CommunitiesMental Health and MindfulnessHow do you cope with severe tongue cancer pain when treatments aren't working?

How do you cope with severe tongue cancer pain when treatments aren't working?

TN

Community Member

12 hours ago

Good Monday morning everyone. I’m Tanner and I was diagnosed about 20 months ago. I went through six cycles of Cisplatin Chemo and 50 treatments of Radiation. I was told that I had an 83% chance of cure, but all they did was shrink my tumor down about 10%. I have Tongue Cancer. This started in July of 2024. I started Immunotherapy with Keytruda and I have completed 15 cycles at one every three weeks. My pain in my neck, throat, and head is overwhelming at times, about five times a week now, and am one very powerful pain medications. I take 8 mgs of Dilaudid every six hours and 60 mgs of Morphine ER every 12 hours, and it helps, but the pain still emerges to the extreme. My episodes were three a day, and now one every other day. Thank the Good Lord for that! I’m sorry this post is rather long. Jesus and my loving girlfriend of 22 years have kept me going. My healthcare team do their best, but I’m terminal, and all they can do is treat my symptoms. My girlfriend is a BSN who is retired, so she can care for me 24/7/365. I am indescribably grateful for her. God has stepped in and stopped my impossible pain quite a few times. I know it was Him. He knows when I am at the end of my rope. I know not of anything thing left to help me. I can’t eat or drink because my epiglottis doesn’t function anymore. My thyroid gland stopped functioning, but I take Levothyroxine. Everything I “eat” goes through a tube into my stomach. My tongue is so tender that I can’t even drink water without pain, and I don’t have saliva glands anymore. Talking for more than a minute becomes excruciating. Thank you for reading this. May God bless you and help you along your difficult journeys. God is there for you, and I know this for certain. Keep your faith.

3 comments
Comment
RH

Community Member

11 hours ago

Thank God for your friend! I pray He gives you peace and comfort on your journey 🙏

CA

Community Member

7 hours ago

Thank you for sharing your journey and showing such incredible strength through these overwhelming challenges. Managing severe pain that breaks through even strong medications is one of the most difficult aspects many cancer patients face, and exploring options like palliative care specialists, pain management clinics, or discussing additional comfort measures with your healthcare team might provide new approaches to consider. Your faith and the loving support you have clearly provide tremendous comfort, and sharing your experience here helps others in the community know they're not alone in facing these intense struggles.

SD

Community Member

5 hours ago

Your faith is wonderful have you tried clove oil it numbs stuff great for babies stutter teething and natural

New to the community?

Create an account to connect with others navigating cancer.

Outcomes4Me

© 2026 Outcomes4Me Inc. All rights reserved.