Has anyone had surgery to remove scar tissue?

@thomason wow that’s a lot to take in. My worst 19 hour neck dissections made my mobility like a wooden neck. I’m only comfortable resting my head from so much muscle loss but knitting has become my best friend.

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.

I am a 3+ year survivor of Stage IV ESCC. I am totally non-PO due to extensive esophageal strictures. I've undergone 10 dilation but my esophagus is now too friable to attempt further dilations as it would repture. I am totally dependent upon my G tube for meds, nutrition and hydration. I was treated with aggressive chemo-radiation to try to control my disease. Unfortunately, one of rarely discussed side effects of radiation therapy for esophageal, throat and head and neck cancers is reactive fibrosis. While radiotherapy kills the cancer, it also produces free radical reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inflammation which cause tissue fibroblasts near the cancer lesion to produce increased amounts of connective tissue. This results in increased tissue stiffness and rigidity as well as strictures. The throat and esophagus may be amenable to dilation but the relief may be temporary as fibrosis and strictures inevitably recur. For severe fibrosis and large strictures, surgery is generally not advisable or effective as the tissue is generally friable and there may be too little viable tissue for effective healing.

This is an unmet medical need for esophageal, throat and head and neck cancer patients. I wish that radiation oncologists, oncologic surgeons and gastroenterologist would explore the use of co-administration of various antifibrotic agents, approved or experimental, to determine whether they might reduce or prevent radiation induced fibrosis and stricture formation.

I haven’t commented for a while but I wanted to update everyone after almost 4 years in a trachea- no voice for 3 years - remission for 3.5 years from stage 4 laryngeal cancer with radiation and chemo therapy. I am free of the trachea- I am able to talk normal again - I am able to eat normally again. It’s been a miracle- I found the right Drs and they do this all day everyday. I was at the point of giving in to a laryngectomy- I was in pain unable to sleep - unable to talk living in isolation from friends and family but I wanted another opinion. I went to NYU Langone Otolaryngology Assoc - cancer center then worked with the Speach center. I started with Dr Jacobson who referred me to Dr Amin who specializes in Vocal Cords - my first surgery I had 3 surgeons but it works - I had Dr Jacobson - Dr Cosby - Dr Amin - it went on from there - that first surgery was to see what was possible that was in Feb and now in September it looks like I have made it through and it’s a miracle.