swelling

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sue5749
sue5749 Member Posts: 170
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
My husband last rad and cemo treatments has been now around 5 weeks. He wants to know if anyone on this site as the experienced the swelling like he is? Under his chin is really swollen, and hard. If anybody has experienced this same thing about how long does this last? We have asked all the doctors and they always say " some experience it more then others" He has a track and his taken pain pills for the swelling every 4 hours. Called his doctor this morning to see if he could get a stronger pain pill, but he said gust take 2 every 4 hours. He had his pet scan 2 days ago have to wait a week to find out if everything is ok. So the waiting is so stressful as everyone on here already knows.

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  • palmyrafan
    palmyrafan Member Posts: 396
    #2
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    Swelling
    My first question is: Is your husband on any steroids (Decadron, Prednisone, others) while he was undergoing radiation and/or chemo? If so, that could be the cause of it. I am on Prednisone and it has caused me to swell a bit under my chin. My doctor always checks it when I see him every 3 weeks to monitor how I am doing.

    If he wasn't on medication, then I would say yes that it is caused by the radiation and/or chemo. I remember when I had radiation many years ago, that before I started on steroids, I started swelling really bad (chin, joints, muscles, etc.) and that was one of the reasons they put me on Decadron in 1996.

    If your husband is done with his treatments, you should start to see a decrease in his swelling (assuming he doesn't have edema) over the next few weeks. But remember, it does take time.

    I would make sure that you keep a log of all his symptoms and his reactions to the medications or lack thereof. If the pain medication isn't working, see about upping the dosage. For instance, a Tylenol bottle says only to take 2 tylenol, but my own doctors have told me that on occasion it is perfectly okay to take 3 at a time. Talk to your doctor though about what will work for your husband. Be persistent and make sure the doc understands that you aren't going to stop asking about this.

    Best of luck to your husband.

    Teresa
  • sue5749
    sue5749 Member Posts: 170
    #3
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    palmyrafan said:

    Swelling
    My first question is: Is your husband on any steroids (Decadron, Prednisone, others) while he was undergoing radiation and/or chemo? If so, that could be the cause of it. I am on Prednisone and it has caused me to swell a bit under my chin. My doctor always checks it when I see him every 3 weeks to monitor how I am doing.

    If he wasn't on medication, then I would say yes that it is caused by the radiation and/or chemo. I remember when I had radiation many years ago, that before I started on steroids, I started swelling really bad (chin, joints, muscles, etc.) and that was one of the reasons they put me on Decadron in 1996.

    If your husband is done with his treatments, you should start to see a decrease in his swelling (assuming he doesn't have edema) over the next few weeks. But remember, it does take time.

    I would make sure that you keep a log of all his symptoms and his reactions to the medications or lack thereof. If the pain medication isn't working, see about upping the dosage. For instance, a Tylenol bottle says only to take 2 tylenol, but my own doctors have told me that on occasion it is perfectly okay to take 3 at a time. Talk to your doctor though about what will work for your husband. Be persistent and make sure the doc understands that you aren't going to stop asking about this.

    Best of luck to your husband.

    Teresa

    swelling
    palmkyrafan, thanks for your responds. My husband was on Prednisone while he was taking his rad treatments, but he is a diabetic and it made his sugar go up so he said not to take it anymore. He said the Prednisone would take the swelling down, it did for awhile but like I said he is a diabetic so he can not take it anymore. His swelling is under his chin, and like I said earlier he has a track and it really makes it hard for him to breath. He has been seen by his doctors but they just seem like it is no big deal. He has doubled up on his pain pills though. That seems to help him for about 4 hours, then he needs 2 more. The doctor said to call Monday and they would see about changing his pain meeds? So we will see. He has had a really hard 6 months of fighting this cancer. He has a track and J tube and has not had anything to eat or drink by mouth for 4 months. Just using liquid can foods, nothing else. The ear nose and throat doctor said not to eat or drink anything by mouth. So has been really hard, needless to say. Sue
  • NW DINO
    NW DINO Member Posts: 31
    #4
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    sue5749 said:

    swelling
    palmkyrafan, thanks for your responds. My husband was on Prednisone while he was taking his rad treatments, but he is a diabetic and it made his sugar go up so he said not to take it anymore. He said the Prednisone would take the swelling down, it did for awhile but like I said he is a diabetic so he can not take it anymore. His swelling is under his chin, and like I said earlier he has a track and it really makes it hard for him to breath. He has been seen by his doctors but they just seem like it is no big deal. He has doubled up on his pain pills though. That seems to help him for about 4 hours, then he needs 2 more. The doctor said to call Monday and they would see about changing his pain meeds? So we will see. He has had a really hard 6 months of fighting this cancer. He has a track and J tube and has not had anything to eat or drink by mouth for 4 months. Just using liquid can foods, nothing else. The ear nose and throat doctor said not to eat or drink anything by mouth. So has been really hard, needless to say. Sue

