nerve damage

Well, it hasn't been that long for me, yet, but I still have some pain after two years. Some days are not as bad as others, and some days I don't have any pain, but... My doctors tell me that it is just one more of the things that I will have to deal with. Sure does seem like there are a lot of things that we have to learn to deal with since we have all gone through all of this. At least, we are still around to complain about them. Good luck to you.

leecat said:

Thank you for answer me. Did you have tongue
cancer? and yes we can complain and sometimes
it helps to talk about it too.

No, my cance is in my throat around the voice box area. At the moment, I am between treatments. Hopefully the next round of treatments will kill the cancer.

leecat said:

Sorry to hear about that. Is the treatment
helping any? Did you lose your voice box?
Mine was right on my tongue 11 years ago and
a no 5. Hope all goes well with you? It does
help to talk about cancer. Even if mine was
old stuff I never had any that understood.

No, I still have my voice, but it was at stage 4 when they found it. I am currently waiting to make a trip to Houston, TX and visit M D Anderson, they are supossed to be one of the best cancer hospitals in this area. At the moment, I am trying very hard to not let this control my life. The way I figure it, as long as I wake each morning, and I can make at least one person either laugh, or get them pissed off, then I am ahead of the game. Just live one day at a time. Take care.

My neck pain is both from surgery and radiation. My first tongue and neck surgery was in 1987 but I didn't have radiation then. I always had pain and weakness in my right shoulder, upper back and neck. After the first several months it wasn't too bad but it was always there. The drs said that there was some nerve damage from the surgery and also some scar tissue that had formed later increasing the problem. In 2001 I had another tongue and neck surgery followed by radiation. The problems are much worse this time. I have gotten some strength back and function ok but I have constant discomfort on both sides of my neck (the most recent surgery is worse) also my upper back and upper arms. I can't believe how many people come up to me and squeeze my arms or slap me on the back. even a strong hug is painful. As soon as someone approaches me I immediately back away. I'm not screaming in pain but it is uncomfortable. Physical therapy did help somewhat.
ilene

harold s said:

neck pain
i had throat cancer 20 years ago and having neck pain from throat cancer seems its worse in the winter or from sitting. you can email if you need any help or just talk about it.thanks

Hi Harold
and welcome to the group. That post you responded to is over 10 years old. Hopefully those gentlemen are doing well, and haven't needed to come back for anything! I noticed your post said you had cancer 20 years ago????

Wow, how was it treated and what's happened since? I ask because there aren't a lot of people who have posted at this site with a history that goes back that far and it would be interesting to hear your perspective for those of us who intend to be around to see what you've already seen.

If you get around to it, post a new thread or something. That will get lots more looks/responses as these old threads tend to disappear into the basement pretty quickly.

Best regards,

Pat

longtermsurvivor said:

Hi Harold
and welcome to the group. That post you responded to is over 10 years old. Hopefully those gentlemen are doing well, and haven't needed to come back for anything! I noticed your post said you had cancer 20 years ago????

Wow, how was it treated and what's happened since? I ask because there aren't a lot of people who have posted at this site with a history that goes back that far and it would be interesting to hear your perspective for those of us who intend to be around to see what you've already seen.

If you get around to it, post a new thread or something. That will get lots more looks/responses as these old threads tend to disappear into the basement pretty quickly.

Best regards,

Pat

throat cancer
i had throat cancer in 08/1990 was found i had 36 treatments of radition and 2 96 hours of chemo.i still lost my vocal cords in 6/1991 i gained all my weight back i was down to 121lbs, now i am 207i had a very good doctor at cleveland, clinic he is now at universty in cleveland. i am doing real good. my name was brought up at a big doctor meeting several years ago.never got sick with the chemo. i cant talk only with a mechanical voice box. so if anyone needs to talk just e mail only117@juno.com

longtermsurvivor said:

Hi Harold
I appreciate your responding. In 1990, the radiation was a huge project. Much different than it is now. I had my first cancer in 1998, treated more like you describe than what they are fdoing now, with the fancy IMRT therapies. Much lower complication rates. But it is still the mean, nasty disease it always was.

Have you had any dental problems since radiation? And did you lose your larynx to more surgery, or was it a post radiation situation?

Thanks, glad you're here.

Pat

About the neck pain
Well I went to my neurologist today and he told me I could have possible spinal injury from radiation treatment I had back in 2010 for my NPC cancer (Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma).