Hi,
Best wishes to everyone.
In Feb 2023, I was diagnosed with base of tongue cancer, HPV positive, staging: T4aN2CM0.
My chemoradiation starts in approximately 10 days.
I am just getting over tonsillectomy, followed by the extraction of six teeth - all required for my treatment. Now, I have a dental infection that is being treated with antibiotics.
Over the last few days, in addition to my dental pain, I have started to develop slightly worse tongue symptoms.
I am getting pain underneath my tongue, a feeling that it is difficult to speak and that my tongue is swollen (not all of the time) and coughing when swallowing. I had some of these symptoms several months ago, but they had started to clear up after my tonsil was removed.
Possibly, my mouth is just traumatised by the dental extractions and my tongue is responding?
I feel like I need to get myself feeling a bit better before my serious treatment starts.
Continual paracetamol and (when needed) codeine are not completely controlling the pain. I am concerned that pain control is not really working, before I start dealing with radiotherapy.
I am also doing rinses with salt water. Has anyone else experienced this and have any advice?
Many thanks
Steve
Hi. I had pain in my tongue after my biopsy. My oncologist told me that if the pain was due to the cancer the radiotherapy would make it feel better till the side effects of the treatment kicked in. I suspect they won’t delay treatment but do tell them you need better pain relief
Don’t forget. Pain is better controlled if you stay ahead of it. When I needed analgesia I took it by the clock whether it hurt or not
Have a word with your CNS
Bedt wishes
Dani
Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019
Good evening Steve, it sounds to me as if all the treatment and surgery are catching up on you, i always think the body deals with the most important issue first, you could be a bit run down as well which makes the body more prone to infections as the immune system is weaker. Getting on top of the pain will be a good idea as it will make you feel better. We all have so much going on in our minds at this stage so hopefully, things will start to settle down for you, wishing you all the best for your treatment, take care.
Chris
Its sometimes not easy but its worth it !
