1. < Head & Neck Cancer

Getting frustrated with throat pain post radiation

Posted by srm @srm, Nov 26, 2021

Now 5 months post radiation. 33 treatments of targeted radiation plus chemo therapy for my stage 3 Metastatic Squamish Cell Carcinoma back of tongue R/S. A few weeks ago my throat pain was subsiding enough whereas I finally started eating soft foods with some good success. This week the pain increased to where I have had to go back on liquids. The pain is either on the left side, right side or back of throat. Sometimes the entire throat hurts like strep. The pain is always present but is really bad when I swallow something. Seems to be 2 steps forward and a few back. My oncologist claims that the pain will eventually go away but cannot provide any kind of time frame. Has anyone with similar treatment experienced throat pain for an extended period post radiation? If so, how long did it last? I was getting really excited and optimistic for a couple of weeks while eating very saucy soft foods. I was finally making progress and then things just got worse again. Nobody said this was going to be easy but it gets discouraging when I appear to be making progress just to fall back again.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Head & Neck Cancer Support Group.

egray67 | @egray67 | Feb 19 3:50pm
In reply to @jclassey "egray67 what did they say about your throat after the scope? I am also 3 months..." + (show)
@jclassey

egray67
what did they say about your throat after the scope? I am also 3 months post with a lot of throat pain back again. My ENT and rad Onc both said that I have a throat ulcer. "It should get better..."

Jump to this post

Unfortunately the appointment was a waste of time. Doctor did not agree or think scoping was necessary. Basically he said this lingering pain happens to some patients. All I can do is remain patient and continue with soft diet.
Ironically the last 3 days have been very good for me whereas my throat hasn’t been bad and I’ve been eating pretty well. I’ve had only occasional tube feedings, like only once a day. It really has been mentally uplifting and I feel great. However I did push the envelope a bit today, I tried a cheeseburger, now I’m in pain but not terrible. I think I will bounce back okay. There are lots of ups and downs in this healing process and no logic can be applied. Hopefully no more regression from here.
Wish you well

REPLY
jclassey | @jclassey | Feb 19 11:58am
In reply to @egray67 "In reply to Dave Hutsel Thanks for your info and post. I am sitting at 3..." + (show)
@egray67

In reply to Dave Hutsel
Thanks for your info and post. I am sitting at 3 months post radiation and am dealing with what is described, throat pain… burning when trying to eat. This is despite eating soft foods. There are days I get by with only one tube feeding other days up to four.
It is encouraging to hear that you are pain free after 6 months and hopefully this will be my case.
I have a follow up today for scoping of throat as next step to determine throat pain. I’m dreading the procedure and have little hope they can do anything for me. I just need to be patient. Sigh…

Jump to this post

egray67
what did they say about your throat after the scope? I am also 3 months post with a lot of throat pain back again. My ENT and rad Onc both said that I have a throat ulcer. "It should get better..."

REPLY
1 reply
baz123 | @baz123 | Feb 18 10:47am
In reply to @fordham "Been year and a half since I’ve been done also lots of ups and downs like..." + (show)
@fordham

Been year and a half since I’ve been done also lots of ups and downs like people say 1 step forward 2 back each month would get a little better I kept telling myself I’ll be better next month. Still suffering from some pain and dry mouth hope in time it gets better,taste is getting better but still can’t eat a lot of things I use to eat nothing seems to taste the same,what’s really bad is I’ve been a picky eater my whole life and I’m 71 hope this helps as it’s a long road as everyone says but it’s still better than the alternative

Jump to this post

look into Hyperbaric treatment and you will be amaze with the results.I did it read my post further down Good Luck

REPLY
baz123 | @baz123 | Feb 18 10:40am

I had larynx cancer A trachea 35 radiation 7 chemo sessions lost 90 lbs could eat no matter how hard I tried pain and taste terrible.Removed my trachea and put back in 2 months latter because the stoma would not heal also put in a feeding tube and had 60 2 hr Hyperbaric treatments and that saved my voice box created all new blood vessels and cured all the radiation damage and stopped the pain .I would encourage you strongly to look into Hyperbaric

REPLY
fordham | @fordham | Feb 17 9:17am
In reply to @imaginus "Good to hear you're progressing. It's been a year and a half since I finished my..." + (show)
@imaginus

Good to hear you're progressing. It's been a year and a half since I finished my chemo/radiation on throat. Let me tell you...the after affects can be brutal and far reaching. The things they DON'T tell you about. Radiation has the potential of damage beyond what I had envisioned.
Good luck...and hang in there.

Jump to this post

Been year and a half since I’ve been done also lots of ups and downs like people say 1 step forward 2 back each month would get a little better I kept telling myself I’ll be better next month. Still suffering from some pain and dry mouth hope in time it gets better,taste is getting better but still can’t eat a lot of things I use to eat nothing seems to taste the same,what’s really bad is I’ve been a picky eater my whole life and I’m 71 hope this helps as it’s a long road as everyone says but it’s still better than the alternative

REPLY
1 reply
egray67 | @egray67 | Feb 16 9:27am
In reply to @imaginus "Good to hear you're progressing. It's been a year and a half since I finished my..." + (show)
@imaginus

Good to hear you're progressing. It's been a year and a half since I finished my chemo/radiation on throat. Let me tell you...the after affects can be brutal and far reaching. The things they DON'T tell you about. Radiation has the potential of damage beyond what I had envisioned.
Good luck...and hang in there.

