Healing process after throat cancer treatments: What to expect?

@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

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

"@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

What stage was your cancer when you started treatment?

"@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

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?

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.

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.
P.S. Fenbendazole is an anti parasitic. Cancer is not a parasite.

@sherryfulk. Sorry, this is very long…
Speaking from my own experience and being 8 1/2 years out from stage IV throat cancer.
So let’s start with the biopsy; not speaking for all but the majority of doctors today know when a suspicious area is cancer. Also, as for myself, I had too much cancer to be a candidate for surgery and chemo/radiation was determined upon initial biopsy review…my ENT wanted to do a second biopsy but I was able to see my oncologist 2 days before it was scheduled and he cancelled it, he said it was a waste of time and $. My wife was a bit skeptical about it but I wanted to trust this oncologist. This oncologist was in his 70’s and I trusted he knew what he was doing, and he did indeed!
His first orders were; feeding tube, injection port, extract my wisdom teeth and lower molars that had fillings, pneumonia vaccine and file for disability.
Next, the being afraid; after my radiation oncologist I met my chemo oncologist. First thing he said was that I have a lot of cancer and they have one chance to kill it so they are hitting me as hard as they can and I’m not going to like it at all! Then he said “I want to talk to you about the Pavlovian Theory!” I replied, “are you talking about Ivan Pavlov?” His eyes opened up and he said “yes, tell me what you know!” After explaining that I am a K-9 handler and Trainer of police dogs and that we use Pavlov’s research yet today…if you’re not familiar let me explain in a nutshell; while studying the dogs digestive system he stumbled upon Classical conditioning and how to turn an unconditioned stimulus into a conditioned stimulus…when the dog salivated at the sight of food he rang a bell and soon the bell made the dog salivated without the presence of food…fast forward to approximately 1920, Dr’s Rayner and Watson studied if Pavlov’s findings would work on humans, hence the “baby Albert experiment” was born…simply put; Albert wasn’t afraid of the white rat. A loud bang was introduced at the entrance of the rat and Albert cried. After numerous repetition Albert would cry at the sight of not only the white rat, but also from white hair, fur etc…just like Pavlov’s dog would salivate at the bell, the lab coat, the person who fed the dog. Both studies are much deeper but what do they mean to your husband?
The same thing can happen to your husband that happened to baby Albert and Pavlov’s dog!!! Having the mindset that his treatment will make him sick has got to be erased from his mind. This is what happens to so many cancer patients; they feel ok until the oncologist walks in and then they vomit…this escalates to the room, the facility, the vehicle etc…DON’T BE A BABY ALBERT!!! Change his mindset FAST! Did chemo make me sick? Of course but they kept me on plenty of medication to curb that. But I saw many that became “baby Albert!”
Now, alternative medicine; I truly believe that we are right on time when we enter this life and as we exit this life so what we do in between either makes our life better or worse. An oncology team has entered you and your husband’s life now for a reason and that reason is to shrink and destroy that cancer! My suggestion is to let them perform their life saving steps with nothing but following their instructions. Many suggested I try alternatives but I declined and trusted my team!
Hope this helps and I didn’t create an enemy. 😘
MOJO

I just completed 35 daily radiation Treatments (thyroid bed, trachea and more). This included 6 weekly chemotherapy Treatments that enhance the radiation. I am a patient at MSK.
The oncology team did their best to terrify me before the treatment. They said it would be impossibly difficult. They would liken the chemo to gasoline thrown on the radiation.
I doubled down and assured them I could do the treatment. "I can do this".
It was very, very difficult, the pain started week 3. I did not get a feeding tube, although people do. I lived on KateFarms liquid nutrition, and still use it to get complete nutrition. I took 5mg oxycodone. I got really tired of being in pain all the time and the low dose oxy barely helped.
One annoying side effect is sticky mucous, caused by inflammation. It is constant. I spit it into bags, you can get from your hospital or Amazon.
I hired a friend to drive me every day, starting week 3.
I completed the treatment one month ago today! The exterior pain is gone. My interior throat pain is minor now, only felt when I swallow. I still need the oxycodone. I am just starting to eat soft foods. I lost weight. Energy comes and goes. My brain is sharp and foggy.
I am still in the care of MSK. I have weekly labs, nurse visit and hydration.
I did it. I am a widow and live alone.
I am 72 years old.