1. < Head & Neck Cancer

Swallowing feels like razor blades

Posted by bri3sd @bri3sd, Feb 2 1:25pm

My husband still is having a hard time swallowing water since radiation. I've been doing research. Is it radiation esophagitis? How does this heal? My husband says his throat still feels so raw, still has sticky mucous he tries to bring up. What can he drink or do to help his throat heal or does it heal on its own and it takes time.

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angmn | @angmn | Mar 7 4:01pm
In reply to @angmn "I started using Omnilux Neck and Decollete red & near infrared light therapy device for the..." + (show)
@angmn

I started using Omnilux Neck and Decollete red &
near infrared light therapy device for the wrinkles on my neck daily. I realized a few days later this must be the reason I was eating faster since I was doing nothing else different. My throat didn't hurt as much anymore and it was so much easier to swallow. The near infrared red goes deeper than the red, but they both are used to decrease inflammation for many situations(wounds, injuries,etc.)
I chose this one because I can walk around without being plugged in and it was on sale.

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Also, there are tongue and swallowing exercises for just for that reason.

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rsedlock1958 | @rsedlock1958 | Mar 8 8:18am

I had cancer of my vocal cords and radiation had the same affect on me as it is having on your husband. Now, let me preface my suggestion with I am not a herbalist or anything like that. However, when I had the same pain with mucous, and I could not talk, a doctor recommended that I drink marshmallow root tea. I couldn’t drink it piping hot, but lukewarm was fine. I found that it soothed my throat, reduced mucous, and gave me back some of my voice. When I finished my treatments, my voice returned much faster than my oncologist thought it would.

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roblem | @roblem | Mar 9 3:18pm

Hi bri3sd @bri3sd,

Not sure what kind of cancer you had but I had 35 rounds (7 weeks) of Photon radiation for a total of 70Gy and 3 rounds of cisplatin chemo for tonsil cancer back in 2008 but no surgery and I did research then and found in an England Journal of Medicine that honey could help soothe the throat pain from the mouth sores you will get. I did shots of real honey not the ones you find in your local grocery store which most all are synthetic and don’t have the same benefits. It definitely took some of the edge off for me.

I would use Manuka honey which you can find on Amazon that scores at least UMF 10+ and MGO rating of 100+ are considered potent enough for medicinal use- UMF ranges from 10 to 25, the higher the rating, the more potent the benefits are, and of course, the more expensive, the honey. In addition, I heard very good things about Red Light therapy, which using infrared light from a wand in the throat has worked well for many.

Hope this helps and good luck on your journey.

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valerie2025 | @valerie2025 | Jun 6 12:24pm
In reply to @hrhwilliam "Hello again @bri3sd He is three months out now so I would expect this would get..." + (show)
@hrhwilliam

Hello again @bri3sd He is three months out now so I would expect this would get a little better by now, certainly not fully recovered by any means. Gargle with warm salt water several times a day is the primary route most often recommended and for me, that worked. There is also a solution known as "Magic Mouthwash" which has I believe contains Lydocaine along with antifungals and other healing ingredients. This is by prescription only.
Another solution is Red Light therapy, which using infrared light from a wand in the throat has worked well for many. I'm often a skeptic for things like this but I have known of excellent results from this, even from one purchased by mail order.
Go with the warm salt water today, now, right away. Then ask his GP or oncologist for Magic Mouthwash if you think that will help.
It hurt for me to swallow for at least a year. Roughly fifty muscles are involved in the swallowing process, many of them damaged by the radiation. It takes time. I often exercised these muscles by sipping ice water or hot water (coffee/tea/broth), whichever felt best at the time. Doc said likely the salt in the broth was what helped the most. Courage. "Razor Blades" That's an apt description. I agree.

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This information is really helpful. Might you have any information about where to find the red light wand you mention?

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2 replies
Mentor
William Olsen, Volunteer Mentor | @hrhwilliam | Jun 6 8:59pm
In reply to @valerie2025 "This information is really helpful. Might you have any information about where to find the red..." + (show)
@valerie2025

This information is really helpful. Might you have any information about where to find the red light wand you mention?

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I don’t have the information about obtaining a red light wand other than from other patients who get them on Amazon and other online sources. Perhaps someone who has used one could pop in here and help us locate a pharmacy source.
Oh and by the way hello. I see you are new here. Lots of great patient to patient information in these discussions. One should compile a non-medical / medical journal for the world to read from these many chapters.
Welcome.

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niml | @niml | Jun 7 6:28pm
In reply to @valerie2025 "This information is really helpful. Might you have any information about where to find the red..." + (show)
@valerie2025

This information is really helpful. Might you have any information about where to find the red light wand you mention?

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Go to the hooga website. I bought the red light for my tongue and neck cancer. I use it every day
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1 reply
valerie2025 | @valerie2025 | Jun 8 11:40am
In reply to @niml "Go to the hooga website. I bought the red light for my tongue and neck cancer...." + (show)
@niml

Go to the hooga website. I bought the red light for my tongue and neck cancer. I use it every day

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Thank you both very much -- this is really helpful and I really appreciate the kind and quick replies. There is so much helpful information here.

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