Has anyone had surgery to remove scar tissue?

Posted by mindyt @mindyt, Oct 24, 2021

I have a lot of scar tissue from radiation leaving me with a challenged airway - it has also ratcheted down on my vocal cords taking my voice as well as painful- I live in an area that the Drs tell me to find a specialist (it’s over their heads) but the idea that I could have improvement would be incredible. I have been seen by 2 ENT surgeons in my state but I don’t think the information was there. So has anyone surviving throat cancer had radiation and surgery to remove scar tissue or anyone with some advice I don’t know where to go from here?

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Hi. I don't know whether you've lost your voice, but if you have this could help. My right vocal cord died and I could only whisper. I had a "box" surgically inserted into my throat area. It has fine hairs or threads (sorry I 'm trying to make sense of this) and when I speak they flutter to produce sound. It does work. The voice is about 65% which is better than nothing. An ears, nose and throat specialist performed the surgery. It is a permanent fix which is good. Hope this helps. Hang in there!

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@thomason

Dear @mindyt, I have had radiation for Pyriform Sinus Cancer. These two pouches, are located down by the vocal cords. My pen-pal friend has also had radiation for throat cancer. We both suffer in different ways. Your question about surgery to remove scar tissue is a good one. Here is what we have both been told by several different ENT's: Radiated tissue can become necrotic (rot) if any type of surgery is performed. One ENT described radiated tissue as "mush." Unfortunately, it can become necrotic on its own too. My friend has been on a feeding tube for over two years, as she can not eat, drink, and can barely talk. Her Epiglottis is fused to her throat from the radiation. Any tampering could produce disastrous results. We both have tracheotomies, as my Vocal Cords are paralyzed. I could barely breathe, thus, the Tracheotomy. Everyone is different, but when it comes to radiated tissue, it is a sad situation. As the doctors usually say, "at least you are alive." I foresee the day when less destructive methods are utilized to cure cancer, however, it probably will not be in my lifetime, as I am in my 60s. Good luck Mindy, and know you are not alone. Stay close to our maker, and you will find peace.

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thomason, thank you for telling us exactly what you will not find on the internet except from the person that has esperienced it for theirselves. so sorry for you and your friend, i thank you both for educating us. you just never know what someone has been through. i do agree with you in your advice to stay close to our maker to find peace. prayers for you and your friend.

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@richard1990

I have not had the scar tissue removal sugery. However I do have swallow and restricted breathing (short of breath) problems. I went to Emory in Atlanta to again have swallow study and the scope procedure to check the scar tissue which is present. I have been told by the the throat Doctor and my Heart Doctor that the scar tissue was a factor in my breathing problem. Both are of the opinion that surgery to remove the tissue could make the situation worse in the long run. The reason being that surgery could produce worse scaring as a result of the surgery. I had throat cancer in 1990 and have speaking problems worse now that before, still have swallow and breathing problems, I just live it day to day. I would be interested in others that have had the scar removal surgery. I think because of my age (79) they just don't have the interest they would have in a younger person.

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hi richard1990, wishing you the best and i have to agree with you as far as age. however, my endocrinologist says they don't look at age when i mentioned having thyroid surgery being an octogenarian, wow, the realization of being in the "superelderly" how about that. learn some new words for my age as far as surgeries go. i meet with the surgeon this morning to discuss things. so i will let all of you know even though i am on the throat cancer page. wishing wellness and happiness to each and everyone and you better believe prayers are said for each and everyone of you.

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I can feel myself turning a frightening corner--toward a negative outlook for the future. Feels like there will always be more Long-term Effects of Radiation to battle, and that my doctors will always just shrug and say, but you're alive. Yes, but it's beginning to feel like I'm going to watch myself slowly suffocate as my throat loses elasticity and the ability to function.

I hate to admit that every night is a struggle to sleep for an hour or so before waking to try and lubricate the throat, to no avail--and all day I struggle to eat because it's so hard to swallow and nothing tastes good. It's hard to take in enough calories to maintain a weight nearly 20 pounds less than my doctor prefers. And for what?

Sorry to be so negative!

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@pegimac

I can feel myself turning a frightening corner--toward a negative outlook for the future. Feels like there will always be more Long-term Effects of Radiation to battle, and that my doctors will always just shrug and say, but you're alive. Yes, but it's beginning to feel like I'm going to watch myself slowly suffocate as my throat loses elasticity and the ability to function.

I hate to admit that every night is a struggle to sleep for an hour or so before waking to try and lubricate the throat, to no avail--and all day I struggle to eat because it's so hard to swallow and nothing tastes good. It's hard to take in enough calories to maintain a weight nearly 20 pounds less than my doctor prefers. And for what?

