/19 | | | Re: post treatment pain increasing
[Re: ArdenDD]
#199152 09-29-2019 05:55 PM 09-29-2019 05:55 PM |
Joined: Jun 2013 Posts: 345 alabama KristenS
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Posts: 345 alabama | I know this is different, but when my daughter was a baby and she was nursing, we treated her thrush with something we could swab in her mouth (and on mom, of course, so I wouldn't catch it and get infected too) ... I forget what the stuff was called, something violet, but is that an option? Something you can swab on the spots of thrush to keep them under control? If it works for babies and nursing mothers, it is definitely worth a try (because getting thrush as a nursing mom is no joke either).
Surgery 5/31/13 Tongue lesion, right side SCC, HPV+, poorly differentiated T1N0 based on biopsy and scan Selective neck dissection 8/27/13, clear nodes 12/2/13 follow-up with concerns 12/3/13 biopsy, surgery, cancer returned 1/8/14 Port installed PEG installed Chemo and rads 2/14/14 halfway through carboplatin/taxotere and rads March '14, Tx done, port out w/ complications, PEG out in June 2017: probable trigeminal neuralgia Fall 2017: HBOT Jan 18: oral surgery
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