My Dad had surgery early June. He just finished IMRT one month ago. During surgery the surgeon cut the linguel nerve and half of my Dads tongue is numb. They told him that would be permanent but they never mentioned he would have a constant burning sensation as well. He said it feels like he is still in radiation. Has anyone expereinced this problem and what helped the pain?

Also has anyone's cancer spread to the other side? My Dad has an enlarged lymph node on the otherside and they are just watching it because they removed 48 from the other side and they were all negative. The physcians he has seen are not in agreement on if the nodes were all truly negative because his original PET scan indicated lymph involvement.

Thanks for helping us out

It would seem appropriate to remove the one node for biopsy, or at bare minimum do a multiple puncture fine needle biopsy. These are both minimal procedures and for little discomfort provide much information EARLY. However, the after effects of radiation can be many, and there are cases of node inflamation as a result of the healing process. Negative nodes on one side is no predictive factor that something on the other is not malignant. Bilateral cerivcal node involvement is not uncommon, and I am one patient who did have it. It is too soon after his radiation for him to be pain free, burning discomfort or otherwise. I was on heavy duty pain meds for more than 6 months after the end of my radiation.