Is this a radiation side effect?

james chambliss
james chambliss Member Posts: 70
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
So i have been done with radiation for about 9 months now. I go to get a follow up PET on Wednesday, but what's worrying me is my tongue. I was originally diagnosed with nasal pharyngeal carcinoma but i have been told that it looks all clear at the moment. My tongue however has sore spots on the base of it. The doctor has not even checked it out and it wasn't bothering me on my last visit. Has anyone else had this as a side effect? I know i should be concerned any time something new pops up like this, but i am hoping it is not cancer again.



James

Comments

  • soccerfreaks
    soccerfreaks Member Posts: 2,788 Member
    #2
    sore spot
    James, as you must know, it is a 'sore spot' (sorry for the pun, but couldn't resist) for doctors that their patients go online for diagnosis. In this case, your sore spots on the tongue could be caused by any number of things (strep throat comes immediately to mind) and it is best for you to get an answer from your doctor than from one of us purported cancer gurus.

    It is not abnormal, of course, once we have had cancer, to consider nearly everything else that is bestowed upon us a potential return of the disease, so your concern is certainly understood.

    It is simply best if you not let yourself be worried by our speculation (or your own, for that matter), that you go to the people to whom you pay the big bucks to get some answers.

    Best wishes in that regard!

    Take care,

    Joe
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #3
    soccerfreaks said:

    sore spot
    James, as you must know, it is a 'sore spot' (sorry for the pun, but couldn't resist) for doctors that their patients go online for diagnosis. In this case, your sore spots on the tongue could be caused by any number of things (strep throat comes immediately to mind) and it is best for you to get an answer from your doctor than from one of us purported cancer gurus.

    It is not abnormal, of course, once we have had cancer, to consider nearly everything else that is bestowed upon us a potential return of the disease, so your concern is certainly understood.

    It is simply best if you not let yourself be worried by our speculation (or your own, for that matter), that you go to the people to whom you pay the big bucks to get some answers.

    Best wishes in that regard!

    Take care,

    Joe

    Side affects

    Hi James I am not too sure why this happens but I had it quite often after treatment, sore spots on the tongue and even redness in the back of the throat. It lasted for a few years after my treatment stopped and hurt like hell each time, the funny this was it would come for a few weeks and go away for 3 or 4 months before coming back again. You can talk to your doc about sometimes they will look and sometimes they will just tell you it is normal.

    All the best to you
    Hondo
  • rozaroo
    rozaroo Member Posts: 665
    #4
    Hondo said:

    Side affects

    Hi James I am not too sure why this happens but I had it quite often after treatment, sore spots on the tongue and even redness in the back of the throat. It lasted for a few years after my treatment stopped and hurt like hell each time, the funny this was it would come for a few weeks and go away for 3 or 4 months before coming back again. You can talk to your doc about sometimes they will look and sometimes they will just tell you it is normal.

    All the best to you
    Hondo

    James
    I had a couple of spot's on my tongue that disappeared after a couple of week's! I was timing them as per the expert's. If they do not disappear then get them checked! My dentist at the cancer mentioned a couple of week's & if they don't go then get in!
    God Bless
    Roz
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #5
    DITTO - HONDO & ROZ
    I too get sore areas, and spots as you and HONDO mention...usually it seems to be just after I've gone in for a scope or scan, LOL. I think it's just to keep me in reality. I'll feel good and positive thinking right after I get an all clear, shortly later I'll get something that pops up.

    My ENT always reassures me that for several months up through the second year post rads, these things are normal (our new normal I suppose)....

    If you are at all in doubt or it's bothering you a lot, go see your ENT for a scope and let him know the area that you are concerned about.

    Best,
    John
  • D Lewis
    D Lewis Member Posts: 1,581 Member
    #6
    Sore spots
    Just about 12 months out, and I'm still getting sore spots. Mostly its from me biting my own tongue... other times I think I react to acidic foods. They seem to come and go.

