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corleone
corleone Member Posts: 312 Member
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

Just to quickly report a [1 year and 4 months after radiation and 1 year after last (chemo) treatment] follow-up with my radiation oncologist. He scoped my nasopharynx (primary was NPC), throat, etc. and there was no macroscopic sign of C.

 

In a nutshell I am doing great, although recovering after a common cold. I tend to tolerate much worse a common cold (since radiation), with a some symptoms (dry mouth, throat pain, fatigue) much more pronounced and prolonged then before (treatment).

 

I continue to have dry mouth (saliva is back ~30% but this percentage is sometimes in the 10% zone) and taste is off (but that doesn’t bother me at all, I eat everything I want, no issues here).

 

Something new though, I have a little bit of a shoulder pain (one side). The pain is only during certain movements, and was worse 3 months ago. Doesn’t seem to be fibrotic in nature, but rather arthritic. Of course, when it first started I immediately thought I had bone mets, but the evolution kind of contradicts this thought.

 

Comments

  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #2
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    Yippee!!!!

    Congrats on your meet up with Mr. NED.....you got to admit, there's no feeling to match the one you get with the "all clear". 

    I don't know about everyone else....but I can sure tell you that anything the deviates from my "new-norm" and is above the waist scares me, too.  I had a mild case of thrush in the back of my throat at scan time....I had had a sore throat for a week, and was sure I was going to have a bad scan.  Saw the Onc 2 days later, she looked down my throat...and said "Wow, you've got some thrush going on"....I was so happy to hear that....

    p

     

  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #3
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    Congrats...

    As for the shoulder pain during certain movements.....

    Quit moving that way... :)

    Best,

    John

  • debbiejeanne
    debbiejeanne Member Posts: 3,102 Member
    #4
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    so good to hear all is well. 

    so good to hear all is well.  as for the pain, could it be age.....lol.

    dj

  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,722 Member
    #5
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    Alright

    coreleone,

    Congratulations on the fine exam (results).

    It is kind of refreshing to talk about the general aches and pains of daily life (less life threatening).

    Matt

  • cureitall66
    cureitall66 Member Posts: 913
    #6
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    Congrats!

    Sounds like life is doing you well....

    Can relate to the shoulder pain....Kreg is having some major difficulty with shoulders/nerve pain. He is having some tests done as we speak to hopefully get to the bottom of things. Pat (longtermsurvivor) told me about radiation fibryosis and it sounds like that is the cause...not a lot we can do about it. Maybe some nerve block meds and physical therapy MAY help...but never goes away completely.

    Hope you get to the bottom of your shoulder pain too..

    Best to you,

    ~C

  • PJ47
    PJ47 Member Posts: 376
    #7
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    Time to celebrate the good news!

    About shoulder pain, have had it bad since September 6 left neck dissection, but I keep doing exercises and small weights and now Yoga which has helped a lot.  I won't say it does not hurt, but my range of motion is better.

    Had a "frozen shoulder" right side about 7 years ago and worked it out by swimming and stretching back on a kick board.  Best of luck to you,

    PJ

  • corleone
    corleone Member Posts: 312 Member
    #8
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    Thank you all for encouragements and advices.

    John, I am not a ballet dancer, so I could restrict my movements. The problem is that when I roll on my right side during night, the shoulder pain wakes me up. But as I said, this has somewhat improved, now it’s the dry mouth that wakes me up; or the fact that I have to … you know, no. 1. But I diverge.

  • Noellesmom
    Noellesmom Member Posts: 1,859 Member
    #9
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    wonderful news

    Agree with others: follow up on that cold if it doesn't resolve promptly.  Your immune system is down and you need to make sure it doesn't go into pneumonia.

    Shoulder pain - get that checked.  Don't be cavalier about anything right now.

    And, again, congratulations on your great news!  

    Celebrate!

  • hwt
    hwt Member Posts: 2,328 Member
    #10
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    Noellesmom said:

    wonderful news

    Agree with others: follow up on that cold if it doesn't resolve promptly.  Your immune system is down and you need to make sure it doesn't go into pneumonia.

    Shoulder pain - get that checked.  Don't be cavalier about anything right now.

    And, again, congratulations on your great news!  

    Celebrate!

    Good to hear

    Congrats on the "all clear"!

  • wmc
    wmc Member Posts: 1,804
    #11
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    Congratulations on the good news

    Congratulations on the good news it's so nice to hear the NED.. 

    Have a wonderful tomorrow

    wmc

  • donfoo
    donfoo Member Posts: 1,771 Member
    #12
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    great!

    Glad to hear you are doing well and thanks for checking in. It is always encouraging to all to show how we bounce back from what seems like and often is a pretty tough situation during treatments.

  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #13
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    corleone said:

    Thank you all for encouragements and advices.

    John, I am not a ballet dancer, so I could restrict my movements. The problem is that when I roll on my right side during night, the shoulder pain wakes me up. But as I said, this has somewhat improved, now it’s the dry mouth that wakes me up; or the fact that I have to … you know, no. 1. But I diverge.

    Pain In The Night...

    And other mystery things..., LOL.

    Well more than likely the pain will subside, but as for the dry mouth and call for duty, more than likely not as much.

    I am almost five years post Tx, have all taste and about 95% saliva back.

    The 5% or so that I don't is during the night, wake up with leather tongue, sip water, go pee...., my routine. I haven't slept more than 4 hours straight in over five eyars...

    JG

  • Crazymom
    Crazymom Member Posts: 339 Member
    #14
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    NED

    Congrats!   Ann

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