HPV squamous cell throat cancer: Soft palate isn't working

Posted by gareee314 @gareee314, Mar 15 5:19pm

I had my surgery on 12/2021 which started in the left tonsil and traveled to the back of the tongue , some of the soft palate, and retro molar trigon. Neck dissection with the removal of 33 lymph nodes, 2 were encapsulated and tested positive. I still need a stomach tube (3/2025) for Glucerna for nourishment. I am 72 years old. My upper(inside) gums get swollen now and then (since 1 year ago) and my soft palate feels like it's touching the back of my tongue. I produce alot of mucous above the palate that prevents me from swallowing food and hard time swallowing water. I constantly have to hack up to clear my palate from the (sometimes yellow) mucous into tissues. I had barium swallow tests done and they claim my soft palate isn't working properly and and swallowing make things (50%) go upward above my palate and could cause me to silently aspirate. I am seeing a speech therapist now to strengthen the throat muscles..Anybody hear or going through these same problems?

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gareee314 | @gareee314 | Mar 21 9:56am

In reply to @gareee314 "I have been on the stomach tube using Glucerna for the past 3 years. Since 1..." + (show)

Thank you for replying Sue..After my throat and neck surgery on 12/2021 a nose feeding tube was inserted and the constant rubbing against my soft palate was an issue. One night I coughed up a blood clot from the soft palate area from the chafing. A little of my soft palate had to be removed during surgery ( had some cancer) plus 2 masses at the back of my tongue and left retro molar trigon ( behind the gum behind the last molar). I was told the only radiation and chemo was needed for the neck because there was 2 of the 33 lymph nodes that had cancer. Before getting chemo I had a peg tube inserted into my stomach to replace the nose tube and a port in my chest was inserted at the same time. I have a regular checkup with the surgeon to check for cancer and I am seeing a speech therapist that is giving me exercises to strengthen the swallowing muscles..She recommended for me to get a palatal lift inserted to keep the soft palate from drooping. It would be like a upper partial plate. Now I am battling a lung tumor which I was told is not from the throat cancer that I had. I want to get that cured first with the chemo and radiation. I am constantly hocking up mucous from the top of my palate where it is produced and regular saliva is still gone. I have been on Glucerna for over 3 years for nourishment because of the soft palate interfering with my swallowing. My first ENT took a look at my barium swallow test results and said "Looks like you will always have your stomach tube" I didn't think she should of said that. Last time I go to her. Also, this past year, the inside of my upper gums get swollen now and then..My dentist checked and said it's all from the 30 treatments of radiation I got almost 3 years ago. I also have to be careful not to aspirate when sipping on water because the throat muscles aren't working normally. Another thing, I have COPD and been using a nebulizer with albuterol. I am wondering if this is keeping my throat and gums from healing.

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Mar 25 8:34pm

@gareee31, I expanded the title of your discussion to reflect your question about the soft palate. You might find additional information in these related discussions:
- Flap Not Functioning https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/flap-not-functioning/
- Has anyone experienced a tonsillectomy and soft palate reconstruction? https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/has-anyone-experienced-a-tonsillectomy-and-soft-palate-reconstruction/

How are the sessions with the speech pathologist? Do you have exercises to do daily?

gareee314 | @gareee314 | Mar 25 10:11pm

In reply to @colleenyoung "@gareee31, I expanded the title of your discussion to reflect your question about the soft palate...." + (show)

Yes . My speech therapist which I see weekly gives me exercises to do home to try and strengthen that soft palate..She is also looking into a specialist to fit me with a palatal lift. This is a device that hooks up to your upper teeth like a removable partial plate and has a bulb at the end to lift my lowered soft palate to help swallowing. I also get blisters now and then to my inside upper gums just above my molars that most likely is coming from the radiation almost 3 years ago. Hopefully that will subside.I do get a burning sensation to my soft palate probably because of the hocking up I do to get rid of the mucous that builds up above the palate.

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