Hi all,
I am nearly 12 months out from chemoradiation.
I have been using Level 1 drink thickening for several months because I was coughing after drinking liquids.
Something seemed to change a week or so ago and I started coughing more in the morning (I thought just the usual dry mouth and sticky saliva).
Now, I am coughing for most of the day. My chest feels a bit tight and I have an intermittent wheeze.
I contacted my team and they are going to get me in for a check by my speech and language therapist (making me think they suspect aspiration). I am also due a 3 monthly ENT check and they are hoping to combine these appointments.
I am doing nebuliser and gargling salt water.
I have been reading (proper peer reviewed literature) about mid to late term onset worsening of dysphagia following H&N treatment. It seems that as fibrosis and scarring change, your swallow can deteriorate.
In the meantime, I have gone for Level 3 liquid thickening, just to see if this relieves the symptoms.
I did cough up some tiny spots of blood this morning (which scared me... worrying about mets etc... scan was totally clear in Feb) but I suspect this was from excessive coughing or aspiration damage to the lungs.
I have no other aspiration pneumonia symptoms. No raised temperature or chills.
Anyone else experienced this?
Thanks!
Steve
Hi SteveyN
I hope they get you sorted soon and someone comes on with personal experience here.
In the meantime I’ve done a search for you. A good few posts allude to FNAs but you can pick through
Dani
Base of tongue cancer. T2N0M0 6 weeks Radiotherapy finished January 2019
I wrote a blog about my cancer. just click on the link below
Hi Stevey N Good luck with salt team hope they can sort something out for you. Keep in touch
hugs
Hazel
Hazel aka RadioactiveRaz
My blog is www.radioactiveraz.wordpress.com HPV 16+ tonsil cancer Now 5 years post treatment. 35 radiotherapy 2 chemo T2N2NM.Happily getting on with living always happy to help
Thanks, Dani and Hazel,
I had a phone call with my SALT. She is going to scope me on 9th May to observe my swallowing. I also have an appointment for fluoroscopy, but this is considered non-urgent and it may take a while.
I still have the symptoms, but I am coping with it, for now.
Best
Steve
Diagnosed Feb 2023 with base of tongue cancer, oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC), HPV positive, staging: T4aN2CM0
Hi Glad phone call as at least got you somewhere. Hopefully salt team can brkng the fluoroscopy forward if needed.
hugs Hazel x
Hazel aka RadioactiveRaz
My blog is www.radioactiveraz.wordpress.com HPV 16+ tonsil cancer Now 5 years post treatment. 35 radiotherapy 2 chemo T2N2NM.Happily getting on with living always happy to help
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