Healing process after throat cancer treatments: What to expect?

Hi Everyone! My 35 radiation and 7 chemo treatments ended January 18, 2024. I had a feeding tube and port installed prior to treatments starting. I was hospitalized for 5 days w/pneumonia Jan 10-15, but was still able to finish treatment. I'm grateful I had my tube as many mentioned it was essential for nutrition and medicine. I started right away in February working on swallowing...it was definitely a 4 month transition ( a few complications in there) and the onset of lymphedema in my neck. I got a compression suit for daily 32 minute lymph massage I do every morning. My swallowing is SO MUCH BETTER! Still smaller bites and a lot of chewing- but, I've gained back 5 of 30 lbs. I lost. My stamina and creativity are back, as is my appetite. My palette is still not quite right (still can't do hot peppers or peppery seasonings) but I just persevere and try to eat stuff! All the physical stuff ya just do what ya can and keep trying. Keeping your mental game positive can be more challenging...some days I'm just tired of being in warrior mode. Time passing and small changes make a huge difference. I feel lucky that I've always been a cup half full girl and have great loving, supportive relationships that simply make my life full. Wishing the best for you- it'll get better!

@nlovejoy Good to hear he’s able to drink as for me it was many months before I could drink. I had the feeding tube for nearly a year! I was finally able to get oatmeal down my throat and I ate oatmeal 3 times per day for about a year. I’m 8 1/2 years out now and I still have to be very careful with eating and I try to avoid eating much more than oatmeal or scrambled eggs if I’m alone; I’ve had some close calls!
Plenty of liquids with meals, in fact, I drink so much that I get cold.
Hang in there and fight the good fight!
MOJO

I don't know anything about the chemo required in your case. As a person with cancer, I personally believe that the doctors know how to stop cancer, and I don't. I had 6 chemo treatments doxorubicin to enhance 35 radiation treatments. I finished one month ago. I am glad I trusted my oncology team.

I am 3 weeks out of treatment did 6 chemo and 35 radiation. I am feeling ok even back to work but when will the throat pain go away anyone know.

I am 3 weeks out from 15 radiation treatments for throat and mouth cancer. Doctor has now ordered a very expensive medication for chronic lymphoma tic leukemia. I am hesitating, as my salty taste buds are starting to return; my mouth is EXTREMELY dry, and my tongue is still very sore. My energy level is still quite low. I wish I could feel normal again and return to my active life. The new medication is (1) cost prohibitive, and (2) comes with a whole new set of side effects.
The throat pain, up to now, was unbearable. I tried to get healthy shakes down with a straw and drank Ensure (tasted awful.) Tampering with eating caused me to experience diarrhea and constipation. As a friend said, "This is NO FUN." Although doctors and nurses appear to give flippant responses - Why don't you just... Or prescribe magic mouthwash - ouch! They have not experienced this type of pain that does not respond to regular pain medication.
I've learned a lot. Never take a single good day or good meal for granted. Praise the Lord for all the many times you have enjoyed life and forgot to be thankful. We are not entitled to much of the goodness that surrounds us. I seek normal days and pray my friends experiencing throat and neck cancer will completely heal and take a new look at this life we have been given.
I am an 83 year old woman, but don't tell anyone.

@panevills I know exactly what u r talking about. Asa nurse myself the medical profession hasn’t experienced so they really have no clue. I had 35/7 my last treatment was 10/18/24 the first 6 months were horrible but doable considering the alternative. The second 6 months no mouth or throat pain but lymphedema was so bad I could not move my left arm for months. I used Dr Ellie’s (YouTube) mouth regimen to get rid of burning mouth syndrome ( I will continue this for the rest of my life) and i have the tactile medical machine which pump the fluid off my head, neck and chest (i can now move my arms and shoulders, and breathe much better). I just had to accept that things will pop up and move on. Alkaline water and Dr Pepper for whatever reason did not burn my mouth and others have had the same experience. Dr Ellie’s I had improvement immediately but took 4-6wks to go away ompletely

@pfitziern i did not start dr Ellie’s until i was about 6months post treatment and i never had mouth sores only pain.

@panevills
I am little over 2.5 years out since radiation treatments and things are Slowly getting better. Everything they suggested tasted Disgusting and was difficult to swallow. Ensure was absolutely disgusting but now I can drink it mixed half milk half ensure and it’s not bad. The entire process has been a living nightmare of an experience. I’m now able to eat things I never thought I’d be able to again…. Pizza, steak, pasta, bagels, etc etc. now I do have to be selective on which types of the foods I just stated like I can eat ribeye but not sirloin, I can do thin pastas but not thicker ones( the easiest is Angel hair ), pizza is thin crust, bagels need to be toasted, bacon has to be crispy but not too crispy and Not thick sliced. I still have some problems if I go out to eat because everything has to be cooked to my specific needs… Good thing my Mom taught me to cook. I Pray Everyday, sometimes multiple times a day, I am grateful to still be above the grass and hopeful for the future. Even at this stage I have my own worries and anxiety about my morbidity but am starting to realize that my life is, not so simply, just a new type of “normal “ . I’m looking at another surgery very soon and honestly I’m afraid to go through it all again learning to eat chew swallow speak and trying to open my mouth enough to brush my teeth and get food in. With all of this I do believe that God has His plan for me and will continue to guide me. I’m fortunate for the friends I have that stand with me and try to understand what I’ve been going through. Hang in there and Have Faith. Thing Do Get Better.

@lollie
Glad you are getting better. My experience was/is much like yours. One caution is that you may
not get back to spicy foods. At over 5 years out they are still in the avoid at all costs category for me. It's tricky as they often are in things you would not suspect. Good luck.

@robertpeters
Same with me with the spicy foods and I am 17yrs out.