I was wondering if anyone has notice that the skin around the neck and under the chin is loose and not as firm after having rad. Also has anyone developed having sleep apntea after rad. Marvin seems to have alot of loose skin and now seems to stop breathing for short times while sleeping then takes in big gulps of air when he start again. Several people have asked if he has gained weight, but I think it is because of the thickness around his neck. The surgeon saw him yesterday to check on some of the lymph nodes that were still hanging around from the end of rad but said they have not changed and thought they were nothing to worry about but he didnt say anything about the neck expect that people being treated sometime have a thickness. So that got me to wondering about all of this if it is something to worry about.

Barb,

I posted many months ago about my "turkey chin" as I called it and many posters joined in sharing their own neck stories so it is quite common. I am almost 10 months post Tx and it has gone down a lot but not totally. It was also posted that massages are not recommended nor is plastic surgery just in case those topics pop up.

I'll see if I can find the post as it got funnier as it went along as I remember.

Ok, I found it:

http://www.oralcancerfoundation.org.../get_topic/f/12/t/000575/p/1.html#000000

Now to the more serious. I never had breathing problems and perhaps there is swelling inside the throat that is imparing his air passage. I would have that checked out ASAP.

Barb, when I felt good enough to care about my appearance again, I noticed this awful turkey wattle. I had no definable chin, just skin from there to my neck. It was pretty ugly and I really hated it. Was just about to inquire about plastic surgery, when Poof! one morning it was gone! I think it had been slowly disappearing and I had not noticed. As David wrote, this subject has been raised before. The cure is time.

Just an opinion, but I doubt that is a factor in sleep apnea. Try the nose strips so he can get more air in through his nose. I believe they also make some especially for snoring, which in my experience (husband before he lost weight) accompanies the apnea. Good luck.

I have not had rad., but my surgery was in the upper mouth/sinus area, and I have periods of difficulty breathing, and I just chalk it up to inflammation. I sleep better on one side than the other, and I am finally convinced that it is not a sign of a problem, since it is transient.

Maybe the rad. caused inflammation of those tissues along the breathing system, and they sometimes are more swollen than at other times. Could be.....eh?

Hey David,

Are you sure it's been posted that massage is not suggested for the "turkey waddle?" I've always believed that the PT and massage WAS suggested? Not sure about the plastic surgery issue though.

PS. Got your wifes FANTASTIC cookbook in the mail.......can't wait to try some of the dishes. Thank you for thinking of me!

I am so thankful to here from everyone that this normal. I will look up the other post. Thanks. I also put a call in to the doctor about the breathing but havent heard back from them yet.

Hi Barb,

My Dad also developed the thing under the chin. The ENT surgeon told us it's called a Dulap and it's caused by the radiation.

He went to a plastic surgeon to inquire about having it removed; he said he could do it with a local freezing.

A few months later he had neck dissection surgery; and at his request the ENT surgeon removed it during the surgery.

Take care,
LisaB

i think it goes with the shrinking of the neck and surrounding areas. The skin just hangs. Atleast mine does. It's not too bad but it was enough to grow a little beard. I lost 35 lbs but have a bigger double chin. Ha Ha. It does seem to be tightening back up. Lee