Head & Neck

mobz

I am a caregiver for a head and neck survivor
Would love to meet others

cbecker

Hello, my husband has had throat cancer and with 7 weeks of aggressive radiation the tumor is gone. Last treatment was July 10th. do you know if the healing process is slow or what? His troat is still very shallow still on feeding tube and he is very depressed and as a caregiver I'm burned out. I hate not having my husband like he was. If we could just have a light in the tunnel that is does get better. I've tried everything to help the healing process but I'm very very burned out and lonely. Can you give me any advice and does it get better for him? Help, candy

cinderbear

cbecker said:

Hello, my husband has had throat cancer and with 7 weeks of aggressive radiation the tumor is gone. Last treatment was July 10th. do you know if the healing process is slow or what? His troat is still very shallow still on feeding tube and he is very depressed and as a caregiver I'm burned out. I hate not having my husband like he was. If we could just have a light in the tunnel that is does get better. I've tried everything to help the healing process but I'm very very burned out and lonely. Can you give me any advice and does it get better for him? Help, candy

Hi Candy
My grandmothers boyfriend went thru the same thing. He went thru the radical radiation you mentioned. It turned his tongue black and it shed layers of tissue.
I do not remember how long it took but he did return to normal. Well ... that is, he never did regain his taste or much smell but he is still very much alive and energetic.
Hope this message didn't take too long for you to get. I am new to here and thought I would offer this info.
Hope he is doing well and healing quickly.

seadogdw1964

https://csn.cancer.org/discussion/comment/494527#Comment_494527

I went through same treatments last one was Dec. 2021.i still don't have much taste buds, and my throat is sore and irritated still but nothing I can't live with. It will get better.

seadogdw1964

They also have therapy to get swallowing to work better, I always have to have liquid while eating.

Kazsmiles74

Hi first time poster. I’m support person for my husband. In 2018 he was diagnosed with HPV+ SSC of his right tonsil and 1 right lymph node in his neck. He had the TORS of his right tonsil along with right side neck dissection. Recovery time was about 7 weeks and no feeding tube. It was a success and doctors gave him the option to do radiation but felt it would be okay to not do so. And do he decided to not do the radiation. His body his choice.

Fast forward to March 2023, just 6 months shy of his 5 year mark… diagnosed with recurrent SSC in his right side of neck, left lymph node, back of tongue, and down the way back of his throat.

On June 7 he began 1st treatment of 33 radiation. On June 9 he began 1st chemo treatment of 7. 2 hours after chemo he was shaky and having heart palpitations along with high BP. Gave him a lorazepam to see if what anxiety and hour later 180/90. On call oncologist suggested going to the ER. They ran tests… no heart attack 🙏🏼 now we have to monitor his BP next few days and see if he needs to start taking BP meds. Doctor suspects it’s a dude effect of chemo or steroid drip.

Today my husband is feeling angry and so mad. So today I give him space and I cry alone for all the reasons I have to. I too would like my happy and predictable hubby back. These ups and downs are tough! We already did this in 2018… we should be pros, no? Well the treatment part is a whole kinda new to us… DAMN IT’S A LOT!

Thanks for giving me a space to vent. It is so much needed.

mandaky

my husband was diagnosed with malignant brain cancer one year ago.

I am looking for other caregivers to connect with.