#61258 07-14-2007 03:58 PM | Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 52 Supporting Member (50+ posts) |  Supporting Member (50+ posts)
Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 52 | Thank you for the response.
June 22nd was my last treatment and I can honestly say some of my taste has come back. I was not told about the saliva thing tho.
Besides the dry mouth, the only other thing that is not good is the soreness of my throat. How long will my throat stay sore. I've also lost my voice. I have a whisper where I can be understood if I forse it loader, but nothing more than that. Will I regain my voice at all, or have I lost it for good. Anyone have this problem?
Age 55, Right side throat with ear pain. Squamous cell carcinoma of the supraglottis with cervical neck metastasis. Stage IV disease with a T3, N2, MX
March 2008, diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Folicular Lymphoma
Now taking Thyroid pills for side effects of Rad Treatments
And Life Goes On...
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#61259 07-14-2007 05:45 PM | Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,627 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,627 | Hi Anne Marie, I lost my voice for just about 4 weeks, all I could get was a whisper and I, like you, had to force that. It's not uncommon and shouldn't cause you any concern. Boy did I HATE it though! I love to talk  My voice now is normal although I cannot scream like I could before radiation, it will make me cough. I also had horrible dry mouth at your stage of the recovery. I would wake up at night and my mouth would be so dry and my tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth so badly that I would feel anxious and scared. I thought that was how it would be for me for the rest of my life. Within about 4-5 weeks that resolved and pretty soon, I could go all night without a drink. Everything you describe is normal and will get better. Patience is the key! Minnie
SCC Left Mandible. Jaw replaced with bone from leg. Neck disection, 37 radiation treatments. Recurrence 8-28-07, stage 2, tongue. One third of tongue removed 10-4-07. 5-23-08 chemo started for tumor behind swallowing passage, Our good friend and much loved OCF member Minnie has been lost to the disease (RIP 10-29-08). We will all miss her greatly.
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#61260 07-15-2007 02:03 AM | Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 2,019 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 2,019 | Hi Anne Marie, I totally lost my voice for 3-4 weeks. Couldn't even force a whisper--not with any sound to it. It comes back, although I still get quite badly hoarse if I talk for more than about 20 minutes straight. Unless you are a teacher or a trainer (unfortunately I was and am both) this probably isn't somehting you'll even notice and my ENT says it may still get better or may be that way for life.
Nelie
SCC(T2N0M0) part.glossectomy & neck dissect 2/9/05 & 2/25/05.33 IMRT(66 Gy),2 Cisplatin ended 06/03/05.Stage I breast cancer treated 2/05-11/05.Surgery to remove esophageal stricture 07/06, still having dilatations to keep esophagus open.Dysphagia. "When you're going through hell, keep going"
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#61261 07-15-2007 08:39 AM | Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,128 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,128 | I've noticed recently that if I am grocery shopping with supper in mind, or preparing a meal, I actually am getting some Pavlovian salivation, so some of it is gradually coming back.
I had XRT with Amifostine through half of it (became allergic to it). The Biotene gum (ask for it at drugstore; they may be keeping it behind the counter) works well for me, but I find that I don't need it lately.
Age 67 1/2
Ventral Tongue SCC T2N0M0G1 10/05
Anterior Tongue SCC T2N0M0G2 6/08
Base of Tongue SCC T2N0M0G2 12/08
Three partial glossectomy (10/05,11/05,6/08), PEG, 37 XRT 66.6 Gy 1/06
Neck dissection, trach, PEG & forearm free flap (6/08)
Total glossectomy, trach, PEG & thigh free flap (12/08)
On August 21, 2010 at 9:20 am, Pete went off to play with the ratties in the sky.
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