Head And Neck Cancer survivor here. Interested in getting more information on therapy for dilating the esophagus. I experience swallowing problems at times. Thank you.
My problem is that I do have some difficulty swallowing at times but the biggest problem I have is chewing as my jaw get's real tired and I got to stop chewing and rest. What is this? The more I chew the more tired I get in the more it aches. Haven't got a handle on it as I'm going to talk to me ENT doctor at Moffitt Cancer Center on Wednesday about this. They're about to stract / 11 teeth of mine that are rotting away very soon so that might be the problem. I will keep you all informed.
@jano, @donfield Eating after HNC treatment is such a big issue. I have had a lot of surgery and trismus and lack of teeth mean that I'm limited to soft foods. I have a friend who had esophagus stretching and I believe it can be very effective. Hope it goes well for both of you.
Thanks but I have tried every trick known to speech therapists about swallowing , and I had a G I doc attempt to do stretching , and he said , sorry , no way .
I’m going to Wake Forrest to see a physician there who has developed some innovative techniques , but for right now , it looks like I will remain a tubie. Thanks for reaching out to me .
The scar tissues are not removed. I can eat only with some difficulty but is manageable. My biggest problem is the tightness and pain on the neck. I have tried massage by therapist and but does not help much. There may be other treatments that I don't know of.
The scar tissues are not removed. I can eat only with some difficulty but is manageable. My biggest problem is the tightness and pain on the neck. I have tried massage by therapist and but does not help much. There may be other treatments that I don't know of.
@yung Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! It sounds like you have scar tissue in your throat caused by radiation and chemo treatment. Your biggest problem is the tightness and pain in your neck. Did I get that right?
I'd like to introduce you to fellow members who have had similar experiences @jano@jbhart38731 and @imatine
Hi
I’m 4 1/2 years out. I had Neuro endocrine tumor on the soft palate of my mouth. Felt lymph nodes and saw an ENT immediately. Radiation and chemo together. Side effects for 4 1/2 years but nothing I can’t manage. Tightness in my neck thank goodness no pain. I could feel the scar tissue. Also my esophagus was affected. Food gets stuck in there once in a while. recently had endoscopy and I have Barrett’s esophagus and changing my diet. Hopefully it’ll work. Take care. Thank you
Hoping for some guidance: I had a very rare cancer ("HIGH-GRADE MALIGNANT NEOPLASM WITH SPINDLE CELL FEATURES - SARCOMATOID CARCINOMA vs. SARCOMA vs. OTHER" inside of my left salivary gland. Though surgery removed the tumor, based on its rarity, my surgeon recommended chemo and radiation. This was 5 1/2 years ago. Now I've experienced a severe hardening of the site and have lost vision in my left eye. My ophthalmologist doesn't know if they are related. He just told me my vision will not return. QUESTION: Is there a massage that can reduce/eliminate the internal scar tissue? THX - God Bless to all.
Hoping for some guidance: I had a very rare cancer ("HIGH-GRADE MALIGNANT NEOPLASM WITH SPINDLE CELL FEATURES - SARCOMATOID CARCINOMA vs. SARCOMA vs. OTHER" inside of my left salivary gland. Though surgery removed the tumor, based on its rarity, my surgeon recommended chemo and radiation. This was 5 1/2 years ago. Now I've experienced a severe hardening of the site and have lost vision in my left eye. My ophthalmologist doesn't know if they are related. He just told me my vision will not return. QUESTION: Is there a massage that can reduce/eliminate the internal scar tissue? THX - God Bless to all.
Hugh, am I understanding correctly that these symptoms both the hardening at the surgical site (left salivary gland) and the loss of vision happened recently, 5.5 years after treatment? Did they both start happening around the same time?
