New primary or ulcer after radiation?

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Josephwc
Josephwc Member Posts: 69
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

I finished radiation early June and things were healing quite smoothly. A little over week ago I noticed something new and it wasn't like the blistery ulcers from food that I had been getting several weeks ago. This only slightly hurts if I push on it with my finger. 

I called my surgeon immediately and she recommended that I see the radiation doc. He didn't take his time to do what I think is a thorough exam and said he doesn't think it is anything to worry about. To make sure he sent me for a mri and ct scan with contrast dye (ouch). This showed a small lesion on the opposite side from my free flap. Outcome is recommended biopsy. My surgeon 3 hours away then wanted to see for herself.

 

Last night I had my exam and she wants to wait and watch it for two weeks. Obviously if I have a biopsy it will complicate the healing process. I do have much trust in my surgeon's opinion but this scares the hell out of me. 

 

Anyone heard of the cancer returning after only three months of radiation? The bump/ulcer is small 9mm x 5mm but it's there and doesn't burn when I eat or drink. 

 

 

 

 

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Comments

  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,722 Member
    edited August 2016 #2
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    should be nothing

    Joseph,

    Your cancer was most likely taken care of and hopefully this is just a little inconvenience.    That is why we stay in close contact with our team.  If it is anything serious or not, you are right on top of it and taking care of things.

    Good luck.

    Matt

  • swopoe
    swopoe Member Posts: 492
    edited August 2016 #3
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    My husband had a spot on the

    My husband had a spot on the back right side of his cheek about 5 months after treatment that was causing him concern (original cancer was in the right side of tongue). So he called his ENT surgeon. He looked at it and didn't think it was anything to worry about. he said that it was likely radiated tissue . But he did recommend a biopsy which my husband had. There was no way we were going to feel fully comfortable unless we knew for sure. 

    Yes, it did complicate recovery a bit. And the surgeon ended up removing a whole area of dead tissue, but it was not cancer. The odds are it is nothing, but find out for sure, so you can sleep well at night. And good thing you are being proactive in your care!!

  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #4
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    Odds are it's not

     cancer, but something coming from the treatment itself.  I can't tell you how how it was for me to learn to wait before running out of my house screaming "FIRE!!!  FIRE!!!!....or in this case run screaming to the ENT CANCER CANCER!!!  One of those "things" is on my gum....I was sure this was it....that was 4 years ago, and it's still there, has never lit up in a scan, PET or CT. 

    You did the right thing....got to your Drs....and you're keeping an eye on it.  I'm going to put my money on that it's NOT cancer....

    p

  • Josephwc
    Josephwc Member Posts: 69
    edited August 2016 #5
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    Complicated recovery?

    thank you all for responding. I do worry but I'm dealing with it. Swopoe: how complicated was the healing process as a result of the biopsy?  

     

    The bump is still there and I am wondering about the possible biopsy. 

  • swopoe
    swopoe Member Posts: 492
    #6
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    Josephwc said:

    Complicated recovery?

    thank you all for responding. I do worry but I'm dealing with it. Swopoe: how complicated was the healing process as a result of the biopsy?  

     

    The bump is still there and I am wondering about the possible biopsy. 

    He had some trouble eating

    He had some trouble eating again for a few days...back to soups and such. Bu other than that it wasn't too bad. Within a week or so, he was back as if nothing had happened. And thankfully the doc got us the results before my husband was even released from the hospital, so we knew it wasnt cancer. 

  • Josephwc
    Josephwc Member Posts: 69
    #7
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    More waiting

    Had my follow up and now more waiting. The bump is still there and I feel that it is easier to find with my finger. The color does not hint of cancer but it feels just like the first tumor. Surgeon says to biopsy it she would need to remove everything involved as it appeared on the MRI . Three days stay in the hospital plus if negative results came from the paths. 

     

    My my surgeon want to wait and monitor for change. It isn't fun wait. since I discovered the bump it's been more than 4 weeks. 

  • Drivingdaisy
    Drivingdaisy Member Posts: 263
    edited September 2016 #8
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    Joseph

    Wishing  ALL good for you.  Hope everything goes well.  I had a white sore on a spot on the opposite side of tongue from original cancer.  It hurt especially when eating.  Saw my ENT, he checked it all out and said not too worry and that my burning pain was due to Nerve pain. Gabapentin did NOT agree with me so my Dentist did 2 light Laser treatments, and gone, NO pain. I have had a CT & PET and still NED.  So the laser worked for my pain.  Hugs, Lisa

  • joannaw81
    joannaw81 Member Posts: 185 Member
    #9
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    Hello Josephwc

    My mom finished radiation in February for tonsil and neck cancer and then something showed up on her tongue on the same side in April. Doctors wanted to watch and wait. they didnt even do a scan becasue it was too small to even show up. By September the bump grew, biopsy was taken and it turned out cancer. Everytime my mom had her biopsies she recovered pretty well from it in just couple of days. Do the biopsy. it is better to be safe then sorry.

