Head and Neck cancers Support Group

I did radiation on a tomotherapy machine. My protocal was two times per day for 7 weeks. It was amazingly difficult! Some problems I have had are:
extreme dry mouth but with excessive mucous
Sores on my throat
My tongue turned into one big blister
Because of all that I ended up on a feeding tube.
This treatment helped shrink the cancer but it did not get it all.

My dad sis this treatment....It was extremely difficult for him. He had alot of mucus, trouble swallowing, sores on his neck, and thrush in his mouth, especially his tongue. It helped to shrink the cancer that was left after surgery but it did not get it all.

I have to get a PET/CT next Tuesday to see if there are any CA cells. My jaw joint is sticky way out. That is just above where the previous tumor was. I'm trying to stay positive though. The radiation caused 2 fillings to crack, now because of cavities I have to get 2 crowns. $$$

How are you doing? My dad is going through the same thing & I wondered how you are doing. I know this has been an extremely hard process for you, I can't imagine.

I had 36 radiation treatments. They did not work. The cancer had more time to grow. Now I'm getting chemo. I'm bald, so I guess it is working. When getting radiation have a good daydream (imagry) ready. It helps.

My husband had 39 tomotherapy sesssions 1x @5 days a week. The last 2 weeks were the roughest. Excessive mucus is an unfortunate side effect. It has taken 3 months before the mucus is gone. PET scan last week shows cancer totally gone. It did damage the nerve going up the side of the throat and into the ear. Still painful to eat see comments on eating.

I had 35 radiation treatments (once a day, Monday-Friday for seven weeks)to both sides of my neck and throat, and my upper chest. My throat, mouth and tongue were so sore I could not eat anything solid. Everything tasted horrible by week three. I started out at 186 lbs. and went down to 165. My oncologist said if I hit 160 he was going to insist on a feeding tube. I concocted a hi protein high vitamin milk shake that I drank four times a day and I managed to avoid the feeding tube. Ten years later, I still battle dry mouth since my two major saliva glands were killed by the radiation. Would I do it again? Absolutely. I am alive and walking today because of the aggressive approach to treatment.

I agree with Pastor Bob. I had 3 rounds of chemo (in the hospital for 5 days on a 24-hour drip), 70 radiation treatements (2X/day for 7 weeks), and radiation implants.

I still carry my water with me wherever I go because my salivary glands were killed. It was a tough battle, but I would do it again.

I'm going through raiation right now and have 7 more treatments to go which will bring me to 30 treatments and 3 sessions of chemo.

It's not easy and it's tough because they tell me they don't see any signs since my 2 surgeries but they want me to do the rad/chemo anyway... and they won't know even afterwards because there is no way to test for Tonsil cancer. All they can do is look for a mass. but I'm doing it since I want to keep breathing.

My sense of taste returned to normal several months after radiation treatments were over. I still get cramps in my neck, for doc told me to use a "U" shaped neck support with heat. Mine does not have heat but it vibrates and works great when my neck cramps. Chemo for life for me, always write down any side effects when you experience them so you will remember to tell the doc. Our lives are so much more than our cancer. You can do this.