#55734 11-04-2004 06:54 AM | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 207 Platinum Member (200+ posts) | OP  Platinum Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 207 | Hello all, sorry I haven't been around much lately.
I am now almost two months out from my last radiation treatment/chemo treatment. My neck on the opposite side of where the original tumor was has been feeling pretty tender ever since I stopped radiation. That area did appear to get radiation, so I'm wondering if this is just after effects or something I need to be concerned about.
My chemo doc said a month ago or so that he thought pain from metastic cancer to the neck was rare. But this tender feeling is what tipped me off that something might be wrong before. I can't really feel a lump or anything, but it does feel swollen in the that whole area (maybe from lymphedema?). I remember feeling this pain somewhat even when I began this second round of radiation in July-August. My doctor has never felt anything, and an MRI taken in mid-September didn't show anything suspicious anywhere in my head or neck.
I guess this just alarms me because I've been down this road before. I don't know if I have the strength and energy to go a third round with this stupid disease, especially since I feel like my wife and I have started a "new life" together since moving back to North Carolina... Anyone else have a tender neck like this and it turn out to be something/nothing? Could it be scarring from radiation? Pardon me for being in a little panic mode...
Eric
Tongue cancer (SCC), diagnosed Oct. 2003 (T2 N0 M0). Surgery to remove tumor. IMRT Radiation 30x in Dec 2003 - Jan. 2004. Recurrence lymph node - radical neck dissection June 2004. Second round of rad/chemo treatments ended Sept. 2004.
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#55735 11-04-2004 09:03 AM | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 2,606 Likes: 2 | Eric,
I hope everything out east is going as well as you expected!
I have a spot on each side that gets a little tender but has been that way for about a year. I even had some lumps in there a few weeks ago but nothing showed up on scans and the doctor felt it could just be a bit of swelling from me fighting off a virus my son had/has. I take Bextra for some arthritis stuff and I noticed when I take it, the neck thing also stops hurting which leads me to believe it is just muscle tissue issues from radiation.
Ed
SCC Stage IV, BOT, T2N2bM0
Cisplatin/5FU x 3, 40 days radiation
Diagnosis 07/21/03 tx completed 10/08/03
Post Radiation Lower Motor Neuron Syndrome 3/08.
Cervical Spinal Stenosis 01/11
Cervical Myelitis 09/12
Thoracic Paraplegia 10/12
Dysautonomia 11/12
Hospice care 09/12-01/13.
COPD 01/14
Intermittent CHF 6/15
Feeding tube NPO 03/16
VFI 12/2016
ORN 12/2017
Cardiac Event 06/2018
Bilateral VFI 01/2021
Thoracotomy Bilobectomy 01/2022
Bilateral VFI 05/2022
Total Laryngectomy 01/2023
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#55736 11-04-2004 02:21 PM | Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 458 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 458 | Eric, are you still hauling around a camera bag? or say a laptop case or a back pack using one strap. Next question, do you sling it over the shoulder on the side that's currenty having the neck pain?
I used to haul my laptop PC back and forth from work using a computer case backpack, and would sling it over my shoulder with one strap as one does, and wonder why that side of my neck felt exactly like the other side that had the tumors did pain wise. Then I switched to rolling wheel case and within a week the pain went away. Went back to the back pack, and the pain started up again.
Didn't take much time each day for it to start, just the time from my apartment down to the car park and various running around.
Just a thought from my experience anyway.
Bob
SCC Tongue, stage IV diagnosed Sept, 2002, 1st radical neck dissection left side in Sept, followed by RAD/Chemo. Discovered spread to right side nodes March 2003, second radical neck dissection April, followed by more RAD/Chemo.
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#55737 11-04-2004 04:09 PM | Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 837 "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 837 | Bob,
I had the same experience as you -- neck pain that I couldn't explain, and my oncologist ran tests that showed nothing other than some neck arthritis. Around the same time I realized I had been carrying my computer bag (very heavy) on that shoulder, and within a couple of weeks after I stopped, the pain went away.
