1. < Head & Neck Cancer

Healing process after throat cancer treatments: What to expect?

Posted by nlovejoy @nlovejoy, Mar 25 12:59pm

My husband recently finished his metastatic squamous cell tongue cancer treatment , after 35 rounds of radiation and 6 rounds of chemo. His feeding tube was placed on January 6, the day he started his treatment. He’s getting 100% of his nutrition through the tube. Although he feels weary from the entire process, he has done very well. Just this week he has started consuming small amounts of tea, applesauce and even some coffee by mouth. Knowing now that this process is very up and down, what has been other’s experience with having the feeding tube eventually removed? I know the timeline is different for everyone.

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Mentor
Don Higgins, Volunteer Mentor | @dsh33782 | Mar 25 4:12pm

@nlovejoy
Hi, I had esophageal cancer which was treated with chemo and radiation. I also had a feeding tube for several months as I could not swallow due to tumor in lower esophagus. I was taking Isosource by feeding tube and it did provide nutrition. But I was having several side affects including coughing, tiredness, and diarrhea. Now the tube is out and scans show I'm cancer free. How far along is your husband? I'd be happy to answer any questions?
Don

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2 replies
nlovejoy | @nlovejoy | Mar 25 8:56pm
In reply to @dsh33782 "@nlovejoy Hi, I had esophageal cancer which was treated with chemo and radiation. I also had..." + (show)
@dsh33782

@nlovejoy
Hi, I had esophageal cancer which was treated with chemo and radiation. I also had a feeding tube for several months as I could not swallow due to tumor in lower esophagus. I was taking Isosource by feeding tube and it did provide nutrition. But I was having several side affects including coughing, tiredness, and diarrhea. Now the tube is out and scans show I'm cancer free. How far along is your husband? I'd be happy to answer any questions?
Don

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Thank you so much for your reply. CONGRATS on being cancer free!! My husband completed treatment 3 weeks ago. Every day is different for him. The sloughing of the throat has been horrific. He coughs and gags, spitting up a lot of ugly stuff. That part is improving each day. Did you experience any of that? How long did you have the feeding tube once treatment was completed?
Thank you for your input!
Nieta

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2 replies
Mentor
Don Higgins, Volunteer Mentor | @dsh33782 | Mar 26 5:39am
In reply to @nlovejoy "Thank you so much for your reply. CONGRATS on being cancer free!! My husband completed treatment..." + (show)
@nlovejoy

Thank you so much for your reply. CONGRATS on being cancer free!! My husband completed treatment 3 weeks ago. Every day is different for him. The sloughing of the throat has been horrific. He coughs and gags, spitting up a lot of ugly stuff. That part is improving each day. Did you experience any of that? How long did you have the feeding tube once treatment was completed?
Thank you for your input!
Nieta

Jump to this post

"@nlovejoy
Yes, I had the ugly coughing up phlegm. I had the jtube for several months while I could not swallow and had no appetite. They removed the jtube as soon as the treatment was done and I could swallow again. Let us know how the next scan goes?
Don

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mintman | @mintman | Mar 27 7:52pm
In reply to @dsh33782 "@nlovejoy Hi, I had esophageal cancer which was treated with chemo and radiation. I also had..." + (show)
@dsh33782

@nlovejoy
Hi, I had esophageal cancer which was treated with chemo and radiation. I also had a feeding tube for several months as I could not swallow due to tumor in lower esophagus. I was taking Isosource by feeding tube and it did provide nutrition. But I was having several side affects including coughing, tiredness, and diarrhea. Now the tube is out and scans show I'm cancer free. How far along is your husband? I'd be happy to answer any questions?
Don

Jump to this post

What stage was your cancer when you started treatment?

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1 reply
Mentor
Don Higgins, Volunteer Mentor | @dsh33782 | Mar 27 9:29pm
In reply to @mintman "What stage was your cancer when you started treatment?" + (show)
@mintman

What stage was your cancer when you started treatment?

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"@nlovejoy
Hi, I was stage 3 when they found tumor in lower esophagus during endoscopy to see why I was having trouble swallowing.
But chemo and radiation worked, and I have clean scans now.
I hope all goes well with you and you will keep us posted.
Don

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | 1 day ago
In reply to @nlovejoy "Thank you so much for your reply. CONGRATS on being cancer free!! My husband completed treatment..." + (show)
@nlovejoy

Thank you so much for your reply. CONGRATS on being cancer free!! My husband completed treatment 3 weeks ago. Every day is different for him. The sloughing of the throat has been horrific. He coughs and gags, spitting up a lot of ugly stuff. That part is improving each day. Did you experience any of that? How long did you have the feeding tube once treatment was completed?
Thank you for your input!
Nieta

Jump to this post

Hi @nlovejoy, I moved your discussion about after treatments for tongue cancer to the Head & Neck Cancers support group here: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/head-neck-cancer/

I did this so you can:
1. Click the link and use the search function to find similar discussions related to your questions.
and
2. to connect you with other members like @rkaspet @chanderson @mytime62 @4dogsrental who have experience with tongue cancer.

Has your husband's feeding tube been removed? How is he doing? How are you doing?

REPLY
sherryfulk | @sherryfulk | 6 hours ago

Hubby is getting ready to start his treatment tomorrow for Otopharynx SCC . The Drs have my husband petrified of getting a tube and how much radiation will hurt and how sick chemo will make him to the point of he was thinking about NOT getting treatment. When I asked about using Ivermectin and Fenbendazole with the treatments I was immediately shot down, even with the positive research results using both of these. I also asked about Immunotherapy and Histrotripsy and was told NO to both as well. Anyone else inquire about any of these? The DRs decided on rad /chemo while they were doing his biopsy, before ANY lab or pathoogy results were back.

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1 reply
Mentor
William Olsen, Volunteer Mentor | @hrhwilliam | 14 minutes ago
In reply to @sherryfulk "Hubby is getting ready to start his treatment tomorrow for Otopharynx SCC . The Drs have..." + (show)
@sherryfulk

Hubby is getting ready to start his treatment tomorrow for Otopharynx SCC . The Drs have my husband petrified of getting a tube and how much radiation will hurt and how sick chemo will make him to the point of he was thinking about NOT getting treatment. When I asked about using Ivermectin and Fenbendazole with the treatments I was immediately shot down, even with the positive research results using both of these. I also asked about Immunotherapy and Histrotripsy and was told NO to both as well. Anyone else inquire about any of these? The DRs decided on rad /chemo while they were doing his biopsy, before ANY lab or pathoogy results were back.

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Hi @sherryfulk The traditional treatments are known to be very successful whereas the newer experimental treatments do not have a scientific track record. This causes your doctor team to balk as they are scientists. Reinventing the wheel is not what they do generally.
The side effects of standard treatment are tough. Cancer is tough as well. This isn’t an easy battle as you can see from reading these and other posts but we are here writing these posts because we have fought the tradition battle and have succeeded.
Most doctors try to paint a false rosy picture of radiation and chemo, much to our dismay. Your husband’s doctors were truthful and I for one applaud that.
We are here to help him on this path. Please reach out. Courage.

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