Hi all. Well, I am a daughter of someone who has managed to grow a tumour between ENT and Upper GI department responsibilities…. It has stopped him eating and drinking, now has a stomach peg after an NG tube, plus a tracheostomy 2 weeks ago as tumour started to press on windpipe. Chemo starts in a week or so. I’m devastated and I’ve one scared dad. He can’t eat, drink or talk now above a whisper because vocal cords were impacted and he has a tracheostomy. He also can’t swallow his saliva so he has to get rid of it and therefore scared to sleep because of that and trach. Any advice from anyone who’s been here would be amazing eg what apps to use as an alternative to speech; managing saliva issues; best portable nebulisers and advice on sleep.
im desperate to help my dad who I has had so much taken away so fast. I’d love to hear how I can help and support him. As I say, this is overwhelming at times..
I've popped an answer to you, regarding the speech App, on your other post. I hope somebody here can help with the saliva issue
Dani
Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019
Hi So sorry to hear you’re Fathers problems and feel for your concerns, to be honest he is in early stages of treatment and all sorts of issues are going to arise, we on here will all have had different experiences with symptoms, I have a stoma as a Laryngectomy patient so can speak via a valve in my wind/food pipe but I can assume his operation was a bit of a rush job and they will come back to address and tidy his tracheotomy
With both my cancers I was able to swallow so eating and drinking was sometimes difficult but not impossible, it’s always best to speak with your consultant or oncology nurse for problems as they need to know to make adjustments and help, they are great with help, once the treatment starts he will feel the help surround him and you if you want- there’s probably nothing you can ask that they haven’t heard before, but he will need his sleep when things get started
As for nebuliser have you asked the hospital for one as I was and still have one from my hospital but they are cheaply available on Amazon, remember that that could increase saliva and mucus
Keep in touch and hope when the treatment starts he feels more comfortable
Best wishes Tony
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