#56173 05-19-2005 05:55 PM | Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,384 Likes: 1 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) |  Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 1,384 Likes: 1 | NocarolTarHeel,
I have had every kind of pain in the neck there is. (no pun intended). I asked the doc about many of them and no worry from him. I concluded (Guessed) that the pain may be caused from nerves that are repairing themselves and in fact many of the pains are hard to pinpoint.
Mark, 21 Year survivor, SCC right tonsil, 3 nodes positive, one with extra-capsular spread. I never asked what stage (would have scared me anyway) Right side tonsillectomy, radical neck dissection right side, maximum radiation to both sides, no chemo, no PEG, age 40 when diagnosed.
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#56174 05-20-2005 12:38 AM | Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 837 "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 837 | Eric,
Neck pains have been an on-and-off issue for me over the years since radiation. I had a pretty good spell without them for awhile, but the past several days haven't been so good. Sometimes if I think about it enough, I can figure out the likely cause and try to correct it, but if it hangs on too long I go to my doctor. The last time he ordered scans to check things out, they showed nothing but some arthritis in the neck area. I always have some "crackling" sounds in my neck when I turn my head - (sigh!!).
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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#56175 05-20-2005 03:38 AM | Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 382 Likes: 3 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2003 Posts: 382 Likes: 3 | I too have assorted neck pains 2 1/2 years past treatment. I go in every 6 months for physical therapy for a tune up and that keeps me going - for 6 months anyway!! I use a contoured pillow at night that helps too. I can finally look up at the sky again without pain! It's a blue, sunny day up there today :-) - Kris
SCC Stage IV left tonsil neck disection 3/02 radiation finished 6/02 chemo finished 9/02
Stage 2A left breast cancer 3/09, chemo and radiation, finished treatment 2/7/10 -Stage 2 right beast cancer 10/14 chemo and radiation
Every day is still a gift :-)
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#56176 05-24-2005 07:53 AM | Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 32 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | | Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 32 | So sorry your having the pain...
John tries to stretch, stretch, and stretch, when he's stressed the pains are also worse...Hot baths help, but the sharpness is tough... muscle relaxants and increased physical therapy...
another thought maybe neurontin...which really helped J though radiation...
take care and hope teh visit goes well...
sara
Wife of John, 40yo, SCC R Tonsil (3/10/04), s/p resection and rad neck, forarm falp, taxolx3 pre rad, rad (30 txmnts) & taxol/carbo. Now he is 49 and doing well!!!
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#56177 05-24-2005 12:49 PM | Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 188 Likes: 1 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | OP Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 188 Likes: 1 | Well it's good to know I'm not experiencing anything new. My muscle spasms at the base of my skull continue periodically, and I've kind of convinced myself that they're due in part to the atrophy of the neck muscles that occurred after surgery. Though I'm now 13 months post surgery, I'm just now regaining the muscle mass that I lost. I still have a slight droop to the right shoulder, but it's improving with exercise. Bottom line- I'm doing great. I'm over a year cancer-free, and I'm adjusting pretty well to the new normal. As far as the stuff I'm not adjusting to.. well I'm still here to bitch about it  Thanks everyone for your inputs. The support here has been nothing short of fantastic. Good Health Chuck
SCC Stage IV right tonsil T3N3M0. Dx 08/03. Clinical Trial:8 weeks Taxol, Carboplatin then Hydrea, 5FU, IMRT x's 48, SND, Iressa x 2yrs. Now 20 years out and thriving. Dealing with a Prostate cancer diagnosis now. Add a Bladder cancer diagnosis to all the fun.
It's always something
"Adversity doesn't build character, it reveals it."
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