mlts121's Journey with Salivary Gland Cancer

My surgeon was able to spare most of the facial nerve, but I have weakness that may improve. I look mostly normal, but don't feel that way.

I'm currently going through radiation almost one third done and I have to say that I hate every minute of it. I have to wear a "mask" that covers my face, neck and top of shoulders with limited vision. They showed a picture of one with eye holes and a mouth hole, but I don't have that. It causes a lot of anxiety for me during the treatments and I can't wait for it to come off. I try not to take any meds for anxiety because i hav to drive to and from he treatments after working all day.

After the treatments is a guess as to what symptoms I'll have. I have to get radiation to my left facial nerve, the last treatment was full of side effects. I had numbness and tingling of my lips, tongue, roof of my mouth and pain in my left ear, eye, jaw, cheek. I took some advil before the treatment and again 6 hours later. I had trouble with coordinating the vision in my left eye for about an hour. The symptoms didn't show up until about 4 hours after the treatment. My oncologist says they are caused by swelling around the facial nerve.

I've been seeing my chiropractor to try to relieve some of the stress as well as the pain to my lower back from laying on the hard treatment table. I also made a massage appointment for next week.