Cathy
Tongue SCC (T2M0N0), poorly differentiated, diagnosed 3/89, partial glossectomy and neck dissection 4/89, radiation from early June to late August 1989
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#55738 11-04-2004 11:59 PM | Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 85 Senior Member (75+ posts) | | Senior Member (75+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2004 Posts: 85 | Eric,
Definately monitor the area. I had a sore area near my tomgue, back by the molars that the radiation oncologist couldn't see/said was nothing. My surgeon finally biopsied the area last week. I go in for surgery again, today.
Probably not the same as the neck pain, but I believe that we know our body best, expecially after two bouts. By the way it was an area that was radiated. You can't give this disease a breather! Good luck!
T1N0M0 Partial Glossectomy 2/04, Recurrance w/ another P.G. 5/04. IMRTx33 7/04-9/04. T2N2M0 recurrance in throat, 11/04.
2nd tumor 1/06/05, Chemo 1/11-05 Died 02-16-05 Wife: Brenda
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#55739 11-05-2004 02:32 AM | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 207 Platinum Member (200+ posts) | | OP Platinum Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 207 | For what it's worth I do carry around heavy computer bags and the like... maybe that is part of it... I don't really feel lumps in the area (and I wonder if I irritate it more by trying to feel something) but I do think I will get an ENT or someone to look at it ASAP for my peace of mind...
Eric
Tongue cancer (SCC), diagnosed Oct. 2003 (T2 N0 M0). Surgery to remove tumor. IMRT Radiation 30x in Dec 2003 - Jan. 2004. Recurrence lymph node - radical neck dissection June 2004. Second round of rad/chemo treatments ended Sept. 2004.
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#55740 11-07-2004 12:22 PM | Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 417 "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2004 Posts: 417 | Radiation does a lot of damage to healthy tissue. Personally I stiil cannot swallow liquids or anything that is not smooth and viscous due to aspiration.
But "Time heals all wounds", and someday we will all be eating and drinking anything we want, within reason. As long as I am cancer free, I can stand on my head and eat or drink if necessary.
Darrell
Stage 3, T3,N1,M0,SCC, Base of Tongue. No Surgery, Radiationx39, Chemo, Taxol & Carboplatin Weekly 8 Treatments 2004. Age 60. Recurrence 2/06, SCC, Chest & Neck (Sub clavean), Remission 8/06. Recurrence SCC 12/10/06 Chest.
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#55741 11-07-2004 02:16 PM | Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 153 Gold Member (100+ posts) | | Gold Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 153 | hi Eric,
i can't add anything to the neck pain discussion.
i'm a wolfpacker and my wife is a tarheeel,
so we wonder where you have settled in God's country.
cu,
larry b | | |
#55742 11-08-2004 02:26 AM | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 207 Platinum Member (200+ posts) | | OP Platinum Member (200+ posts)
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 207 | larry- funny you should ask... I grew up a Wolfpacker, went to school in Tar Heel country and now am working for a newspaper that covers NC State called The Wolfpacker... I'm a very confused boy in a lot of ways...
I have a PET scan Friday and a follow-up with an ENT on Monday... We should know more within the next week... Of course, sweating bullets again...
Eric
Tongue cancer (SCC), diagnosed Oct. 2003 (T2 N0 M0). Surgery to remove tumor. IMRT Radiation 30x in Dec 2003 - Jan. 2004. Recurrence lymph node - radical neck dissection June 2004. Second round of rad/chemo treatments ended Sept. 2004.
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#55743 11-08-2004 07:50 AM | Joined: May 2004 Posts: 218 Gold Member (200+ posts) | | Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: May 2004 Posts: 218 | Eric,
I have neck pain all the time. Dont forget there was a whole lot going on in there. Muscle spasm's are the root cause of mine. I get them at night while I am sleeping and it hurts the whole next day. Keep an eye on it. Good luck.
-rh
SCC 1.6cm Right Tonsil 10/3/03, 1 Node 3cm, T1N2AM0, Tonsil Removed, Selective Neck Disection, 4 Wks Induction Chemo (Taxol,Cisplatin), 8 Weeks Chemo/Radiation (5FU,Hydroxyurea,Iressa), IMRT x 40, Treatment Complete 2/13/04.
41 Years Old At Diagnosis
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