Tonsil Cancer

lola5071
lola5071 Member Posts: 18
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
I just found this board and I am so grateful! Mu husband was diagnosed with tonsil cancer late fall of 2011. He finished his treatment of 35 rounds of radiation and 2 chemo treatments. It was tough but he made it through - ct scan was clear in February and first PET scan was clear in early April. Last week he developed a cough and has found it difficult to eat. He is coughing up much more mucus than normal. He went to the ENT today. He couldn't see down his throat as he couldn't open it far enough. So he said it could be an infection or it could be food/debri is collecting and not passing through to his stomach. Then he also said as a side note...oh and I suppose we might not have gotten all of the cancer. He doesn't have another appointment until next week and now I am freaking out. The ENT said he would talk to the Radiologist and Oncologist. Has anyone ever had anything like this before?

Comments

  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #2
    Her Name Was Lola....
    Sorry, LOL....

    Welcome to the board... I was also STGIII Tonsil Cancer in 2009, did the chemo and rads as well.

    I can't offer you much other than saying that was a pretty insensitive thing for your MD to blurt out without any other diagnosis.

    I'm sure others will be on here soon to give you their thoughts, opinions and experiences...

    Best,
    John
  • osmotar
    osmotar Member Posts: 1,006
    #3
    Similar DX
    Hi Lola and Welcome, like your husband tonsil cancer last summer finished all treatments in Dec. Sounds like your husvband and I have followed the same path for scans & PETs. The only rouble I get right now and it doesn't happen often is sometimes it feels like I have a glob of mucas in my throat with much effort I am able to bring it up( yuck), hot tea in the mornig seems to work bnest for me in breaking it up. I asked my ent after my first scope and he said it's all normal and everything looks fine, that there is still some swelling in the area of my throat that was radiated. Hope your next visits/consults go well.

    Linda
  • Greend
    Greend Member Posts: 678
    #4
    tonsil cancer
    I too had problems swallowing food and with stuff getting stuck. A couple of things to try: 1) Ger in a hot steamy shower and inhale as much moisture as possible through your nose and/or mouth. Coughing then would break down the plug and I could cough it up. 2) I found a Nasal Irrigator which connected to a WaterPic. You force the water through a nostril and it will/should come out the other. The first time was a bit painful (in my ears) but much easier after that. Kind of gross when that first ailen comes out your nose. I could then use the small bottles of saline spray available at most durg stores throughout the day to keep it clear.

    He needs to try stretches for the jaw to get the jaw more flexible. Hopefully Hondo will chime in because he has had this problem for a long time. DDoubt seriously that the cancer has returned at this point to such a degree that it would impact swallowing.

    Good luck,

    Denny Treated 1996
  • lola5071
    lola5071 Member Posts: 18
    #5
    Greend said:

    tonsil cancer
    I too had problems swallowing food and with stuff getting stuck. A couple of things to try: 1) Ger in a hot steamy shower and inhale as much moisture as possible through your nose and/or mouth. Coughing then would break down the plug and I could cough it up. 2) I found a Nasal Irrigator which connected to a WaterPic. You force the water through a nostril and it will/should come out the other. The first time was a bit painful (in my ears) but much easier after that. Kind of gross when that first ailen comes out your nose. I could then use the small bottles of saline spray available at most durg stores throughout the day to keep it clear.

    He needs to try stretches for the jaw to get the jaw more flexible. Hopefully Hondo will chime in because he has had this problem for a long time. DDoubt seriously that the cancer has returned at this point to such a degree that it would impact swallowing.

    Good luck,

    Denny Treated 1996

    Thanks for the comment. I am
    Thanks for the comment. I am wondering if anyone has heard of esophageal dilation? Evidently sometimes there is a lot of scar tissue due to the radiation. He did have radiation on both sides. He goes back to the ENT next week but has an appt with the radiologist on Thursday. I keep telling myself he had a clean PET scan 2 weeks ago so it can be anything too bad. He has always been the healthy one - never smoked and drank very little. Excellent physical condition as he as a gym teacher and played all sports. People tell me there will be a new norm - I just want to get there. It's great to be able to talk to people as I hate to say anything that might upset him.
  • lola5071
    lola5071 Member Posts: 18
    #6
    Skiffin16 said:

    Her Name Was Lola....
    Sorry, LOL....

    Welcome to the board... I was also STGIII Tonsil Cancer in 2009, did the chemo and rads as well.

    I can't offer you much other than saying that was a pretty insensitive thing for your MD to blurt out without any other diagnosis.

    I'm sure others will be on here soon to give you their thoughts, opinions and experiences...

    Best,
    John

    thanks!
    3 years and still going strong! That is Awesome! Hope you continue to do well!
  • longtermsurvivor
    longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,842 Member
    #7
    lola5071 said:

    Thanks for the comment. I am
    Thanks for the comment. I am wondering if anyone has heard of esophageal dilation? Evidently sometimes there is a lot of scar tissue due to the radiation. He did have radiation on both sides. He goes back to the ENT next week but has an appt with the radiologist on Thursday. I keep telling myself he had a clean PET scan 2 weeks ago so it can be anything too bad. He has always been the healthy one - never smoked and drank very little. Excellent physical condition as he as a gym teacher and played all sports. People tell me there will be a new norm - I just want to get there. It's great to be able to talk to people as I hate to say anything that might upset him.

    not gonna be cancer
    with a negative PET scan less than a month ago. Rad complications are a better bet. Stay cool. He needs an exam by the Ent. That will likely be definitive.


    Pat

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