On Apr 25, 2018 7:18 AM bburton wrote:
Hi, I am one month done with Rad therapy for throat cancer.
I can speak and eat well. I have a new denture, because I removed 4 teeth prior to tratment. I now have a problem swallowing.
I had no surgery, just 92 gry of radiation. Im OK without teeth but am having a problem with teeth. Not sure what to do??
You are just barely out of treatment, too soon to expect much improvement yet. Unfortunately this recovery is s-l-o-w.
Are you wearing the dentures full time yet? And are they full or partial? Is your mouth sore?
I'd talk to your doctors, and dentist, about eating. You might want to eat without your teeth for a while until you heal some more. They didn't let me get dentures for five months, until I got the OK that I was completely healed.
You can also ask about whether speech therapy might help with the swallowing. Your ENT may be able to tell you, and if yes, refer you.
I had a modified radical neck dissection (removed only 20+ nodes on the outside of the neck) and radiation, no chemo, so it was a similar treatment.
Best of luck to you with your recovery and eating.
Susan