New painful ugly sore- panic attack

the past 3 days, I've felt like im catching a cold, throat sore aNd ear, more so on the side I did not have cancer on.  I had squamous cell carcinoma, base of tongue st 3, spread to 1 lymph.  Last onc appt was last week and said I was doing great. 

since yesterday my tongue is sore and swollen , this morning I went to take a bite of soup and burned my tongue, 6 hours later, in the center of my tongue is a red and black sore( not blister) that hurts pretty badly, and a few other spots that look odd, but the tongue is not a pretty thing

of course I think the worst that cancer has returned with a vengeance.  Called my dr, didn't return call.  I live in Florida, but just drove 20 hours to put my mom in a retirement facility, arrived yesterday.

 

do you think I'm overreacting or does this sound like cancer?  Aug 28 was last treatment, 40 rads, no chemo

 

Comments

  • Duggie88
    Duggie88 Member Posts: 760 Member

    Your still healing and your head neck and throat will do things very out of the ordinary. I think we all overreacted with anything unussual especiaaly just after going through treatment. Certainly keep an eye on it but I am sure you will notice healing in progress. Your tongue may still show signs from radiation and the burn just amplified those signs. I only had 30 rads you did 10 more and I still remember how I felt. I am a betting man so I will put my money on after effects of radiation, burnt tongue, with a possible cold.

    Heal on

          Jeff

  • MrsBD
    MrsBD Member Posts: 615 Member
    Don't panic

    Don't panic. My cancer was on the left side, but my  ear, jaw, and tongue hurt on the right side. You are probably experiencing late radiation damage or even the effects of stress. It sounds like you have plenty right now. Take care of your mom, baby your mouth, and if it's still there when you get home, see your doctor to put your mind at ease. I'll keep you in my prayers. Be sure to let everyone know how you are doing!

  • Reillypp
    Reillypp Member Posts: 20
    Duggie88 said:

    Your still healing and your head neck and throat will do things very out of the ordinary. I think we all overreacted with anything unussual especiaaly just after going through treatment. Certainly keep an eye on it but I am sure you will notice healing in progress. Your tongue may still show signs from radiation and the burn just amplified those signs. I only had 30 rads you did 10 more and I still remember how I felt. I am a betting man so I will put my money on after effects of radiation, burnt tongue, with a possible cold.

    Heal on

          Jeff

    Almost 5 months later?

    im understanding that I may never heal on certain things.  I just didn't expect 5 months later to be getting worse overall and have new sores or symptoms?...I'm driving myself crazy.  

  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,722 Member
    H&N

    Reillypp,

    At about 2y post I had what normal folks call a sore throat, but for H&N veteran it started me pushing the PANIC button.  Luckily is was just a 3 to 4 week bout with a sore throat and a reason to break out my last unopened bottle of magic mouth wash. That stuff is great!

    I hope your condition is nothing. But get it checked out safety.

    Matt

  • wmc
    wmc Member Posts: 1,804
    You will be ok....

    I must agree with all the others, it sounds like a side affect and with the 20hr drive and added stress of moving your mother to a retirement home, you might have over done it. At around six months my neck go very stiff and feels like it is being streached from the center out both ways to the side below my ears, I never had radiation, only surgery. I was cut from ear to ear and one side is numb, but I still feel the streaching.

    You did the right thing and are letting your Dr know. [When he does return your call]. You need to just take a step back and breath slowly. Things will happen and we all get scared because of that. You might have just over did it some. Radiation is called the gift that keeps giving, and I'm sorry it does. Remember your last week report, said your doing great. This is just a flair up. But always let your doctor know just to cover the bases.

    You're still on the prayer list.   When you have time listen to this song, it should be our theme song

    http://youtu.be/C-PNun-Pfb4

    Bill

  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    I'm a nervous ninny about

    recurrance.  EVERYTHING that happens above my shoulders brings on feelings of gloom and doom....and yes, those panic attacks.  Here's what I've learned (yes, I have actually learned something in the last couple of years).  Give the spot on your tongue a few days to get through the trauma of the hot soup.....swelling and soreness come and go even now for me.....but I've had other things happen in my mouth/neck/ears....that have sent me reeling, only to heal up before I can rush into the Dr.'s office. 

