Complete Esophagus Obstruction

After 41 Radiation treatments and 2 Waves of Cisplatin, Chemo, I cannot swallow because my esophagus is completely closed with scar tissue. I informed the Radiologist in November of '03 I could not swallow along with my ENT and Infusion nurses. They recommended, Magic Mouthwash and Zoloft. I lost 45 ibs in less than one month and a G-Tube was inserted in Dec of '03. After my last Rad Treatment, Jan 21, 04 my Ent said to wait 3 months before trying to have my esophagus dilated. It's now September and after 4 Endoscopies, I've been informed I'll need an Esophagectomy and Laryngectomy, which I do not want but tube feeding for almost a year has left me depressed and weak. I had stage 4 Hypopharynx squamous cell carcinoma which has been destroyed and Radical Neck surgery to remove a lymph node. Does any one know of any treatments available, besides surgery, I could pursue to save my Esophagus and Larynx?? Thank you Kindly, Ray

Hi Ray,
I know there is a group at Mayo Clinic who had good results in a pilot study using microcurrent therapy to treat and prevent fibrosis associated with radiation therapy of the head and neck. Unfortunately, I think the group went private and may no longer be associated with Mayo Clinic. So, let me send you to the premiere source for Frequency Specific Microcurrent (FSM) Therapy and that would be Dr. Caroline McMakin in Portland, OR.

Here are 2 websites: www.frequencyspecific.com and www.drcarol.org.

Treatment is totally safe, yet no studies to show effectiveness in radiation induced fibrosis and scarring. Hypothetically, scarring, fibrosis and sclerosis of the esophagus (and most other tissues) can be treated with FSM therapy.

Best of luck from Kevin L., MD

Ray...My mom has had a very similar situation that you are describing. She was diagnosed w/ SCC in 5/02. Went through the rad and chemo treatments along with having a feeding tube put in. Because of the intense rad treatments her throat closed due to scar tissue. Her ENT tried to open it as well as her gastroenterologist. It was a failure both times. I found a doctor at a hospital that is 3 hours away from her who was willing to give it a try. He brought in a gastro doctor in case he couldn't find a passageway through her mouth, which he couldn't. He had the gastro doctor go up in through her feeding tube and they met in the middle and he was able to create an opening through the scar tissue. This was done this past April. She went in to have it stretched again the end of August. This time her ENT doctor was able to do it on his own. My suggestion to you is to find someone who can help you. I learned a very important lesson: There is always someone out there who can help you, you might have to travel and do a little research but never give up. My mom is now able to drink some liquids. Keep me posted.
Kim (likimny)

My brother is 47 yrs. old and had maximum rads of radiation on his neck for neck cancer. He finished his radiation in Jun 2003 and was told in Sep 03 that the cancer was back even more aggressively and you have 3 months to live.
After an intensive naturopathic/homeopathic remedies and team of naturopathic doctors, he is still FIGHTING! After being on his G-tube since Apr 2003 he is, as you are, depressed and weaken after losing over over 60 lbs. He really needs to get his jaw and esophagus loosened up from the scar tissue the radiation caused. He has felt some amazing things from a treatment called cranial-sacral therapy and to a somewhat lesser degree from acupuncture - with the needles hooked up to electric impulses. He has had about 5 treatments of each so far and he still can't open his mouth - but he feels like it is healing.
We would be very interested to hear of any treatments that you hear about to open up your esophagus.
Ian T.

Kevin,
Thanks for the advice you offered on the site. I have contacted Dr. McMakin for my brother who has had intensive radiation on his neck and can not swallow due to scar tissue build up.
Regards,
Ian T

I feel so sorry for what you are having to endure but I have no solutions for you, other than to contact a Dr. Jason Williams in Orange Beach, AL that works with ablation therapy and perhaps he can help you. My question of you is where did you have your radiation therapy? My 36 y/o daughter has squamous cell carcinoma of her tongue with spreading to her lymph nodes and is set to begin radiation therapy tomorrow. We've been told of the horrible side effects, however, what you have experienced has not been given as a side effect. We have been told she will need a feeding tube in her stomach as her throat will be burned so badly that she will not be able to eatl. I'm just wondering if your treatment took place where she is getting her treatment - at a major cancer center in Houston. Thanks, and good luck to you - please contact Dr. Jason Williams in Orange Beach for some help.

My treatments were in Greenbelt MD. at the Greenbelt Cancer Center. There was no monitoring of my Esophagus, Larynx or Throat during my treatments even after I complained I couldn't swallow. I had "severe mucositis" and still nothing was done,so the minute she has any trouble, have a Thoracic Surgeon examine her throat and during her treatments make sure someone keeps track of the scaring and inflamation side-effects. Even if X-Rays need to be taken to see whats going on and if anything can be done to minimize the damage Radiation and Chemo do to good tissue. Be active, take names and keep dates of everyone you talk to and what they do to help you,otherwise you may have terrible side-effects long after you're finished, like I do. Good luck, the Lord is watching Too, remember "7 days without prayer can make one weak"...Ray

Subject: Complete Blockage, Upper Esophageal Sphincter

Message: I am 58 years old, male in good health worked out for 25 years at the YMCA. It started with a lymphnode (left side neck), which lead to fine my left tonsil squamous cell carcinoma May 17, 2004. The tonsil was removed and my team of Doctors recommended me to start taking aggressive treatment, because I was in good health 180 pounds, Chemo then chemo and radiation together. Everything going along good, in the 2nd week of radiation I could not swallow at all. I finish all my treatments as we planed. I already had a feeding tub in place and was eating blended table food. It has been four months since that 2nd week. It has been three months since my last radiation treatment, and now the MRI is clear, still cannot swallow anything. I was sent after two months to see gastro doctor, he went in and back out. He said it was to swollen closed and did not want to take a chance on damaging the esophagus. I went to another doctor just the other day December 18th 2004 and I did not like the way he was talking, at this point I don't know what to do. I don't know if three months is a long time to wait for the esophagus to open or does it go longer with some. Some of the doctors say give it time, and they also say they have not had a patient go this long. I have been maintaining 150 pounds feeling ok walking in the mornings and working from home. I am trying to stay positive. Can anyone help? It would be a nice Christmas present if could swallow again.
Update went to the radiation doctor December 30th 2004. He is at a lost, suggest I go back to the doctor I visited on December 19th. None of my medical team seems to know what to do. Should I go back to the ENT? Standing by.

Kimberly Y.

I would like to know more about your mon's condition now. It sounds very much like me. John C.

Kimberly Y.

I would like to know more about your mon's condition now. It sounds very much like me. John C.