#59443 11-13-2006 04:21 AM | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | OP  Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | 2 weeks ago when I visited my RO he said that the Turkey Chin (for lack of a better term) I had developed was due to the effects of rad. Well that was 2 weeks ago and it's worse today. It's a flap of skin running vertical from 1 inch below the center of my chin down to almost my voicebox and seems to be filled with liquid even though I am still a bit underweight.
Has anyone else experienced this and if so how long does it take to go away?
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
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#59444 11-13-2006 04:57 AM | Joined: May 2004 Posts: 218 Gold Member (200+ posts) | | Gold Member (200+ posts)
Joined: May 2004 Posts: 218 | Dave,
My doctor calls is a waddle. Natural cause of the radiation turning your neck into leather.
Mine has progressively gotten worse after 3 years. I am only 44 but it makes me look older.
I told my 11 Year old daughter this week.
Fat, bald, two chins, what ever god gives me I'll take.
Every breath is a gift.
Take it easy.
-robert
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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#59445 11-13-2006 06:12 AM | Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 307 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 307 | Hi David,
My husband is 2 year's post treatment and he still wakes up with the fluid under his chin sometimes. For him it helps if he sleeps with several pillows under his head. It's the lymphatic fluid and since the radiation frys everything, the fluid needs to find new pathways to travel. My husband massages his neck a lot which seems to help and he also has had several lymphatic drainage massages which have also helped. I would suggest you check into that.
Good luck,
Shelley
Caregiver to husband Ron. Throat Cancer. Finished 35 radiation treatments on 11/21/04. 8/2/11 small lesion on lower gum, laser Procedure to remove. 3/6/12 Doc. removed another lesion on outside of his neck. Did a skin graft from his chest to replace the skin on his neck. Went to Heaven on 6/24/12.
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#59446 11-13-2006 07:17 AM | Joined: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: May 2002 Posts: 2,152 | A good physical therapist should be able to alleviate if not elliminate this problem. Ask your dr for script and a referral to somone who is familiar with treating this.
Take care,
Eileen
----------------------
Aug 1997 unknown primary, Stage III
mets to 1 lymph node in neck; rt ND, 36 XRT rad
Aug 2001 tiny tumor on larynx, Stage I total laryngectomy; left ND
June 5, 2010 dx early stage breast cancer
June 9, 2011 SCC 1.5 cm hypo pharynx, 70% P-16 positive, no mets, Stage I
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#59447 11-13-2006 07:37 AM | Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,116 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,116 | I had a therapist a few months after radiation that actually drained mine, I am not sure that was a good thing because now the scar is very flat and adhered to scar tissue and looks very indented. I have a raised pillow for drainage and still see a P/T for neck pain and the swelling on my left cheek, which seems to come and go. Carol
p.s. Bob, I liked your answer!
Diagnosed May 2002 with Stage IV tongue cancer, two lymph nodes positive. Surgery to remove 1/2 tongue, neck dissection, 35 radiation treatments. 11/2007, diagnosed with cancer of soft palate, surgery 12/14/07, jaw split. 3/24/10, cancer on tongue behind flap, need petscan, surgery scheduled 4/16/10
---update passed away 8-27-11---
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#59448 11-13-2006 09:18 AM | Joined: May 2006 Posts: 137 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: May 2006 Posts: 137 | I've got the same thing. My ENT says everybody hates it, so it must be common. I don't know that its full of fluid, it feels harder, almost like cartilage or something. I suppose a plastic surgeon could fix it.
dx 2/13/06. modified radical neck dissection 3/9/06 multiple biopsies of upper airway and direct laryngoscopy. 1 of 47 lymph nodes positive for metastatic undifferentiated carcinoma (lymphoepithelioma). Unknown primary. Finished radiation 5/24/06.
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#59449 11-13-2006 10:32 AM | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 493 Platinum Member (300+ posts) | | Platinum Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 493 | David,
After your reading your post I had to get up and go look in the mirror. I have it too. It kind of just flap around if you shake your head from side to side. I'm going to physical therapy for my neck and shoulder so the next time I go I
m going to ask if there are any exercises or messages I can do for it.
I think my hair is getting thinner...the other night I took had a whirlpool bath and noticed quite a bit of hair floating in the water. Is this common?
Tim Stoj
60 yr old. Dx Jun 06 with BOT Stage IV. Neck dissesction on 19 Jun 06. Started Tx on 21 Aug 06/completed 33 IMRTs and 3 CT (2 Cisplat & 1 Carboplat) on 5 Oct 06.
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#59450 11-13-2006 10:37 AM | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 116 Gold Member (100+ posts) | | Gold Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 116 | I have it also. Mine is just extra skin. Fluid does not seem to accumulate in it and its about the same as it was when I got it 2.5 years ago after my treatment.
SCC R-Tonsil T2 NO MO Dec 2003. Completed IMRT Radiation only to tonsils(72Gy) and neck(55Gy)March 04. Detected at age 50.
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#59451 11-13-2006 11:01 AM | Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 837 "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (300+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2004 Posts: 837 | My "turkey wattle" is fairly small (most people don't seem to notice it). I think it's because my neck dissection had the effect of tightening up the skin under my jaw - kind of compensating, I guess. One of the hidden benefits of surgery?!
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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#59452 11-13-2006 02:48 PM | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,676 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 2,676 | At least you guys and gals have an excuse-mine is just from old age  Amy
CGtoJohn:SCC Flr of Mouth.Dx 3\05. Surg.4\05.T3NOMO.IMRTx30. Recur Dx 1\06.Surg 2\06. Chemo: 4 Cycles of Carbo\Taxol:on Erbitux for 7 mo. Lost our battle 2-23-07- But not the will to fight this disease
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