I am sorry you are having difficulty eating due to scar tissue. I can hardly open my mouth and can't get my tongue all the way out of my mouth anymore. Whenever I eat an ice cream cone I end up with it all over my nose because I can't stick out my tongue to eat it. I am having all of my top teeth pulled here shortly. Having only one salivary gland is destroying my teeth. My ENT gave me exercises to do to help with swallowing.
Connect
Connect
Like
Helpful
Hug
Head And Neck Cancer survivor here. Interested in getting more information on therapy for dilating the esophagus. I experience swallowing problems at times. Thank you.
My problem is that I do have some difficulty swallowing at times but the biggest problem I have is chewing as my jaw get's real tired and I got to stop chewing and rest. What is this? The more I chew the more tired I get in the more it aches. Haven't got a handle on it as I'm going to talk to me ENT doctor at Moffitt Cancer Center on Wednesday about this. They're about to stract / 11 teeth of mine that are rotting away very soon so that might be the problem. I will keep you all informed.
@jano, @donfield Eating after HNC treatment is such a big issue. I have had a lot of surgery and trismus and lack of teeth mean that I'm limited to soft foods. I have a friend who had esophagus stretching and I believe it can be very effective. Hope it goes well for both of you.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionThanks but I have tried every trick known to speech therapists about swallowing , and I had a G I doc attempt to do stretching , and he said , sorry , no way .
I’m going to Wake Forrest to see a physician there who has developed some innovative techniques , but for right now , it looks like I will remain a tubie. Thanks for reaching out to me .
The scar tissues are not removed. I can eat only with some difficulty but is manageable. My biggest problem is the tightness and pain on the neck. I have tried massage by therapist and but does not help much. There may be other treatments that I don't know of.
@yung Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! It sounds like you have scar tissue in your throat caused by radiation and chemo treatment. Your biggest problem is the tightness and pain in your neck. Did I get that right?
I'd like to introduce you to fellow members who have had similar experiences @jano @jbhart38731 and @imatine
There is a recent discussion that may be of interest to you.
-Meet others living with Head & Neck Cancer - Come introduce yourself :https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/meet-others-living-with-head-neck-cancer-come-introduce-yourself/
May I ask where you are in the process of recovery from cancer?
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionHi
I’m 4 1/2 years out. I had Neuro endocrine tumor on the soft palate of my mouth. Felt lymph nodes and saw an ENT immediately. Radiation and chemo together. Side effects for 4 1/2 years but nothing I can’t manage. Tightness in my neck thank goodness no pain. I could feel the scar tissue. Also my esophagus was affected. Food gets stuck in there once in a while. recently had endoscopy and I have Barrett’s esophagus and changing my diet. Hopefully it’ll work. Take care. Thank you
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionHoping for some guidance: I had a very rare cancer ("HIGH-GRADE MALIGNANT NEOPLASM WITH SPINDLE CELL FEATURES - SARCOMATOID CARCINOMA vs. SARCOMA vs. OTHER" inside of my left salivary gland. Though surgery removed the tumor, based on its rarity, my surgeon recommended chemo and radiation. This was 5 1/2 years ago. Now I've experienced a severe hardening of the site and have lost vision in my left eye. My ophthalmologist doesn't know if they are related. He just told me my vision will not return. QUESTION: Is there a massage that can reduce/eliminate the internal scar tissue? THX - God Bless to all.
@42hugh, welcome. I'd also like to bring @trauman @gaybinator @kkelly1023 @alpaca @jano and others into this discussion.
Hugh, am I understanding correctly that these symptoms both the hardening at the surgical site (left salivary gland) and the loss of vision happened recently, 5.5 years after treatment? Did they both start happening around the same time?
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionI am sorry you are having difficulty eating due to scar tissue. I can hardly open my mouth and can't get my tongue all the way out of my mouth anymore. Whenever I eat an ice cream cone I end up with it all over my nose because I can't stick out my tongue to eat it. I am having all of my top teeth pulled here shortly. Having only one salivary gland is destroying my teeth. My ENT gave me exercises to do to help with swallowing.