I am wondering if anyone can help confirm if what I am feeling is normal. I am 40 and was diagnosed with tongue cancer in November last year. I underwent surgery to remove the cancer from my tongue and a neck dissection. They removed 41 lymph nodes and one was found to be cancerous. They decided no chemo or radiotherapy and they would keep a close eye. i had to have a second surgery because of an infection ruin in my neck a week after the initial surgery and they said I had suffered a tear in the saliva gland which was causing fluid build up. I am still struggling with movement in my neck and shoulder but the thing that is bothering me the most is the tiredness. I also feel so much pressure around my neck it feels like I am being straggled (sounds dramatic but no other way to describe the feeling) it causes high pressure in my face and behind my eyes. I feel lethargic and have to have a sit down it is much worse after eating. I also feel a slight change to my vision, feel a little dizzy and can cause headaches. I have mentioned this several times to my ecologist but “you’re healing” always seems to be the response. I feel like I am a nuisance when I mention any symptoms. The surgery was in December so it has been 5 months and they have not offered me a scan (even though they said that would be part of my observations). I also get random deafness in the ear (same side of the dissection) and can hear a heartbeat in my ear. I am getting really down about it all as I feel so uncomfortable. Any advice on if this is normal for anyone else that has been through this would be really appreciated, I feel very lost. It was a small tumour and early stages so luckily I got to keep most of my tongue but I do have a lisp and difficulty eating - and random tongue movements when I talk which makes me say words strange.
best wishes to anyone reading this who is or has been in a similar boat (and sinking).
-Hayley
