Hello @gareee314, Do you still have a nasogastric tube or have you had a gastrostomy tube in place through the stomach wall? What does your ENT say about this issue? Has anyone discussed further surgery that might help your swallowing? I have head and neck cancer, but not oral, but my father did and he ended up with a gastrostomy tube, which was much easier to maintain and live with. His soft palate was not affected except by the irritation of the nasogastric tube for many months.
Has anyone recommended medication like plain Mucinex to thin your secretions? How often are you seeing your doctors for re-checks? Have they ever suggested swallowing therapy to you? It seems like this is a long time to be living with this issue, and while it is better than dying of cancer, I would want to pursue every option to see if it could improve. I hope others have some helpful suggestions for you.

Thank you for replying Sue..After my throat and neck surgery on 12/2021 a nose feeding tube was inserted and the constant rubbing against my soft palate was an issue. One night I coughed up a blood clot from the soft palate area from the chafing. A little of my soft palate had to be removed during surgery ( had some cancer) plus 2 masses at the back of my tongue and left retro molar trigon ( behind the gum behind the last molar). I was told the only radiation and chemo was needed for the neck because there was 2 of the 33 lymph nodes that had cancer. Before getting chemo I had a peg tube inserted into my stomach to replace the nose tube and a port in my chest was inserted at the same time. I have a regular checkup with the surgeon to check for cancer and I am seeing a speech therapist that is giving me exercises to strengthen the swallowing muscles..She recommended for me to get a palatal lift inserted to keep the soft palate from drooping. It would be like a upper partial plate. Now I am battling a lung tumor which I was told is not from the throat cancer that I had. I want to get that cured first with the chemo and radiation. I am constantly hocking up mucous from the top of my palate where it is produced and regular saliva is still gone. I have been on Glucerna for over 3 years for nourishment because of the soft palate interfering with my swallowing. My first ENT took a look at my barium swallow test results and said "Looks like you will always have your stomach tube" I didn't think she should of said that. Last time I go to her. Also, this past year, the inside of my upper gums get swollen now and then..My dentist checked and said it's all from the 30 treatments of radiation I got almost 3 years ago. I also have to be careful not to aspirate when sipping on water because the throat muscles aren't working normally. Another thing, I have COPD and been using a nebulizer with albuterol. I am wondering if this is keeping my throat and gums from healing.