Nasal and sinus cancer stage 4

Hi Asettle

Thanks for getting in touch.

Radiotherapy for head and neck cancer can cause side effects such as a sore mouth and throat which can cause difficulty swallowing. These side effects often happen a couple of weeks after treatment has finished.

There are lots of different ways to manage these side effects such as the antacid and oxetacaine you have mentioned, but sometimes people need additional medications to manage the side effects and make them more comfortable.

Eating and drinking after head and neck cancer treatment is important to prevent weight loss. The body also needs the right nutrition and calories to be able to heal after treatment.

It’s important to let someone know about any new or different symptoms to prevent them from getting worse. A sore mouth or throat may also be a sign of an infection. If an infection is left untreated it can cause serious complications such as blood poisoning (sepsis), which can be life threatening.

We are unable to give advice on medications as we do not have access to medical records. We would suggest contacting your treatment team on the 24-hour number you have been given or 111 straight away for assessment.

They can make sure your husband gets the right medications to make eating and swallowing much easier. They can also get him nutritional drinks and refer him to a dietician or Speech and Language Therapist (SLT) if needed.

Best wishes,

Louise R – Macmillan

Our Ref: Ahr