hypopharyngeal cancer and post-treatment neck pain

Noellesmom
Noellesmom Member Posts: 1,859 Member
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
Is there anyone on this board who had hypopharyngeal cancer and then had back-of-neck pain after successful treatment? Jim's treatment was radiation and chemotherapy, no surgery, no neck dissection and was completed a year ago.

He has had two nerve blocks to treat the pain from nerve damage directly behind and what seems like deep in the ear. Over the past six weeks he has had increasing pain in the back of the neck on the side where the tumor was.

So far, all scans have been clear and last week he was scoped with a fancy new machine at the ENTs which even allowed the doctor to make a recording of the scope (to do a before and after). The doctor says the tumor is healing nicely.

Next PET is in October and we feel good about it.

This new pain is really getting his attention and I'm wondering if anyone else has had this experience.

Thank you!

Comments

  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #2
    Hi Mom
    I had NPC and I too get a lot of pain from nerve damage from the rad treatment. I have the back-of-neck pain someday it is not so bad, others I have to take a pain pill when I wake up and lay back down for an ½ hour with a heating pad on it. I hope Jim gets some help for it as it makes for a lot of bad days.

    Wishing you both the best
    Hondo
  • noelles_jim
    noelles_jim Member Posts: 12
    #3
    Hondo said:

    Hi Mom
    I had NPC and I too get a lot of pain from nerve damage from the rad treatment. I have the back-of-neck pain someday it is not so bad, others I have to take a pain pill when I wake up and lay back down for an ½ hour with a heating pad on it. I hope Jim gets some help for it as it makes for a lot of bad days.

    Wishing you both the best
    Hondo

    Neck pain
    Thanks Hondo, I am the Jim, Mom was talking about. Some days I don't think I could function without the pain meds. Others, I hardly notice it. I thought I was loosing my mind. I am getting another pain block tomorrow, they seem to help for a while at least. I appreciate your comments, it helps me know it does happen anyway.

    Wishing the best in avoiding the pain as well.
    Noelles Jim
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #4
    noelles_jim said:

    Neck pain
    Thanks Hondo, I am the Jim, Mom was talking about. Some days I don't think I could function without the pain meds. Others, I hardly notice it. I thought I was loosing my mind. I am getting another pain block tomorrow, they seem to help for a while at least. I appreciate your comments, it helps me know it does happen anyway.

    Wishing the best in avoiding the pain as well.
    Noelles Jim

    Hi Jim

    Glad you are here with us my friend; hope your nerve blocking help to keep this pain crap down to a manageable level. A lot of live with pain it is just a part of our new normal. In the morning when I wake up the first thing I look for it my pain pill, with out it I am no good the hole day, but once I take it I am able to go to the office and work a full day.

    I am about 9 years passed my first rad treatment and 6 years passed my last rad & Chemo treatment. I time we learn to live with all the side affects, it is what we call our new normal.

    Glad you are here with us and welcome to the family
    Hondo
  • shoeloy
    shoeloy Member Posts: 70
    #5
    Hypopharyngeal
    I had hypopharyngeal, SCC on the right side. I have only been out of treatment for 4 months but I have had no pain in the back of my neck. I do get earaches occassionaly. I hope the pain goes away for him and he can quit worrying about it.

    Loyd
  • Noellesmom
    Noellesmom Member Posts: 1,859 Member
    #6
    shoeloy said:

    Hypopharyngeal
    I had hypopharyngeal, SCC on the right side. I have only been out of treatment for 4 months but I have had no pain in the back of my neck. I do get earaches occassionaly. I hope the pain goes away for him and he can quit worrying about it.

    Loyd

    Thank you for your response, Lloyd. Jim has an earache most of the time, unfortunately. I'm glad yours is only occasional.

    I hope all goes well for you. Let us know how you are progressing.

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