Post radiotherapy side effects

Hi John. Four weeks is still really early. I was on morphine still at 12 weeks and tube fed for 8 after treatment end. It’s just a slow plod but it will get better. 
I’m assuming that as you had induction chemo your cancer wasn’t early. You’ve likely had a lot of RT and it’s going to take a good while to start recovering. 
Were you given swallow and jaw exercises? You need to do those religiously. I still do mine six years later. 
Hang on. Stay with us. There’s lots of help here. 

PS I see from your post elsewhere you were T4N2

Recovery from a lot of RT takes time. Sending you virtual forum hugs. 

Hi Dani

Thanks yes I was T4,N2,M0, SCC, P16 and had 30; radiotherapy treatments. 

I was doing the swallow exercises and still a bit maybe less frequently. 

I would feel a lot better if there was just some sign of improvement a week or so ago I was able to speak a few words and thought great this is a step forward but since then nothing has improved.  

Morning there, your story sounds all so familiar, my husband finished his treatment nearly 6mths ago,3 weeks into treatment he gave up on eating orally,was reliant on his PEG,talking became so unbearable, we invented a new sign language,the pain in the throat so bad,we had trouble finding pain killers that worked and suited him. I guess it's still early for you and your journey. We got 'pushed' by our speech therapist and dietician as well, I guess they ment well, my husband got some exercise given, to keep everything going. This treatment and recovery is cruel, percevere and stay positive. Hugs. Fellow wife Mel.

JohnED said:

I would feel a lot better if there was just some sign of improvement a week or so ago I was able to speak a few words and thought great this is a step forward but since then nothing has improved.  

I know. We are impatient after putting all our resources into surviving treatment. Keep a diary. You’ll likely notice if you look back a week how far you’ve come. It’s slow but improvements come, I promise. Dont despair. Recovery is steps back as well as forward but the trajectory is in the right direction. 
What you’ve had done to your body takes a long time to repair. 

Hi John,

It's a really tough journey and I feel for you. Take things slowly, maybe try just moistening your mouth with a little water to start with. It does take time for our mouths and throats to start to heal. See if you can hum to yourself to get your vocal chords moving and try to keep doing your swallowing exercises - little and often.

Sending hugs - this is a tough time for you - it does get better slowly, I promise! 

Debbie

I had 30 radiotherapy and 6 chemotherapy, after weeks 3-4 I could not really be bothered speaking as it was so painful, my CNS and SLT encouraged me to sip water at every opportunity to keep the swallow going, this seemed to help in the long run, pain lessened, speech became easier, a little hoarse at first then normalised, my PEG tube was in place for about 6 months.

Hello John

I never had any problem talking (my husband says he would never have been that lucky!) but I had huge problems swallowing…and liquids were the worst.  My SLT gave me some powder (sorry, can’t remember what it was called) to thicken water.  You can use it to thicken it to whatever consistency you can cope with.  Taste? Nul points, but it worked for me.

As others have said, it’s early days.  It does get better, but it certainly takes its time about it.  Al the best 

Liz