long term side effects of radiation for head/neck cancer

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??

Hi There,

Marijuana SIMPSON OIL...

Relaxes your throat and relieves the pain better than narcotics.

Your teeth are a crap shoot ... Brush your teeth and wish for the best.

Greg in Chicago

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

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??

I was on a feeding tube for a year post treatment for tonsil cancer. What enabled me to get back to swallowing food was Vita Stim Treatments from a Speech Pathologist - one who was trained in Vita Stim. Masters Degree Programs in Communication Science and Disorders (Speech Pathology) include extensive anatomy studies. I was blessed to have a former classmate, a Speech Pathologist in a local hospital, work with me. She also provided exercises which combined with Vita Stim had me eating solid foods in six weeks. Diana

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??

I’m confused. How can you eat well but having a problem swallowing?

On Apr 29, 2018 10:10 PM Shirleyperez wrote:

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??

I’m confused. How can you eat well but having a problem swallowing?

Maybe he has an appetite and has trouble getting to go down.  After only one month it's too soon for the cock to crow!  I was many months out and my throat closed completely and had 3 dilations in 6 weeks to get it open again.  The effects of radiation don't really start until after they are completed.  He is sadly going to become worse before the healing starts.  I've had head and neck cancer twice. 5 years apart.  Hope you come out better than I have but I'm not going to complain.  I've had excellant care.

On Feb 04, 2012 9:32 PM LadyBird wrote:

I have wondered about that too.  H & N Radiation in 2003.  I have swallowing, talking, & eating issues.  My teeth have been trashed and I'm getting crowns and partials made.  Good luck and I would love to hear what you find out.

i  have the same problems and its 2and a half yrs now ..  will it ever end ..???also  my  temper seems to be out of control .. anyone else ???

Edward,

Most of us are on the way to recovery (the "new normal," whatever that might be for each of us) by 2.5 years out.  What problems are you still having?

Talk to your primary care doctor about your temper.  Anger can be a result of depression or another problem.  You may need a referral to a counselor or another practitioner.  It will likely be easier to deal with the effects of treatment if you can find ways to maintain a calmer self.

Best of luck to you.

Susan

same problem, no surrgery 92 gry, swallow ogod withthout deenturures, bad witth dentutrueres!

My husband has the same problem. He has been on a peg tin for years and still asperates. His epiglottis does not close his windpipe off correctly so he can not eat anything by mouth. We are looking everywhere to see if his epiglottis can be fix but come up empty with all the doctors we have seen. Our lives are hell because of head and neck cancer. We are both so depressed with our situation that we basically stay in separate rooms and only go out of the house for doctor appointments. He doesn’t want to socialize because that leads to eating,which he can’t do and I don’t socialize because I feel bad that he can’t. After 18 years of this you would think the doctor would have a answer !!!