Swallow mechanism

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Hi there

I hope you are all doing as ok as you can be.

I finished my treatment (35 radiotherapy and 2 chemo after having a primary tumour in my tongue removed) at the beginning of February.

Fortunately I managed to continue eating without needing the PEG throughout my treatment and I am eating most things now. Because of this I have not been bothering with the swallow exercises my SLT gave me. However I have just read that its important to do the swallow exercises as if we don't it puts us at risk of dysphagia in the future due to the damage that the radiation does to our throats.

Does anyone else know anything about this? I will try and get to speak to my SLT next week to run it by them too.

Thanks in advance

Beesuit over 4 years ago

Hi.
congratulations for getting through treatment and doing so well in recovery

Please be guided by your SALTs but personally I haven’t bothered doing any exercises apart from the ones to prevent trismus.
I reckon my ability to eat and swallow most things is better than any exercises. I did do them under treatment as I had an NG tube for 8 weeks.
Hope that helps.

Dani

Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019

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SLJ65 over 4 years ago in reply to Beesuit

Thanks Dani. I actually remember my SLT saying not to worry about doing the exercises because I was eating and drinking stuff and therefore swallowing regularly. But I will speak to her again.

LindaWT over 4 years ago

Hi SLJ65

I had a tumour on the base of my tongue which was removed by robot followed by radiotherapy.

I did do my swallow and tongue exercises before my operation as I was advised that it would make my tongue as strong as possible before the onslaught of treatment.

It would be as well to speak to SLT for their advice but I would imagine as you seem to be eating well it shouldn't be too much of a problem.

Good luck and I'm so pleased you seem to be doing well.

Linda x

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Swallow mechanism