Has anyone had surgery to remove scar tissue?

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

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.

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.

More importance has to be focused on the wake of damage done by the 'treatments' used. I was recovering from radiation nicely, returning to my previous lifestyle...until one day I was told I must have a Tracheotomy immediately or I might die.

A complete surprise as I had never had trouble breathing. I am now suffering from issues directly resulting from that insertion. Radiation...the gift that keeps on giving.

imaginus, if you can cover the opening of the trach and still be able to draw in air, then you don't need the tube, right? Mine has been with me now for a few years, so I have grown used to having a trach. I do not wear an inner cannula, (makes it hard to breathe) and don't use a humidifier. Also, I remove the tube about four times a day to clean. That process doesn't have to be as complicated as the professionals say...I don't put gloves on, or any of that. I rinse it under hot water while cleaning it out with trach brush. Then pour some peroxide on and in the tube, rinse again with sterile water, and it is done. Takes about one minute...When I mow the lawn, I wear an HME, but other than that, it is open. Our situations are probably very different. If the opening to the trach is closed, I cannot breathe, as the vocal cords are blocking the airflow. I hope your situation improves, or you can have it removed. As for the after-effects of the radiation, you are so right. It should not affect everyone in a different way so dramatically. It doesn't really make sense. The redlight therapy is supposedly helpful to radiated tissue, and I did utilize a wand several times a day during and after radiation. Did it help? I do not know for sure. I DO know that being able to eat and drink is a blessing. Take Care.

Funny...no one ever mentioned HME to me. I want to atv again, but I'm worried about dust and dirt getting in the damn thing.

I can breath through my nose, but with some restriction. Am hoping it can improve.

@imaginus, you are in my thoughts for a positive outcome. There is so much mucus on a constant basis inside my trach tube, that very little debris gets through. That inner canula was supposed to be there to catch the mucus to prevent clogs (they told me), yet it did the exact opposite. It clogged up all the time making it almost impossible to breathe. So no, I don't wear it, going on years now without incident. The suction machine was a pain, so my ENT showed me how to remove the tube to clean it. He said to me in a surprised tone, "You brush your teeth twice a day, so why wouldn't you clean the tube?" He is a gem! To each his own...It sounds like you may progress to having the tube removed. I am rooting for you. Oh yeah...the HME is like a mini humidifier/filter in itself. Does wonders with an electric bill.

@imaginus, you are in my thoughts for a positive outcome. There is so much mucus on a constant basis inside my trach tube, that very little debris gets through. That inner canula was supposed to be there to catch the mucus to prevent clogs (they told me), yet it did the exact opposite. It clogged up all the time making it almost impossible to breathe. So no, I don't wear it, going on years now without incident. The suction machine was a pain, so my ENT showed me how to remove the tube to clean it. He said to me in a surprised tone, "You brush your teeth twice a day, so why wouldn't you clean the tube?" He is a gem! To each his own...It sounds like you may progress to having the tube removed. I am rooting for you. Oh yeah...the HME is like a mini humidifier/filter in itself. Does wonders with an electric bill.

Here is an image of one. Yes, it just presses right on the opening (is that the stoma?!!)
Like the inner canula, it does hinder breathing, but not as bad as the canula.
When the air is dry, I put one on at bedtime. Usually, around 1:00 a.m. or 2:00 a.m., I remove it. At that point, the humidity is created will cause the mucus to greatly loosen for an easy expel. That is good, because at that time of night, who wants to be cleaning out a tube?
Let me know how it works out for you if you decide to get some.