lots of questions :(

Reillypp
Reillypp Member Posts: 20
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

Chin and jaw swelling?last treatment was August 28, this past 10 days I suddenly have Chipmunk lower cheeks and a double chin.  I'm 41 years old and very thin.  I've heard of lymphatic massage But not from my oncology team.

how often do you go for follow up appointments?  Unfortunately I have a stomach condition - gastroparesis- which flared yd up the past 3 days, there's no way I could make the 2 hour trip but I'm crying because I'm so scared the cancer will come back and me having to postpone a follow up and I'm doomed???

i still can barely speak, dry cordon mouth, trouble swallowing, taste buds wasted

 

also is extreme fatigue normal?  It's actually getting worse, i sit and I'm out cold until it feels like my esophagus glued itself together and I'm choking 

thank you in advance

 

squamous cell carcinoma st 3, metastasized to lymph

Comments

  • wmc
    wmc Member Posts: 1,804
    #2
    lots of questions :(.........Hope for :)

    I'm no doctor, but I don't think it has returned. The swelling in the lymph system could be reacting to the gastroparesis, which is like having an infection, or the lymph is pooling and having trouble draining. The fatigue can be low thyroid and your local Dr should do bloodwork and have it checked. Most likely it to is from gastroparesis as the food is not being digested properly. I would call your local doctor and explain what is going on. Sounds like you have some swelling in the throat and this is causing the difficulty swallowing. Could be a reaction from something you ate or lymph glands. This must be very scarry but does not sound like it's back. Local Dr might Rx antibiotics for infection and you might not need to have the long drive. He should be able also work with lymphatic massage and solve that as well. I would also call the ONC Dr. after you talk with local Dr. Hope you get to feeling better soon.

    Bill

  • phrannie51
    phrannie51 Member Posts: 4,716
    #3
    Sounds to me like your

    lymph fluid is still searching for a way out (drain)....I couldn't believe I could weigh 80 lbs and have the double chin of a 300 lb person....but I did.  You can massage your self.....it's a very light massage using your fingertips pushing everything down towards your torso. 

    There are ups and downs for many months after treatment has ended.....fatigue was my nemisis for over a year....actually, now that I'm over two years out, I can say that just since September of this year have I gotten totally back to normal. 

    Patience is the name of the game for the first year....hang in there.

    p

  • thennies61
    thennies61 Member Posts: 285
    #4
    phrannie51 said:

    Sounds to me like your

    lymph fluid is still searching for a way out (drain)....I couldn't believe I could weigh 80 lbs and have the double chin of a 300 lb person....but I did.  You can massage your self.....it's a very light massage using your fingertips pushing everything down towards your torso. 

    There are ups and downs for many months after treatment has ended.....fatigue was my nemisis for over a year....actually, now that I'm over two years out, I can say that just since September of this year have I gotten totally back to normal. 

    Patience is the name of the game for the first year....hang in there.

    p

    My chin and jaws were pretty

    My chin and jaws were pretty puffed up.I went to a speach and swallowing specalist and she really helped with bot.But she also guided me to massage specialist also.He said it was fluid build up with the nylpm nodes gone.I went to him twice a week before radaiton started then tried at least once once a week depending how tired I was.But each time I went everything would go down alittle.I went the last time in late Aug he taught me what to do and it.s not hard just gentle rubbing along sides of throat.I ask my surgen about it since it felt alittle hard also.He tol me not to worry it is soft scarring from the treatments and will slowly pass as I massage more.

  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #5
    Hi Reilly

     

    I see you have already been giving some good advice so I am just hoping and praying it will help you. Being afraid I believe is normal as it is something we all go through and something we live with every time we go to see the doctor or take a scan. Also on being cold that is normal for me as I can’t stand having the Air Condition on, what is bad is that my wife is always hot, so she is always putting the AC down and I am always putting it up. There are a lot of changes going on inside of your body due to the radiation or Chemo you have taking and your body will take a while getting rid of it. So for now try not to worry or be afraid when you see or feel something different, if you are not sure I would call my doctor and let them know and see if they think you need to come in.

    I am a minister as well as a survivor and for me I could not have made it if it was not for having faith in God and resting my fears into His hands. If it is OK with you I would like to add you to my pray list.

     

    Tim Hondo

  • MarineE5
    MarineE5 Member Posts: 1,034 Member
    #6
    link to instructions

    Reilly,

    Here is a link to a post that is in the SuperThread and it is the instructions I was given years ago to help me with my Lymphedema. You can try this until you see your own Doctors, hopefully it will give you some relief.

    http://csn.cancer.org/node/196680

    My Best to You and Everyone Here

  • hwt
    hwt Member Posts: 2,328 Member
    #7
    MarineE5 said:

    link to instructions

    Reilly,

    Here is a link to a post that is in the SuperThread and it is the instructions I was given years ago to help me with my Lymphedema. You can try this until you see your own Doctors, hopefully it will give you some relief.

    http://csn.cancer.org/node/196680

    My Best to You and Everyone Here

    Massage therapy

    If not close to home, they can instruct you how to do massaging on your own. I found it helpful. I also got a compression garment that helped. It came from a company calld the hanger.

  • MrsBD
    MrsBD Member Posts: 617 Member
    #8
    Hondo said:

    Hi Reilly

     

    I see you have already been giving some good advice so I am just hoping and praying it will help you. Being afraid I believe is normal as it is something we all go through and something we live with every time we go to see the doctor or take a scan. Also on being cold that is normal for me as I can’t stand having the Air Condition on, what is bad is that my wife is always hot, so she is always putting the AC down and I am always putting it up. There are a lot of changes going on inside of your body due to the radiation or Chemo you have taking and your body will take a while getting rid of it. So for now try not to worry or be afraid when you see or feel something different, if you are not sure I would call my doctor and let them know and see if they think you need to come in.

    I am a minister as well as a survivor and for me I could not have made it if it was not for having faith in God and resting my fears into His hands. If it is OK with you I would like to add you to my pray list.

     

    Tim Hondo

    Thank you, Hondo

    Your posts have been so uplifting to me. I am a Christian, actually just retired after 20 years teaching in a Christian high school. I know God is in charge, but I am still scared and feeling sorry for  myself. I especially liked one of your posts about being  "in God's workshop". Please continue to post from this unusual pulpit.  Blessings! Beth

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