Ssc in lower lhs jaw and revovery

A couple of things, did you have a neck dissection, if you did the swelling could be liquid retention, I was told that the scar stopped the fluid from getting away, if so you can gently massage it down. If I get tense my neck gets very tight and can be painful, I wouldn't say that it swells though. I am 4 1/2 years in and a different sight so not the same but just saying that things happen and don't mean you need to worry just mention it on your next visit or phone your nurse if you have one.

Thanks Ron

I didn't have a dissection, and indeed I'll mention it at my next appointment next Thursday.

Thanks for your positive words

Alan

Hi Alan , I would suggest you speak to your consultant about this because if you feel that your condition has not improved or got worse then maybe a scan would put your mind at ease . It is true that the radiotherapy continues to work after the course has finished  so have a chat with your consultant to ease your worries . All the best .

                                                                                                         Chris 

I had almost exactly same thing in July last year.

Operation to remove half of lower left jaw, reconstructed with bone from leg

I did have a full neck dissection though from just below ear all the way round and through centre of lip.

I had swelling for a long time, from day after operation all the way through my radiothepy sessions but swelling was in upper neck rather than by jaw

3 weeks after radiotherapy I started getting swelling more between cheek and jaw which felt the same as my original cancer and I was convinced it had come back

After more scans and an agonising 2 week wait I was told it was just an infection and lymphoedema due to lymph nodes being damaged.

Never been so relieved to be told I have an infection

I still have both swellings now but they are slowly going down with massage and if I wear a compression garment at night it goes right down

basically lymph fluid that isn't draining away properly

I had exactly the same surgery 9 years ago and experienced the same side effect. It does subside with physio treatment but it is a slow process as the lymphatic fluid has to be re-directed to alternative nodes. It took about a year but I no longer suffer lymphoedema.