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My husband is 4 years out from treatment of Stage II (T3 N2 M0) HPV positive oropharyngeal (base of tongue) squamous cell carcinoma. He had 7 weeks of chemo and radiation, no surgery.
He is still not eating enough to get rid of his feeding tube. In the last 6 month or so it's been harder for him to swallow, plus he is getting heartburn lately as well.
Did a swallow study in the Twin Cities in Oct and they found there is Esophageal impairment present as the barium tablet did get stuck at C6 level. But now I feel like they are just shoving us round to different places and not really doing much about it. Was really hoping that they would do a balloon dilatation to stretch his esophagus so he has an easier time swallowing and maybe then he would be able to eat other foods that he currently doesn't because it gets stuck. Even some of the pills (smaller than the barium tablet) have been hard for him to swallow. Why is it so hard for someone to say yep let's stretch it................we're the ones paying for it so why the runaround.
Just so frustrated and was hoping that someone here could give some suggestions as to what we can do.
Replies to "My husband is 4 years out from treatment of Stage II (T3 N2 M0) HPV positive..."
@moro, I can't answer your questions about the runaround you're getting, but I can connect you with others like @drupoint @aimeef @davidwrenn @puprluvr and @lori57216 who have had esophageal dilation or stretching.
You can see helpful posts in these related discussions:
- Esophageal Self Dilation
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/esophageal-self-dilation/
- Esophageal Cancer & Dilations
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/esophageal-cancer-dilations/
.
You might also appreciate this video from Mayo Clinic:
- Esophageal Self Dilation Therapy: An Effective Alternative
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/gastroenterology-and-gi-surgery/newsfeed-post/esophageal-self-dilation-therapy-an-effective-alternative/
I had chemo and radiation at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, and an esophegectomy at St Marys Hospital in Rochester. A month or so after surgery I did have an issue with swallowing and went back to Mayo for a dilation. I have had no swallowing issues since then and I eat a variety of proteins, raw and cooked vegetables.
My question to you is did you have the chemo and radiation in the Twin Cities as well as the swallow study?
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I had my first Dilatation about 2 years post treatment for the same thing, same reasons swallowing etc, etc.
Cut a long story short, I've probably had over 100 dilatations, most recently without sedation or anasthetic.
I have just started teaching myself , self dilatation.
In answer to your question, why don't you just straight out ask them why, they have not done a dilatation(s).
After you get the answer, I might be of more use.
Cheers
Bruce
HOBART. AUST.