Hi all, i just wondered if anyone could help. I have read a few of the posts already and have found them reassuring but i don't really know anything about throat cancer or what to look for so have posted here instead. Ok where to begin. Well I'm here for my father-in-law really because things haven't turned out so well. Last year he was diagnosed with cancer in his voice box (he had lost his voice so i think that's where the cancer is). He then had 6 weeks of radiotherapy in Jan followed by 6 weeks of rest and then a check up. At the first check up there was still a large amount of swelling so he had another appointment for today. It wasn't quite the all clear we'd expected because although the swelling and soreness from the radiation has gone there is now a large and more prominent swelling on the left side of his neck(different to the swelling with the radiation)and the consultant is not happy with how everything looks. They took a biopsy and the results should be back in two weeks and they have also booked him in for a scan. Am i reading into this too much? I'm really worried as the stats are not that good. Any info, options and advice would be greatly appreciated for myself,Roy and the rest of us should the results be bad. Thanks

Hello Yvette,

I'm Melanie, wife of a cancer survivor (now in remission over one year). (His was base of tongue cancer that had metastasized to the right neck lymph nodes.)

Okay... deep breath... As difficult as it is to do, my best advice to you for the moment would be to quiet your racing thoughts as best you can and wait out the two weeks until biopsy results are back. Be as comforting and positive as you possibly can around Dad-in-Law for his sake and mental wellbeing. Focus and worry only about the things you KNOW to be true... and, until there is evidence of something more, work very hard on staying calm and thinking clearly.

Now, obviously when there is "prominent swelling" on one side of the neck, one naturally wonders about lymph node involvement and whether or not cancer is there. (My husband's base of tongue tumor was first discovered as a result of an egg-shaped swelling of his neck nodes.) BUT, in your Dad-in-Law's case, it could very well be an after-effect of the radiation. It is common to see new areas of edema or even subtle shape changes in scar tissue that become noticeably visible from the outward appearance of the neck following radiation. For quite some time after my husband's radiotherapy, pockets of swelling would occur just about anywhere around the neck region. At one point recently, I even felt a new "egg shaped knot" just above his larnyx that I had not noticed before. Immediately I called his ENT and had him set up another scan which showed that all is well. Naturally I worry about new tumors every time I see these changes... but CT's continue to show no cancer recurrence.

I guess my point is... Yes, there is always a chance that cancer will come back... but, when a person has received extensive radiation, there can also be other explanations for swelling or changes in shape or appearance of the area that was encompassed within the radiation field.

It is a good thing that your Dad-in-Law's medical team is biopsying and scanning to check things out. You asked for "options and advice" "should the results be bad". Don't go there yet. IF, God forbid, they do find cancer where the swelling has occurred, your Dad-in-Law's options and advice should come only from his medical team... not from folks online. We can help by sharing practical tips during recovery, particularly related to dealing with after-effects of treatment, and also provide emotional support and share personal experiences... but nobody would or should attempt to offer any medical advice or options on this site.

In my husband's case, his ENT surgically removed the cancered lymph node mass and then he underwent both radiation and chemo to destroy the tumor at the tongue base and also any remaining disease still in the neck (and elsewhere, too, in case cancer cell colonies were perhaps lurking in unknown, undetectable locations of his body). Your Dad-in-Law's situation may be altogether different however and no parallels should be drawn between the two cases.

Try every way you know how to keep panicky feelings and thoughts under control between now and the day biopsy/scan results are revealed. Focus on good things in your world and replace troubling thoughts with those that bring comfort. Think of all the ways you are blessed. Good news or not, your Dad-in-Law needs his family to be as clear-headed as possible and help to keep him focused on a positive outcome and remaining mentally strong.

Please post a note to let us all know what transpires in the weeks upcoming. I will send up a special prayer (FedEx ) for your Dad-in-Law. It is obvious how much he means to you. Take extra special care of yourself at this time and make a conscious effort to not worry about anything you do not yet know to be the case. Shower Dad-in-Law with lots of TLC... kisses, hugs, smiles and encouragement. I'll be thinking about you all. Praying for a good outcome for him, and peace of mind for YOU!

From my heart,

Melanie

Hi Melanie,
What fabulous advice you give. Your husband is a very lucky man to have you to care for him.

Moira

Thanks Moira!

That was very sweet. Like you, I am now in a place where reaching out to others is natural and just seems right. It's part of the healing.

Melanie

Hiya Melanie, thank you for replying so soon, Moira is spot on and you are absolutely right, there is no evidence as yet of it spreading and it was so reassuring to read about your husband being in remission for over a year and the swellings are just swellings and not the cancer spreading, even though that's the first thing you think of with it being so close to the nodes in his neck but like you said, he did have radiation therapy for quite a while so that may be the cause. I will post again to let you know how we're doing. Thanks again