    Go ahead and check it every hour, just to see if it's changed.....I do that.....but my guess is that in 3 or 4 days, you'll see that it's going away....and all the panic was for naught. 

    p

  • debbiejeanne
    debbiejeanne Member Posts: 3,102 Member
    .i was told if you get a sore

    i was told if you get a sore in your mouth, see if it stays for 2 weeks.  chances are it will not.  so far that has been true with me.  my tongue does get very sore sometimes and i have no idea why but it is a regular thing any more.  at first, i first i was scared but it always gets better on its own so now i don't worry about it as long as it doesn't last 2 weeks.  i understand your mind going right to cancer, i think we all do that because the fear is so real.  put it on the calendar the day it appeared and if it is still there in 2 wks call the doctor.  i'm betting it will go away in a few days.  Praying for you.  btw, my last rad tx was 10/22/09.

    dj

  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    Nervous Who Me

    I believe we all get nervous every time we see or feel something different in our mouth or anywhere on our body; It is part of the norm as we are now more conscious about cancer then we were before. After I finished my last treatment I had sores in my mouth and tongue for many months after, finial about a year or so later they went away, but even now 12 years later I still get a sore throat that is radiation induced. Just do what you are doing if you are worried call your doctor and leave a massage for him or a nurse to call you back.

     

    Tim Hondo

  • joannaw81
    joannaw81 Member Posts: 185 Member
    Hondo said:

    Nervous Who Me

    I believe we all get nervous every time we see or feel something different in our mouth or anywhere on our body; It is part of the norm as we are now more conscious about cancer then we were before. After I finished my last treatment I had sores in my mouth and tongue for many months after, finial about a year or so later they went away, but even now 12 years later I still get a sore throat that is radiation induced. Just do what you are doing if you are worried call your doctor and leave a massage for him or a nurse to call you back.

     

    Tim Hondo

    do not panic

    just wait and see, this could be milion different things rather than cancer. I understand your fear as I am one of those who panic right away about anything new that happens to my mom (she is the survivor) but I learned from my mistakes and try to stay cool.

  • MGC
    MGC Member Posts: 72 Member
    joannaw81 said:

    do not panic

    just wait and see, this could be milion different things rather than cancer. I understand your fear as I am one of those who panic right away about anything new that happens to my mom (she is the survivor) but I learned from my mistakes and try to stay cool.

    Beacause your rads were more

    Beacause your rads were more directed to your tounge you can expect more issues down the road but It will get better. I had SCC right tonsil and BOT, spread to numerous nodes on the same side. I am almost 5 years out now and still have extreme sensitivity and occasional tounge sores. Occasionally I use a numbing agent or lidocaine mouthwash to reduce the discomfort. Hoping your get better soon!

  • PJ47
    PJ47 Member Posts: 376
    Have it checked

    Any new blemish red, black or whatever and I wait 24 hours to see if it looks like it is getting better then I call my ENT to have it checked.  Most sores have resolved before he sees me!  I hope this relieves some of your fears.  

    PJ

  • Bunnymom
    Bunnymom Member Posts: 212 Member
    I had a similar situation as

    I had a similar situation as I had a sore form on the right side of my tongue. I was treated on the left side so when this happened, I was extremely worried. I contacted my ENT and sent him pictures ( he's 2 hours away). He reassured me that it wasn't cancer but I was still worried. It eventually went away but I am hypervigilant and watch my mouth. I have radiation or nerve damage to the tongue so I think it is prone to sensitivity. I'd have your doctor check it out just for your own peace of mind. 

    BTW: I don't think you are overreacting. I'm the same way. It seems like any little twinge or sensation cstches your attention. We are all different than we were before having experienced cancer. Blessings to you.