I am now 5 months post a (single) tonsillectomy, neck dissection and chemoradiation for tonsillar scc t1, n1, m0. I had a MRI scan at 4 months the eventual results of which they said were ‘very encouraging’.
My neck is still quite stiff and sore from a combination of surgery and RT but daily exercises keep things pretty mobile. I still have no feeling in my collar bone and no whiskers on the right side of my neck. (That said, the whiskers on my cheek have gradually reappeared.) The lymphodema under my chin and on my right jaw line is very slowly improving with a combination of self-massage and use of a Hereford collar. Like many of us in here, I’m having to be very careful in the sun as my scar site gets maddeningly sore and itchy if I don’t protect it. The lymphodema under my chin and my right jaw is very slowly improving with regular massage and daily use of my Hereford Dollar. I fear this may just be an ongoing process. If so it’s a pretty small price to pay.
My eating is getting pretty much back to normal, although very dry things can still present a challenge. (I just ate a pain au chocolat and needed a drink to help it down.) My taste is almost normal, but I’ve noticed that red meat especially still tastes a little bland. Everything else, so far, tastes much as it did before though.
The inside of my throat around my ex-tonsil still feels weird. There’s no pain and nothing is getting worse, but it feels quite rough against my tongue, almost sandpapery, at times especially towards the end of the day. My new measure of how it feels is ‘what does it feel like when I wake up’ as it can change quite dramatically as the day progresses what with eating, drinking, talking, exercise etc. By the evening it can feel quite rough, again not sore, but I’ve managed to convince myself that this is probably nothing sinister. Over time it is still definitely improving, but any change is still almost imperceptible over anything less than a week.
I finally have a dentist appointment this month, as there are still no restorative dental services at all at my hospital. I’m being very careful with my teeth but would like a dentist’s opinion as to whether my treatment has caused any damage. Fingers crossed!
My energy levels are good and I’ve put on some weight, The only meds I’m on are Lansoprazole and Citilopram, but I’m aiming to gradually reduce those over the next month or so. I’m running and cycling again and have even started training for a new job. (How optimistic is that!)
So all in all my 5 month progress report is a fairly positive one. Of course I realise that it’s still very early days but I have to stay positive for the sake of my sanity. That said, it’s not always that easy!
Anyway, best wishes to any others on this journey. I hope the above might provide at least some encouragement for anybody facing or undergoing this extremely trying treatment.
Hi Mark.
That all sounds pretty encouraging. The RT doesn't damage your teeth directly but lack of saliva changes the pH and flora of your mouth making it more acidic so prone to enamel erosion. This is most important at the gum margin so if you are completely anal about mouth care you should be fine. Oh and stay away from sugar in any guise unless it's part of a meal.
You know to take care in the sun.....RT increases your risk of skin cancer so cover up and slap on the factor 50 then go and enjoy the sunshine.
Great with the new job....long may it continue
OOOOOPS. JUST CAUGHT UP EITH YOUR BLOG....YOU KNOW ABOUT THE SUNBLOCK
Dani
Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019
