My radiation oncologist suggested turning the neck side to side and up and down several times a day to help move the fluid along. He did tell me it be there every day but excercises will help make it less noticeable throughout the day. Mary

Mike has a turkey waddle too. It's a good size and it does change in size and fullness. I'm glad you posted this, I was concerned when it would get big and full. ok, so now I know it's just fluid.
Tim, his hair is still falling out too.
He is bothered more by the turkey thing than the hair.

It made me look like Oliver Hardy from Laurel and Hardy....but, after a while, it went away.

Danny G.

To all,

Thanks for the posts. See my RO lied to me again, LOL.

Yes Tim, it does "waddle" from side to side. I guess that's where it got the name!

Tim, the only hair loss I experienced was the back of my neck where the Rad exited and I will never have to shave my neck again. My beard above my chin, especially where a mustache would grow, is much darker now. I have a "5:00 shadow around noon".

My wife & I laughed at the above posts. WE are a mess aren't we? But, at least we're here to post and laugh about it.

David,

Funny we are and so is how this Tx effects people differently. Right now the only place I can grow facial hair is my mustache. And even that grows like a little Hitler thing. I never liked shaving so it's cool with me that I don't have to anymore.

Don't know why my hair is falling out now? Probably the chemo? I did lose the hair on the back of my neck too, but that seems to be growing back slowly. Hoepfully I won't go bald.

Your wife is right we are a mess!

I was going to describe the waddle as "swinging to and fro" but didn't want to hurt any feelings.
Mike lost all his upper back hair, neck and face whiskers up to a couple inches above the chin line. The skin is soft and smooth, like a baby butt. The weird thing though, is on his radiation mask there was a small box outlined near his adams apple. That little square on his neck is the only place he has whiskers!

Hey David I was just logging on to post a question about the same thing and I saw yours ha ha.

My Dad has that hard ball thing under his chin in the neck area. The surgeon and RO both said it's called a 'Dulap'.

They said it's from radiation. One dr suggested seeing a plastic surgeon. So he did yesterday. (The plastic surgeon use to work as H&N surgeon). He said it's like frying up bacon and all the grease that gets hard. He can fix it up by local freezing and doing some cuts and removing the hard stuff. He suggests waiting a few months to let things settle more.

Seems most people get this Dulap who had radiation in this area.

As for hair; my Dad's hair seemed to thin up to a few months after treatment finished and yes his too grew in black in certain areas; including facial hair (and he's silver grey).

Take care.

Okay these posts have made my day - Jack has the turkey waddle too. He told me he didn't think he was vain until he started looking at it and trying to find ways to get rid of it.

Eileen is right that there are physical therapists who are specially certified to work on lymphatic drainage. The external massages help and they also prescribed an Epstein Facioplasty Support Strap that Jack wears at night.

It's made by Jobst and their toll free number is 800 537-1063 to find out about it. The therapist took his measurements and dealt with a local medical supply company to get it and it really has reduced the swelling. It's the same concept as the arm stockings worn by breast cancer patients with lymphedema.

It's very Jacob Marley.

Regards JoAnne

Jacob Marley---Tis the season! I can't wait for Penny to read these- yet another thing to look forward to - bet you never thought you'd get so many responses to this one huh David? Cheers!

I have thickening below the chin and down past my Adam's apple also, but at ten months post-rad it seems to be getting smaller and less swollen.

The radiation also did in my beard (had it for 35 years!), leaving me with growth on my upper cheeks plus mustache and goatee.