Connect
← Return to Saliva and dry mouth: Head and neck cancer and treatments
Discussion
Saliva and dry mouth: Head and neck cancer and treatments
Head & Neck Cancer | Last Active: Aug 25 3:35pm | Replies (57)Comment receiving replies
Hi William,
I joined this group for information and also to pass along information that might be helpful to others. Due to the cancer, my left vocal cord is paralyzed. In 2021, I had a fat injection into that vocal cord and ended up with epigolotitis. Very rare, but something to be aware of if considering a fat injection. This past spring I had a choking incident that landed me in the ER and I decided it was time to do something about the swallowing issue (partly due to the paralysis and partly damage from radiation). Anyway, found a great ENT here in northern California Dr. Sumana Jothi, and just had a laryngoscopy to enlarge esophagus and also to do injection into vocal fold. Successful with swallowing, not so much with voice (lots of scar tissue bc of prior surgery) so she's going to do a Thyroplasty the end of this month, for a more permanent solution. I'm looking forward to the results and will let the group know how the procedure goes. I have xerostomia from the radiation, and I did share what I'm doing to help with that, unfortunately every doctor I talk to doesn't have much in the way of help with stimulation of salivary glands.
So there you have it, my best to everyone.
Replies to "Hi William, I joined this group for information and also to pass along information that might..."
@jersey72, I add my welcome and invite you to also follow the Thyroid Cancer support group here on Mayo Clinic Connect https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/thyroid-cancer/
Connect
@jersey72 You are correct about the lack of help with stimulation of the salivary glands. The common drugs prescribed result in unwanted side effects such as profuse sweating and an increase in thirst.
We also learn that most PC’s rarely if ever deal directly with head and neck cancer patients. We are the rare. What you had is even more rare. We do have one another to lean on and learn from, so that is a plus.
I hope your voice gets repaired. I know of two people who are mute and their lives are a bit more complicated than most could realize, especially during a traffic stop.