Sorry to be so negative!

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hi pegimac, i truly feel for you. i understand your negativity. i'm not doing any radiation or anything right now. i just had to write to let you know. so far i can breathe, eat, swallow. thing is i just seen the general surgeon who says he won't do my thyroidectomy because he feels the cancer has reached my vocal chords. so he has said he will arrange for me to see a specialist but i have to drive further away. so who knows what will be next for me. i do know that there will be a lot of things i won't consider. things is, when your going through stuff like you are going through, who knows how you will feel as far as trying to survive. its hard.. i have been mashing up alot of my food with the food processor, i have to watch the dry foods. i wake up about every hr. on the hr. have to get something to drink as i have these coughing spells. always feel so tired. can you find another dr. who does not shrug! i don't like shrugs! should not be. wishing you the best this evening. you will be in my prayers.

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@lilyann

hi pegimac, i truly feel for you. i understand your negativity. i'm not doing any radiation or anything right now. i just had to write to let you know. so far i can breathe, eat, swallow. thing is i just seen the general surgeon who says he won't do my thyroidectomy because he feels the cancer has reached my vocal chords. so he has said he will arrange for me to see a specialist but i have to drive further away. so who knows what will be next for me. i do know that there will be a lot of things i won't consider. things is, when your going through stuff like you are going through, who knows how you will feel as far as trying to survive. its hard.. i have been mashing up alot of my food with the food processor, i have to watch the dry foods. i wake up about every hr. on the hr. have to get something to drink as i have these coughing spells. always feel so tired. can you find another dr. who does not shrug! i don't like shrugs! should not be. wishing you the best this evening. you will be in my prayers.

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Thanks so much, Lilyann! You're right--when life becomes mostly one struggle or another--waking up at night (me, too--not coughing, but this sense of almost strangling with the dry throat) and eating the way you are--that can't taste good or be very appealing--what are we fighting so hard to survive for? Knowing the cancer has reached your vocal chords has to be heart-breaking. Having come this far and faced the aftermath of treatments, none of the options look really good. Thanks for taking the time to respond!! Thinking of YOU this evening, too!

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There has to be some kind if scar tissue removal..I mean they do it other places.... to me I refuse to have a permanent threachea..I lett them put one in for treatments and a feeding tube I had stage 4 my radiation was 15 minutes for 48 days and chemo 12 :45 mins long every 5 days for 4 months ... I feel like crap 3/4 of the time ... but, apparently the doctors says I don't feel that bad .. I can't figure how they know how we feel when they didn't go through it. But, everything had to come out if I wasn't cancer free .. said I will only go through it once.

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@richard1990

I have not had the scar tissue removal sugery. However I do have swallow and restricted breathing (short of breath) problems. I went to Emory in Atlanta to again have swallow study and the scope procedure to check the scar tissue which is present. I have been told by the the throat Doctor and my Heart Doctor that the scar tissue was a factor in my breathing problem. Both are of the opinion that surgery to remove the tissue could make the situation worse in the long run. The reason being that surgery could produce worse scaring as a result of the surgery. I had throat cancer in 1990 and have speaking problems worse now that before, still have swallow and breathing problems, I just live it day to day. I would be interested in others that have had the scar removal surgery. I think because of my age (79) they just don't have the interest they would have in a younger person.

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I had lingual tonsil cancer 2006 with chemo and radiation treatment. all went well until two years ago. Started to have issues swallowing and noticed aspirating food into lungs causing pneumonia. Finally after one year i have been referred to Emory Voice center Dr T. Hopeful of direction so can get on with life!
Thanks for reading

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My brother had radiation for throat cancer. Now the scar tissue is hurting and causing intense ear pain. He said no one at radiology told him this would happen and if they did, he would never have done it. His thyroid, pituitary and adrenals were also damaged and has to wear a sensor to alert him when his blood sugar gets too low. This is not quality of life and he wishes he would have just let go and died. Has anyone here had intense ear pain from throat scar tissue, and does anyone know if there's a solution for this?

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@annette77

My brother had radiation for throat cancer. Now the scar tissue is hurting and causing intense ear pain. He said no one at radiology told him this would happen and if they did, he would never have done it. His thyroid, pituitary and adrenals were also damaged and has to wear a sensor to alert him when his blood sugar gets too low. This is not quality of life and he wishes he would have just let go and died. Has anyone here had intense ear pain from throat scar tissue, and does anyone know if there's a solution for this?

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@annette77, it must be so difficult to see your brother in so much pain. Has he seen a pain management specialist?

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