Cancer Research UK main site

Radiotherapy & chemo for nasopharyngeal cancer - can medication pills be made in to liquid form?

Ladytanna7
Offline

Hi my mum is undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy as part of her treatments for her cancer , she has nasopharyngeal cancer , she is struggling now to eat any sort of food and tonight she had one of medication pills logged in her throat Causing her great stres . Do you know is medication she is currently prescribed can this be made into liquid from , thank you 

  • Hello and thank you for posting. 

    I am sorry that Mum is having problems with her nasopharyngeal cancer.

    Swallowing problems with chemo/radiotherapy regimes are common, so her team will be used to this and should be able to help.

    Do get Mum to tell the staff, someone in her team, or her specialist nurse (CNS) when she goes for treatment that it is all becoming difficult for her now. They will be able to refer to a pharmacist to look at her medicines and change things into liquids or dissolvable.

    We do have information on our website on a soft food diet if helpful. But the hospital should also be able to refer Mum to a dietician and a SALT (Speech and Language Therapist) for support.

    Please get back to us if you need any more information or support.  You may find it helpful to talk things through with one of the nurses on our helpline.  The number to call is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and the lines are open from 9am till 5pm Monday to Friday.

    Take care,

    Sarah.

Speak to a nurse

Quick links

Follow us

Registered with Fundraising Regulator (logo)
Cancer Research UK is a registered charity in England and Wales (1089464), Scotland (SC041666), the Isle of Man (1103) and Jersey (247). A company limited by guarantee. Registered company in England and Wales (4325234) and the Isle of Man (5713F). Registered address: 2 Redman Place, London, E20 1JQ.