Question about swelling/edema

CathyHorner
CathyHorner Member Posts: 29
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

Hello!

I finished my chemo/rad in August and got a good petscan in November. Little by little I'm doing a little better. The ENT had me order a smaller trace and it feels better, especially on the outside of my neck. The other one was rubbing the skin raw and was real swollen above it (edema). Some of that has gone down. Congestion is nearly gone and except bready things, no problem eating.

Here is my concern. My ENT did an interal exam with a scope and says my larnyx is so swollen that it is almost unrecognizable. And the swelling and possibly scar tissue is keeping the vocal cords to open very wide. Because of this I can't speak and take deep breaths. I haven't been to speak since before June this year but it is above a whisper  now. It's been 4 months since my treatment ended and my larynx is still very swollen. ENT won't take out the trache and says all we can do is wait and said could take months or a year to heal.

Any experience like this? Thanks!

Cathy

 

Comments

  • MarineE5
    MarineE5 Member Posts: 1,030 Member
    #2
    Edema

    Cathy,

    Here is a link to the Superthread and the stretching and massage exercises that I was taught to help with the swelling of my face and neck. Allot of times, we overlook the possibility of the swelling affecting the inside of our throats when we have a swollen neck. Hopefully, the exercises help you out. If they don't, ask your Doctor to send you to a Cancer Physical Therapist as my Doctor did. We have gravity on our side with this, after we do the massage, the lymphnode fluids start to move downwards.

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

    My Best to You and Everyone Here

  • CathyHorner
    CathyHorner Member Posts: 29
    #3
    MarineE5 said:

    Edema

    Cathy,

    Here is a link to the Superthread and the stretching and massage exercises that I was taught to help with the swelling of my face and neck. Allot of times, we overlook the possibility of the swelling affecting the inside of our throats when we have a swollen neck. Hopefully, the exercises help you out. If they don't, ask your Doctor to send you to a Cancer Physical Therapist as my Doctor did. We have gravity on our side with this, after we do the massage, the lymphnode fluids start to move downwards.

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

    My Best to You and Everyone Here

    thanks

    Good article and many of those things I have been doing and some new information too. Some of this swelling has already come down, so I'm hoping in time I can have my lovely neck back!

    My main concern is the swelling of my larynx. There is no exercise for that. I'm hoping that once the swelling goes down it will release my vocal cords and that it isn't scar tissue.  I don't know what complications that will make. I go to the ENT every few weeks and in 4 months he just keeps saying the larynx is still swollen.

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