    Good luck to you!

  • Josephwc
    Josephwc Member Posts: 69
    #10
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    Thank you for the replies.

    Thank you for the replies. The waiting game is stressing me out. Prior to this new bump I was ulcer free for more than a month. This morning I woke to a very sore mouth and ulcers everywhere. 

  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt Member Posts: 4,722 Member
    edited September 2016 #11
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    saturday

    Joseph,

    Sorry about this morning, the bumpy road we travel can be daunting .  Contact your team immediately and follow their prescribed plan.  I hope they get you back onto “recovery road”.

    Matt

  • Josephwc
    Josephwc Member Posts: 69
    #12
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    Finally had my biopsy

    The ulcer grew large enough and hardened around the edges so my surgeon said it was time to see what is going on. The biopsy is over with now so the wait is on. should get results on Tuesday

  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #13
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    Sending positive thoughts

    Joseph....we say over and over and over that it's not cancer till somebody in the know says it is.  The only thing I can tell you is there are a thousand things that can pop up in our mouths, and 99% of them aren't cancer. 

    Will tuck you into my pocket for the time being.

    p

  • swopoe
    swopoe Member Posts: 492
    #14
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    Josephwc said:

    Finally had my biopsy

    The ulcer grew large enough and hardened around the edges so my surgeon said it was time to see what is going on. The biopsy is over with now so the wait is on. should get results on Tuesday

    Hoping you get good results.

    Hoping you get good results. Keep us posted.

  • Josephwc
    Josephwc Member Posts: 69
    edited October 2016 #15
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    No malignancy detected

    4 months post rads. I got the results back and basically they are calling this a non healing ulcer and have advised weekly monitoring with good oral hygiene. i am on antibiotics and strong mouth wash which now seems to reduce the size of the white ulcer. The biopsy also seems to be healing quite quickly. Good news is always welcome.

  • swopoe
    swopoe Member Posts: 492
    edited October 2016 #16
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    Josephwc said:

    No malignancy detected

    4 months post rads. I got the results back and basically they are calling this a non healing ulcer and have advised weekly monitoring with good oral hygiene. i am on antibiotics and strong mouth wash which now seems to reduce the size of the white ulcer. The biopsy also seems to be healing quite quickly. Good news is always welcome.

    Great news Joseph. Like you

    Great news Joseph. Like you said, good news is always welcome around these parts!!

  • LiseA
    LiseA Member Posts: 266
    edited October 2016 #17
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    Had wondered how you were

    Had wondered how you were doing, Joseph. Back in the US or still in India.

  • Josephwc
    Josephwc Member Posts: 69
    #18
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    I was in the U.S. For the

    I was in the U.S. For the Summer but now I'm back to work in India.

  • gotshi
    gotshi Member Posts: 2
    edited November 2016 #19
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    Non healing ulcer

    Im from india, in remission for Hard palate cancer. recently i noticed a ulcer in same palce where the cancer was removed and reconstruction done using free fibula transfer. ENT says it is from radiation(radionecrosis) and a non healing ulcer.

    @Joseph, would you mind to let me know if your ulcer is healed completly if yes after how many days. My one too sent for biopys on friday and results are awaited

     

    Please let me know if any one you heard of this non healing(radio necorsis) ulcer and the rememdy for it.

  • Josephwc
    Josephwc Member Posts: 69
    edited November 2016 #20
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    Ulcer progress

    I am from the U.S.A. but I live in India. My ulcer is on the opposite side of my tongue and it is still healing. The biopsy came back negative for malignancy and we are still watching it. My ulcer is complicated because shortly after it appeared I got one of the wierd illnesses being passed around the mumbai/pune area. That illness caused more irritation and worry. This part has healed and now I am left with just the small bump on my tongue. I do believe now it is healing.

     

    I think it is worth the mention. My surgeon explained to me that she would be more worried if the ulcer was on the surgical side of my tongue. I'm glad you had a biopsy. Your biopsy will heal nicely and the results should give you peace of mind. I will be thinking about you and best of luck. 

  • gotshi
    gotshi Member Posts: 2
    edited November 2016 #21
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    Update on non healing ulcer

    Thanks joseph for the update. Im Shiva treated in apollo hospitals chennai. Today i havd my biopsy report and found no malignancy. relieved from the emotions going through for last few weeks(3 weeks).

    Coming back to ulcer, My ENT surgeon confirmed it is a wound induced because of radiation(Radionecrosis) and it appear like a crater(2-3 layers of skin peeled and small depth is seen in wound)

    this should heal automatically in few weeks to months otherwise to be discussed again. He also expects me to resume routine checkups from now on 

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