    Deb
  • stevenl
    stevenl Member Posts: 587
    #7
    D Lewis said:

    Sore spots
    Just about 12 months out, and I'm still getting sore spots. Mostly its from me biting my own tongue... other times I think I react to acidic foods. They seem to come and go.

    Deb

    Me Too
    I also have a sore spot on the right back side of my tongue. Doc said that it may just be the new me, which I tend to agree with. Kind of feels like it connects to where my tonsil was.

    Best,
    Steve
  • tnsilcncer
    tnsilcncer Member Posts: 64
    #8
    Oh geez
    I just joined this sight today and reading everyone's posts is helping so much! I'm 11 weeks post radiation and I went back to my radiologist today because I'm still getting pencil eraser sized blisters on my throat when I eat and I now have what I'm pretty sure is thrush again. She said that I shouldn't be having the blistering and pain still and referred me back to my ENT who I see on Friday. It's such a comfort that other people are having the same thing-I don't feel like such a freak of nature (I don't mean that I'm glad that any of you are going through this too, only that I'm not alone), what I'm going through is actually pretty typical. I don't have any advice to give, I'm too new at this still, but know that just posting what you're going through on here is helping other people deal with what they have! Good luck and prayers going out to you!
  • Greend
    Greend Member Posts: 678
    #9
    tnsilcncer said:

    Oh geez
    I just joined this sight today and reading everyone's posts is helping so much! I'm 11 weeks post radiation and I went back to my radiologist today because I'm still getting pencil eraser sized blisters on my throat when I eat and I now have what I'm pretty sure is thrush again. She said that I shouldn't be having the blistering and pain still and referred me back to my ENT who I see on Friday. It's such a comfort that other people are having the same thing-I don't feel like such a freak of nature (I don't mean that I'm glad that any of you are going through this too, only that I'm not alone), what I'm going through is actually pretty typical. I don't have any advice to give, I'm too new at this still, but know that just posting what you're going through on here is helping other people deal with what they have! Good luck and prayers going out to you!

    assume by name that you had tonsil cancer
    I went through it 15 years ago and just wish this board had been there then (or if it was that I had found it). Welcome
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    #10
    stevenl said:

    Me Too
    I also have a sore spot on the right back side of my tongue. Doc said that it may just be the new me, which I tend to agree with. Kind of feels like it connects to where my tonsil was.

    Best,
    Steve

    I have a sore spot on my
    I have a sore spot on my tongue right now too. It happened after dinner Sunday. Wondering if it was the pineapple I tried. I'm not doing that again. I can live with out pineapple. I knew I could never ear it raw, but cooked used to be ok. Not any more.

    James, I think if it persists for more than a couple weeks get it checked out. It happens to me every once in a while now. My tongue is super duper sensitive even two years out. It hurts constantly.
  • tnsilcncer
    tnsilcncer Member Posts: 64
    #11
    Greend said:

    assume by name that you had tonsil cancer
    I went through it 15 years ago and just wish this board had been there then (or if it was that I had found it). Welcome

    Greend
    I do have tonsil cancer.......I wish I would have found this sight sooner, but I probably wouldn't have gotten much out of it because of treatment side effects. Glad to be here!
  • james chambliss
    james chambliss Member Posts: 70
    #12
    D Lewis said:

    Sore spots
    Just about 12 months out, and I'm still getting sore spots. Mostly its from me biting my own tongue... other times I think I react to acidic foods. They seem to come and go.

    Deb

    bittin
    God i have bit my own tongue so many times. I had to laugh when i saw this. Glad i am not alone. On the topic of the other. I went to the ENT and he said it look like i burned it. Then i thought back and had remembered i did. LOL I got all worked up for nothing.
  • james chambliss
    james chambliss Member Posts: 70
    #13
    tnsilcncer said:

    Greend
    I do have tonsil cancer.......I wish I would have found this sight sooner, but I probably wouldn't have gotten much out of it because of treatment side effects. Glad to be here!

    Thanks
    Thanks for all the comments guys and girls. They come in handy and give me comfort to know that still i am not alone. Take care all.


    James

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