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pain eating after neck radiotherapy

cazpz
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Hello all, I am due to have radiotherapy for lymph node caner and have been advised by the consultant to have a tube into my stomach in case I am unable to eat because my mouth becomes too sore. I am unwilling to undergo this operation as I know there are alternatives to weight loss such as weight-boosting formulae I can drink and the treatment is only for 6 weeks.

Also I have a friend who had this op and said it was pretty horrendous and he didn't need it as he continued to eat and drink normally. Does anyone here have experience of this situation and what did you decide? Thank you.

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    Hi i have lung cancer in chest and lymph nodes had 20 sessions radio last November. I finished radio to new lymph nodes mass in left lower neck last Wednesday, 10 palliative sessions. Slight difficulty in swallowing food but chew it wel and only swallow very small portions. On the 6 th session found lump under chin right side, devastating. Waiting for ultra sound scan with fine needle aspiration 31 July waited nearly 4 weeks for this. Do not know what will happen but the latest lump under chin is obviously close to mouth, so if more radio might have same problem, hope not. There are So many scary things you hear, hope it goes well for you .

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    Hi cazpz

    I have had exactly this treatment. Radical neck dissection removal of tumour, salivary gland and lymph nodes followed by radiotherapy to face and neck. It is a tough deal, I'm as hard as they come and I nearly gave up the treatment on two occassions. After the second week you will start to find it difficult to swallow because your throat will be raw like sunburn on the inside, the inside of your mouth will also be raw you will be given mouthwash to use hourly to prevent it getting too bad. As the course of treatment continues it gets harder to eat anything but sloppy bland liquid food, like soups, custard, rice pudding cottage pie etc. and the thick shake supplements. Alcohol and spicy or acid foods are out.  I often took an hour to force down a sideplate of food with a teaspoon and sips of water, you will need painkillers to continue eating. Your saliva production will be reduced or stop altogether adding to the difficulty of eating. Your sense of taste will make certain foods taste disgusting or will disappear altogether and your swallowing reflex will be badly affected. You will lose lots of weight and the lack of nutrition will make you very tired. I too refused to have a peg and I did get through it but its the hardest challenge I have ever faced in my life.

    The point of all this is not to put you off having your treatment but to ask you to seriously consider having a peg fitted if your healthcare team advise it, so that should you not be able to continue eating you will be able to get some nutrition.

  • Offline in reply to kimchoson

    HI,

    I had tongue cancer and lost about 60% of my tongue. I was unable to swallow and my speech is difficult to understand.  I was fitted with a peg which I have now had for 8 years.  The Op was no problem at all

    and I have been totally happy with it since day one.  When I woke op after the Op I had a tube up my nose

    the peg direct into my stomach was so much better.  I would recommend you to go this route it is so much

    easier than struggling to eat normally. Being able to get your nutrition without effort will help speed your

    recovery too. 

     

    Colin

  • Offline in reply to Colinb

    Hi Colin

    I wrote all that stuff for cazpz to show that what he is about to go through is not a walk in the park and 6 weeks is a long time. Having a peg fitted just gives an extra option, and for many people is reversable once they can manage to swallow again. Swallowing also takes quite some time to regain with help from speech therapists and others. many like yourself are not able to regain this reflex and need to continue with the peg. You seem to have adapted well and like all of us probably treat your current condition as the new normal, all the best.

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