Has anyone experienced narrowing of the esophagus due to radiation ?

My problem 4 1/2 years ago after radiation is I can't swallow food because my soft palate is hanging too low from the surgery and the tip of it was removed. I have mucusitus . Mucous being produced 24/7 above my palate in the sinus cavity which I am always trying to hock it out so I can spit it out. I get about 3 hours sleep if I am lucky because it starts to ooze down and makes me cough. I have to sit up with my head back to try to get the sticky stuff out..Blowing the nose doesn't do anything. The cancer started at the left tonsil and got to the back of my tongue. Now I just had a scan done and my right tonsil is "full". What ever that means. I had a half neck dissection in which they removed 33 lymph nodes. ( 2 were tested positive)..Maybe this is the lymph fluids backing up over my palate? Doctors (ENT) and surgeon doesn't have answers.

My BIL finished radiation 7 months ago and since then had his esophagus stretched twice but it has narrowed again. He is not giving up and has planned a consult with a vanderbilt ENT. There is also a "swallowing" bootcamp at MD Anderson but first the opening has to be able to accept the food and liquid so maybe a better way to hold the stretch is in his future. Will keep u posted.

Yes, I had stage 4 tonsil cancer over 20 years ago. Radiation fibrosis is progressive but Physical Therapy can help. Your situation sounds much more complicated than mine but similar. I also have an over abundance of mucus. My cancer Dr. explained that my body is reacting to the scar tissue from radiation as an injury and is producing mucus to heal it.

My situation is similar to @gareee314 , but not as severe, so far. I'm only 3 months out from proton radiation on the left side of my face and neck after a tonsillectomy. I can no longer hock and spit phlegm and mucus. My throat opening is much smaller.
I keep a glass of herbal tea next to my bed to moisten my mouth and throat over night. I also use a saline spray before bed. I try to gargle normally as an exercise in the hopes that it will help restore my anatomy.
But it is an uncomfortable sensation. Especially after brushing my teeth in the morning which is when I would normally expel mucous by spitting it out. I hope it improves over time.

Wishing you and your husband the best.

@sf2026 I forgot to mention that this past year my upper gums near my palate on both sides at the teeth line blister now and then. This is all from radiation 4 1/2 years ago?

Yes, I think it is pretty common. I had it as well. Just not that severe. Did they recommend an esophageal dilation? That is where they go in and stretch it with a balloon. Has it done and it helped. Something to think about

We are waiting for the esophageal dilation

My treatment was 14 years ago and I was on the feeding tube a long time. Eventually worked my way back onto solid foods and have been able to eat whatever I wanted for ages now. Last fall I choked on a piece of steak and it got lodged in the esophagus and had to be removed by endoscopic surgery after 21 hours in the ER on an IV since I could not swallow a thing until it was clear. Since then I have needed 2 more endoscopic dilations which are pretty simple outpatient procedures. Seems fine now but I have to be very careful of swallowing small bites.

Best of luck to you!

@sf2026 I used Xylomelts at night-time to help with dry mouth and it really does help

@gareee314 Oh my, you just describe what I'm going though. My started happening after 9 yrs with no problems. Then out of the blue, I started to have issues swallowing when I'm eating, had to make sure I had water by my-side all the time to help get it down. All my doctors are baffled and don't know what to do. I'm on a feeding tube now, place in Nov. 2025. need to change the tube every 3 months. After seeing my ENT physician assistant, He check me out and said he didn't know what to do. I wanted a second opinion, I'm thinking theres has be a doctor out there that can help. So I made a appointment with a ENT outside my town. I'm attaching my report...so you can understand what's going on with me. My in town ENT (pa) did not inform me of the new issues I'm having. 🙁 I like this support group it helps. remember "We're all are on different journeys, but at the same time we're on the same journey." Have a bless day 🙂