Recurring throat and gum pain

Hello everyone.  I am new here. I was diagnosed with squamish cell cancer on the top of my vocal cords. I jad 32 radiation treatments. I was very lucky. I caught it early. Stage 1 and no lymph noded. I had quite a bit of throat pain for awhile but started getting better within about 4 months. I was able to eat mor consistent foods. I lost 40 pounds since the beginning.  Suddenly a few weeks ago i startef having bad throat pain which feeld muscular and radiates thru my lower gum and ears. I cant hardly stand to eat again. The docs say i have swelling in there again and put me on prednisone for 5 weeks.  Has anyone ever had this happen?  It has really upset me.

Comments

  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    edited January 2017 #2
    Hi Dawnra

     

    Welcome to CSN H&N glad to have you here with us. I am NPC and I had it come back 3 times before it Finely had enough and went away, the good news to that it was 10 years ago So, I been NED for the last 10 years or more. If you don’t mind I would like to add you to my prayer list.

     

    Tim

     

  • Dawnra
    Dawnra Member Posts: 4
    Hondo said:

    Hi Dawnra

     

    Welcome to CSN H&N glad to have you here with us. I am NPC and I had it come back 3 times before it Finely had enough and went away, the good news to that it was 10 years ago So, I been NED for the last 10 years or more. If you don’t mind I would like to add you to my prayer list.

     

    Tim

     

    Throat and gum pain

    Thank you.

  • wmc
    wmc Member Posts: 1,804
    Sorry to hear this, but..........

    Sorry, you are having the swelling. It can just take time. Not in days and weeks, but weeks and months. I had SSC Just above my vocal cords. At first, it was T4; N2c; M0, but ended up only, T3; N0; M0; stage 3.  It was in the supraglottic and pressing on my left vocal cord and coughing a lot of blood and aspirating, and everything was going into my lungs in small quantities, liquid, bacon whatever I ate.  I have bad lungs so I would not survive radiation or even surgery. I did have one option, to remove my entire Larynx and vocal cords and have a Stoma put in. I now breathe through my neck.  If your vocal cords are swollen try to talk as little as possible. Radiation can damage them and will take time to heal.  Trust me when I say you want to protect them. Try soft foods and even liquid is even better. Milkshakes have a lot of calories and cream of Chicken soup has 300 cals so I had up to 5 cans a day to get my weight back. You do want to get that back but very slowly. Once you start to gain, cut back right then as your body will be in a gain mode and you can get too much. I went from 148 to 126, then back up and over to 178 which is too heavy and very hard to loose.

    This is not easy what you are going through, but you can get through it. I will keep you in my thoughts and Prayers. 

  • Drivingdaisy
    Drivingdaisy Member Posts: 263
    edited February 2017 #5
    Arnica Gel

    Hi Dawnra ...... try all natural Arnica Gel and massage your neck and jaw throughout the day.  It is all natural, helps with swelling & bruising and has a mild pain killer.  Was recommended by an Eye Surgeon after My surgery.  Also, cleared up My Lymphadima in 2 wks.  Also relieved My burnt neck, fix My husbands sciated never pain from his back.  You can get it at Walgreens, just ask the Pharm where it is, Whole Foods, GNC, but Walgreens is the cheapest.  Get the gel over the cream.  Hope it helps.  Even helps loosen muscles for Me.   Lisa. PS;  I am just Year out from diagnoasis, treatment, recovery.  Good to also massage your Salivary Glands.