Tongue Sores - Post Radiation

I am 15 months post radiation for stage IV cancer of the base of the tongue. My treatment was cisplatin and 35 doses of radiation over 6 weeks.  About two months ago, I began having a persistent sore on the side of my tongue, on the main side of the cancer.  My ENT and Dentist are both concerned that this is another cancer, and I will most likely have a biopsy soon.

Is there a possibility that this could be just another radiation side-effect, like the others that most of us deal with?  The spot where the cancer was and the lymph node that was affected are both constantly sore from the radiation.

Thanks,

Paul

Make sure you get more that one opinion on the problem and solution.

Explore every possible treatment option.  Life without a tongue is horrible.

Do all the research you can, More radiation and a More agressive chemo plan could still be options.

You listed only cisplatin for chemo. A rather minimal choice for base of tongue.

 

On 8/7/2008 paulh13 wrote:

I am 15 months post radiation for stage IV cancer of the base of the tongue. My treatment was cisplatin and 35 doses of radiation over 6 weeks.  About two months ago, I began having a persistent sore on the side of my tongue, on the main side of the cancer.  My ENT and Dentist are both concerned that this is another cancer, and I will most likely have a biopsy soon.

Is there a possibility that this could be just another radiation side-effect, like the others that most of us deal with?  The spot where the cancer was and the lymph node that was affected are both constantly sore from the radiation.

Thanks,

Paul

Hi Paul Sorry for what you and your family are going though as I have also lost valuable family members to this horrible disease cancer that’s why I am also " looking, hoping and praying for the magic in some discovery out there? I come across a patient at the clinic I go to who had radiationI treatment he said he findly got over tongue. cancer by having a half tea spoon of bI-cab soda in half a glass of water three times a day he also took large amounts of vitamin BIO C  and he had three glasses of carrot juice a day I know it sounds  ridiculous but it worked Ray

 

Thanks for the reply.  I finally saw my ENT again last week for a follow-up and he felt the sore on my tongue had sufficiently healed that a biopsy was not necessary.  As he said, "cancers don't get better".  He felt that the main cause was tooth irritation, and the lack of moisture in my mouth was causing an inability to heal quickly. 

 Regarding the chemo treatment, I am in a study that had two doses of cisplatin with an accelerated radiation plan.  The second arm of the study included Erbitux, which I did not get on.

 All is good at this point, but I will stay vigilant with the anti-oxidants, etc. to keep this cancer away. 

A sore tongue never feels good but I'm sure the news made it seem better.

You may not have missed much not doing Erbitux. The rash that stuff gives makes Poison Ivy seem refreshing. It has been 3 weeks since last treatment and no itch relief yet but overall it seems to be good stuff.

 Good luck!

I have a dear friend who has just completed radiation and chemo for squamous cell carcinom of the tongue.  She also had a part of her tongue reomved, as well as a partial dissection of her neck's lyyph nodes.  She's having a rough time with mouth dryness, lack of appetitie, etc.  Is this normal?  How long will it go on for her?  Any advice/thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

The effects of radiation vary from person to person. My first radiation treatments left me with a dry mouth for ten years. I was never without a pocket full of hard candy. After My second round of radiation last year, dry mouth is no problem. Now days a dry mouth would be nice.  I've had a sore mouth and tongue for the past year. Sore tongue is somewhat of a mystery since I no longer have one. But it is sore 24/7. Cheeks are sore and swollen  though constantly changing due to neck dissection. My appetite was rather non existent for nearly 10 months.  All in all it does get better but it's a long slow road to recovery. Do and try  everything and anything to keep the tongue. Research all possible treatment options. Be prepared for the possibility that it could come back. Life without a tongue is not good. Get all your ducks in a row, do not rely on the opinion of any one doctor. There are many treatment options. Doctors tend to stay with the ones they like personally and ignore others.  I wish I could be a little more cheerful and upbeat but that is difficult when you are on the receiving end of such surgeries.  

I am sorry that you have had to endure all of this.  I do appreciate you responding to me.  Best of luck.