    LYMPHEDEMA
    Sue -

    I finished radiation treatments December 15th. The 1st of March my neck was swollen under the chin. This was dx as Lymphedema - basically that the radiation was rough on the lypmph nodes in the neck area & they did not function properly. Fluid would accumulate because it did not flow properly the the lymph system. I noticed that the swelling was much harder in the morning after sleeping flat. I have been going to a physical therapist that has helped my situation greatly. No longer have the "hard" mass as the therapy has helped. There are "massage" techniques along with deep breathing techniques that help. Shoulder shrugs & other exercises. Also sleeping in a more upright positions. Good luck!

    Dino
  • Ed_PortOrange
    Ed_PortOrange Member Posts: 110
    #5
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    Lymphedema most likely
    It seems to be a common occurance with some. It took a couple of months for mine to appear under the chin and in rope like lines in the front of neck. Happy to say that I'm 14 months post treatment but sorry to say that the swelling has not gotten any better. My doctors don't seem to be concerned about it, just another radiation side effect. I did go for physical therapy and it did help reduce the swelling and improve range of motion with my head. However the swelling would return by the next morning.

    Hope your's improves much quicker than mine and that you've gotten help for the pain.

    Healthy wishes coming your way.

    Ed
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #6
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    Turkey Neck Club
    Might be a little early, but very well likely he has just been indoctrinated into the Turkey Neck Club....it's a very common side effect of the radiation.

    As mentioned, it is from the lymphatic fluidsnot draining they way they did prior to radiation. Eventually they'll find new paths and the swelling will eventually lessen over time...months. Everything you get usually takes months to get through...

    Some on here have various methods and techniques for massage and feel that it helps them with the swelling and drainage.

    Another side effect that many of us get is L'Hermette's Syndrome. A shoucking or tingling sensation that you get from slightly bending your head or chin down toward your chest. Again, another side effect that most seem to get and takes several months for the sensation to lessen.

    Best,
    John
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #7
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    Skiffin16 said:

    Turkey Neck Club
    Might be a little early, but very well likely he has just been indoctrinated into the Turkey Neck Club....it's a very common side effect of the radiation.

    As mentioned, it is from the lymphatic fluidsnot draining they way they did prior to radiation. Eventually they'll find new paths and the swelling will eventually lessen over time...months. Everything you get usually takes months to get through...

    Some on here have various methods and techniques for massage and feel that it helps them with the swelling and drainage.

    Another side effect that many of us get is L'Hermette's Syndrome. A shoucking or tingling sensation that you get from slightly bending your head or chin down toward your chest. Again, another side effect that most seem to get and takes several months for the sensation to lessen.

    Best,
    John

    Yep Turkey Neck
    Must agree it sounds like turkey neck and we all go through it to some extent. If it worries you call your doctor and they can drain off the fluid, or just let the body do its thing and heal its self.

    Take care
    Hondo
  • sue5749
    sue5749 Member Posts: 170
    #8
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    Hondo said:

    Yep Turkey Neck
    Must agree it sounds like turkey neck and we all go through it to some extent. If it worries you call your doctor and they can drain off the fluid, or just let the body do its thing and heal its self.

    Take care
    Hondo

    turkey neck
    Thanks everyone for your responds! Yesterday my husband was worrying about him not being able to breath very good. So I called our niece who is a RN and she said to try putting some saline down his neck and see if that will help with his breathing and being about to talk better. So I went to CVS and got a eye dropper and dropped a couple drops down his track and he said and sounds a lot better. Also she said to try a ice pack on his neck and he said that seems to help also. So maybe if someone who has a track and is having the same kind of trouble as my husband they can try this. Every bit of information helps. It sure has helped us!! Sue

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