Jump to this post

In reply to Dave Hutsel
Thanks for your info and post. I am sitting at 3 months post radiation and am dealing with what is described, throat pain… burning when trying to eat. This is despite eating soft foods. There are days I get by with only one tube feeding other days up to four.
It is encouraging to hear that you are pain free after 6 months and hopefully this will be my case.
I have a follow up today for scoping of throat as next step to determine throat pain. I’m dreading the procedure and have little hope they can do anything for me. I just need to be patient. Sigh…

REPLY
1 reply
mytwocents | @mytwocents | Feb 15 8:51pm
In reply to @hrhwilliam "That is good news to hear. This healing after radiation takes years actually. Does it still..." + (show)
@hrhwilliam

That is good news to hear. This healing after radiation takes years actually. Does it still hurt if you cough or sneeze? I also had neck cramps if I yawned but after about six years that too went away. Have you experienced cramps?

Jump to this post

Just a quick reply to William, my pain was a constant throat and tongue pain that increased with swallowing. No cramps, but swallowing isn't natural, my tongue is screwed up so I don't enunciate my words as well as I used to, etc. But I'm looking down on the grass instead of up at it. Good luck to everyone who goes through this.

REPLY
imaginus | @imaginus | Feb 15 7:50am
In reply to @davehutsell "I had similar damage from radiation. My treatments completed May 5th, 2023. At my 1st follow-up..." + (show)
@davehutsell

I had similar damage from radiation. My treatments completed May 5th, 2023. At my 1st follow-up appt in Aug, I told my radiologist that they gave me perpetual strep. throat. I had 35 doses over a 7-week period.
I was told to give it time. By Nov. 2023 I was better. Pain not so bad but still had a hard time swallowing and food did not taste like much. It is mid Jan. and swallowing is still difficult compared to my old normal, but pain is gone.
I am at 7 months, cancer free so far, 43lbs lighter, don't like to eat as much as I used to. I can live with this.
I am told I can expect more improvement over time. 1 -2 years? I will keep updating. Hope i can keep the weight off. All this said from the days of struggling to get 8oz of boost down (took me oxy and an hour) to now, I have improved immensly and I hope you have similar results.

Jump to this post

Good to hear you're progressing. It's been a year and a half since I finished my chemo/radiation on throat. Let me tell you...the after affects can be brutal and far reaching. The things they DON'T tell you about. Radiation has the potential of damage beyond what I had envisioned.
Good luck...and hang in there.

REPLY
2 replies
Mentor
William Olsen, Volunteer Mentor | @hrhwilliam | Feb 14 2:49pm
In reply to @mytwocents "Update: For others who are experiencing post radiation pain, the hard pain has FINALLY subsided for..." + (show)
@mytwocents

Update: For others who are experiencing post radiation pain, the hard pain has FINALLY subsided for me now 6 months post radiation. For 6 weeks (4 to 6 months post radiation +/-) I was back on the pain pills, yet now it's just discomfort and the other side effects. Good luck to all of you.

Jump to this post

That is good news to hear. This healing after radiation takes years actually. Does it still hurt if you cough or sneeze? I also had neck cramps if I yawned but after about six years that too went away. Have you experienced cramps?

REPLY
1 reply
mytwocents | @mytwocents | Feb 14 10:51am
In reply to @mytwocents "I just discovered these postings and appreciate the information that my pain post radiation is probably..." + (show)
@mytwocents

I just discovered these postings and appreciate the information that my pain post radiation is probably normal. Let me offer a couple of comments for others. I'm 71 now and was diagnosed with the infamous squamous cell carcinoma in my tonsil about a year ago. Had surgery to remove the tonsil, etc. in May, 2023, followed by 33 radiation treatments ending mid-August, 2023, which puts me now at a little over 4 months post radiation. Lots of throat pain and weight loss, but years ago I discovered studies that promote acetaminophen and ibuprofen together as working better than either one alone. I think they helped me, along with the hydrocodone for a few weeks. For the weight, I still heavily eat Greek yogurt with honey, which is common in Greece as we found in our travels. I weaned myself off the pain pills about a month post radiation and dealt with the discomfort, but the pain returned about a month ago and I'm trying to avoid going back on the pain pills. It's probably common, but as with all of you it sure is frustrating. Even with the pain and weight loss, I'm still walking the golf course 4 days a week so don't let it slow you down.

Jump to this post

Update: For others who are experiencing post radiation pain, the hard pain has FINALLY subsided for me now 6 months post radiation. For 6 weeks (4 to 6 months post radiation +/-) I was back on the pain pills, yet now it's just discomfort and the other side effects. Good luck to all of you.

REPLY
1 reply
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.