laryngectomy

Hi PatchyB welcome to our small community forum. I’m 4 years post radiotherapy for tonsil cancer with several affected lymph nodes. I had 35 radiotherapy snd 2 chemo. My blog below gives my experience of radiotherapy to our mouth and throat are. We are all different in how we react but 4 years on an happily living a goodlife. Treatment is hard I was 61 when diagnosed. If I can do it any one can. Any questions just ask one if us  will always help. 
Hazel 

Hi patchy and welcome. 
As you are having radio to your neck it’s likely to have significantly less effect on your mouth than most of us here have had to endure with oropharyngeal cancer. I should imagine swallowing might become a little difficult but not impossible 

One problem will be looking after your stoma. I’m sure your team will guide you through this. 
Do let us know you get on. 

Hi Patchy, welcome to the Laryngectomy club, I had mine 2 years ago but did not have the follow-on RT, I have recently had RT for my other cancer and that as Beesuit says make sure you look after your stoma as I'm afraid it may well get in quite a mess as I found out. Don't be scared though as providing you take care of it the stoma will get better and make sure you stay with the speech therapists as they will guide you through it

Take care and com back if you need further support

Tony

Kasvin said:

welcome to the Laryngectomy club, I had mine 2 years ago

Mine was two years ago today, marked the occasion by having a thoroughly unpleasant swallow test!

OOh thanks Mike for that, exactly the same for me 2 years and swallow test next week

Tony

Hi All

Havent been on for a while i had a tumour on the top of my larynx and was told 2 have chemo and radio which i did went ok and all was good had a 6 week check up and throat was looking ok but radio had wrecked my voicebox so had to have a emergency tracky put in which was hard and have had a full larengectomy in sept which wasnt 2 bad but have devoloped a leak am hoping someone can help me 

Thank You

CHRIS

Hello Chris, would I be right in assuming your laryngectomy was a "salvage" one? It's what I had and is normally the case if you need the surgery after you've had RT, given the tissue damage the RT does (my consultant said it was like trying to sew cardboard together). I had a pec flap taken from my chest to provide healthy tissue for the throat "rebuild".

Leaks and failed swallow tests are very common, happens more often than not; I failed so was sent home with a RIG and was totally nil-by-mouth for around six months. Then I passed the test and all was good, after I learned how to eat again! More than two years down the road now and, despite the odd scare, I'm fine.

Hi Mike O

Thanks for the sharp reply yes your right it was a salvage operation the radio and chemo got rid of the cancer but totally wiped out my larynx which wouldnt open properley so was taken in and had tracky put in six weeks later was in having a full laryngectomy was in for about three weeks  had a swallow test and passed put in a valve so was really pleased.

Went hone then and started eating and drinking slowly was all ok until was drinking one day and my wife noticed water coming from under my hme so phoned the hosp and went up on a sun of all days 

Was seen by a ent reg he said i had a leak and priscribed me antibiotics which really did my stomach in and really made my feeds unbearable sometimes. and was given a appointment in 2 weeks he told me that it can happen and put me in for a swallow test which took another three weeks.

So went last week for test and was told i have a small  leak which is goi g into soft tissue contacted mcmillan nurse and she got hold.of consultant his sec phonedme and have 2 go and see him thur have been so stressed over all this .

Thanks for taking the time to reply Mike and appreciated so glad i posted on here earlier.

Many Thanks 

Chris 

Sorry to hear of your problems Chris, there's a lot of possible hitches after a laryngectomy, particularly a salvage one; I had an arterial bleed a month after I was discharged threw up several pints of blood, fortunately I was in out patients at the time and they rushed me to surgery; if I'd been at home.....not much chance I don't think, and a huge cleaning bill at the very least!

Hope they get you settled down soon, lots of life still to be lived.

Hi Mike

God that must have been so scary so glad u where in the hosp.

Hope u dont mind me asking Mike did the radio stop you having a voice valve 

Many thanks for helping me understand all this will keep updated on  how i get on.

Chris