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HPV squamous cell throat cancer: Soft palate isn't working
I had my surgery on 12/2021 which started in the left tonsil and traveled to the back of the tongue , some of the soft palate, and retro molar trigon. Neck dissection with the removal of 33 lymph nodes, 2 were encapsulated and tested positive. I still need a stomach tube (3/2025) for Glucerna for nourishment. I am 72 years old. My upper(inside) gums get swollen now and then (since 1 year ago) and my soft palate feels like it's touching the back of my tongue. I produce alot of mucous above the palate that prevents me from swallowing food and hard time swallowing water. I constantly have to hack up to clear my palate from the (sometimes yellow) mucous into tissues. I had barium swallow tests done and they claim my soft palate isn't working properly and and swallowing make things (50%) go upward above my palate and could cause me to silently aspirate. I am seeing a speech therapist now to strengthen the throat muscles..Anybody hear or going through these same problems?
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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.
@gareee31, I expanded the title of your discussion to reflect your question about the soft palate. You might find additional information in these related discussions:
- Flap Not Functioning https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/flap-not-functioning/
- Has anyone experienced a tonsillectomy and soft palate reconstruction? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/has-anyone-experienced-a-tonsillectomy-and-soft-palate-reconstruction/
How are the sessions with the speech pathologist? Do you have exercises to do daily?
Yes . My speech therapist which I see weekly gives me exercises to do home to try and strengthen that soft palate..She is also looking into a specialist to fit me with a palatal lift. This is a device that hooks up to your upper teeth like a removable partial plate and has a bulb at the end to lift my lowered soft palate to help swallowing. I also get blisters now and then to my inside upper gums just above my molars that most likely is coming from the radiation almost 3 years ago. Hopefully that will subside.I do get a burning sensation to my soft palate probably because of the hocking up I do to get rid of the mucous that builds up above the palate.
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2 Reactions@sepdvm I am seeing a speech therapist to help me swallow. I get recheck from my surgeon and he just gave me a soft plastic bottle to squeeze water through my nostril to clear out 24/7/ producing mucous that is produced above my soft palate..I am just wondering if this mucous is lymph fluids escaping..I had 33 lymph nodes in the left side of my neck removed during surgery back in 2021. I am having an orbital soft palate lift being made up to lift the soft palate while swallowing...This device is like having a shoehorn in my mouth. It covers my whole palate so the tongue just about can move.
@gareee314 You are dealing with quite a complex issue and it sounds like your medical team is working with you to address this. I wondered if your surgeon has you using distilled water or a mixture with salt and baking soda? Like the Neilmed sinus flush from the drug store.
I have no personal experience with lymphedema of the head and neck but I have not seen others on Connect mention the mucous production with their experiences. Perhaps the remaining nodes on your right are capable of keeping the lymph flowing.
Are you swallowing any nutrition or is it all through your PEG tube? Keep working on this and hopefully you will regain swallowing skills.
The only thing I can swallow without coughing is sips of water with my head turned to the left.
This backwashes a little toward my nasal canal so I can hock out the mucous to the back of the tongue to spit out. I tried carbonated soda, ginger ale, Pepsi, and what they do is make the mucous bubbly like a chemical reaction. When I try citrus products, it burns my soft palate.