Possible laryngeal cancer

Thanks Mike

Hi Kenny, as others have said saliva will come back. I’d say I’m about 85 per cent there after 21 months. I love my food as well I just always made sure in the first year there was liquid - be it sauces extra gravy or dressings. Always have a drink available to help if needed. I love my food as well - taste buds altered a bit but again are improving all the time  some things don’t taste as good as they used to but others taste better. Weirdly I struggled with baked beans for a long time (many day they are wet and help) My wife invested in spaghetti hoops !! Which slip down much easier. 

We really enjoy eating out and at my lowest point I thought I wouldn’t feel comfortable going to restaurants again - now we get out whenever the opportunity presents itself and really enjoy it again. I’m sure you’ve got the Xylimelts for overnight I also have.a Bioxtra moisturising gel by the bed to help if needed. Hang in there it will improve - the body is amazing in its ability to recover. 

Thanks Martyn that’s encouraging too, it’s just that one of the dieticians I see the other day I did mention my worries about the saliva issue and she told me that because I having my lymph nodes treated in my neck my saliva glands will take a heck of a battering and my saliva may never recover and that is sticking in my mind

I think she’s being a little alarmist. The salivary glands taking the hit are the submandibular glands under your chin and they will be knackered for ever but you have parotid glands under your ears and they are likely to be spared. Do ask. In addition inside your mouth there are microscopic salivary glands all over the place. Not only are they lots in number but they are more resilient. So hold into that thought but do ask for an explanation from your oncologist 

I think that’s what she mentioned the parotid gland taking a hit that’s where one of the lymph nodes are being treated 

kenny

HunKenny Like Dani I think she was being a tad alarmist. I had 7 lymph nodes  that by time treatment has started were cancerous.So I had 35 radiotherapy sessions plus 2x 10 hour chemotherapy l If I say at this moment in time I am earring cheese and crackers will that put your mind at rest ! It won’t happen overnight but we have other saliva glands that will work and compensate for any that get badly damaged, Sometimes the staff mean well but unless they’ve experienced the treatment they are working in theory’s.Yiure doing better than I was I had n g tube in at week 3 you are having soup and ensures. So try not to stress,At yiu next oncologist meeting ask them 

Hazel x

Ah. Then you still have the one the other side. Of my major salivary glands I have only one functioning parotid. The others were killed. My saliva is 90% of what it was and I can eat anything. 

Luggs said:

I think that’s what she mentioned the parotid gland taking a hit that’s where one of the lymph nodes are being treated 

Thanks Hazel I’ve got phone consultation Monday I’ll ask her then thanks again xx

kenny

Thanks Dani making me feel better xx 

kenny

Hi Kenny

Just wanted to confirm what others have posted about recovery of the saliva glands. 

I finished my treatment in August 2018.  My saliva has improved massively to what it was after treatment.  I wouldn't say it's back to where it was but it is not certainly nowhere near as bad as it was.  It can be incredibly frustrating and somewhat soul destroying having the dry mouth so I understand your worries but it really will improve.

Linda x