getting ready to start treatment

thennies61
thennies61 Member Posts: 285
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

Hi everyone as I'm nearing the start of my radition treatment am curious if they leave trach in or remove it.Also as I have read here my mouth will become pretty dry will I be able to sip anything with the trach in.During speach she has had me swallow and that's not a problem.The only problem I have is that I move tounge side to side or stick it out she thinks because it is swollen and nerves are still healing from the graph.

Comments

  • Ladylacy
    Ladylacy Member Posts: 773 Member
    #2
    Radiation Treatment

    When my husband underwent his first round of radiation he hadn't had surgery for laryngeal cancer.  Second round of radiation he had his laryngectomy and he wore his lary tubes for the radiation treatments.  It was left in.  But again each center is different in how they do it.  I would think they would leave your trach tube in.   As far as swallowing during radiation it will become harder to do and it is very important that you swallow to keep your swallowing muscles working.  We were told going in that radiation for head and neck cancer is one of the worse there is, and for many they don't't even complete the radiation treatments.  Just remember everyone is different in how they respond to the treatment.  Some have minor problems during radiation and others have major problems.  

    Wishing you the best -- Sharon

  • Pam M
    Pam M Member Posts: 2,196
    #3
    No Useful Info Here

    No experience with trach.  Just want to wish you well.

     

  • debbiejeanne
    debbiejeanne Member Posts: 3,102 Member
    #4
    I would assume they would

    I would assume they would leave it in if you still need it to breath but i have no research to back that up...lol.  Just want to say good luck on your journey and we will be on the sidelines cheering you on! 

    dj

  • thennies61
    thennies61 Member Posts: 285
    #5
    Seen doctor today and

    Seen doctor today and everything is healing good.He wants to leave trach in during my radition treatments at least at first for safety reasons.Asked about being to eat or sip anything yet he said he has to problem but would like the speach person to make sure I can swallow so the liquid will not flow into lungs.The good sign of that is that I have been able swallow well at least my slivis anyway.Getting antzy about going home in the morning and trying to get back to somewaht normal...

  • hwt
    hwt Member Posts: 2,328 Member
    #6
    thennies61 said:

    Seen doctor today and

    Seen doctor today and everything is healing good.He wants to leave trach in during my radition treatments at least at first for safety reasons.Asked about being to eat or sip anything yet he said he has to problem but would like the speach person to make sure I can swallow so the liquid will not flow into lungs.The good sign of that is that I have been able swallow well at least my slivis anyway.Getting antzy about going home in the morning and trying to get back to somewaht normal...

    Rads

    The radiation tx themselves are not that bad (I did not have a trach in, so can't speak to that) but the side effects can be difficult. Everyone if different and I hope your side effects will be minimal. If they get too bad, just remember that many of us have been there and don't lose sight of the reason you are doing it...to get rid of the beast. Continuing to swallow is extremely important.

    Good luck,

    Candi 

  • womancop
    womancop Member Posts: 3
    #7
    thennies61 said:

    Seen doctor today and

    Seen doctor today and everything is healing good.He wants to leave trach in during my radition treatments at least at first for safety reasons.Asked about being to eat or sip anything yet he said he has to problem but would like the speach person to make sure I can swallow so the liquid will not flow into lungs.The good sign of that is that I have been able swallow well at least my slivis anyway.Getting antzy about going home in the morning and trying to get back to somewaht normal...

    I'm having surgery for Squamous Cell Carcinoma of side of my ton

    Hi I was reading about you having your trach in.  That is the scariest thing for me.  I will have the tumor on the side of my tongue removed on March 7th and they told me I would have a trach as well.  I get sick really easy from pain medication and am scared how this will go.  I thought they would take the Trach out before I went home???  They are going to remove the spot on my tongue and if it goes past more than 1/4 of the side of it they will do a reconstruction.  Did you have that done? Also they are going to remove my lymph nodes to see if it has gone there.  I am to date stage two.  I wish you luck and please keep sharing your journey.  You've gone there before me so it's good to know you can swall and hopefully taste.

     

  • womancop
    womancop Member Posts: 3
    #8
    thennies61 said:

    Seen doctor today and

    Seen doctor today and everything is healing good.He wants to leave trach in during my radition treatments at least at first for safety reasons.Asked about being to eat or sip anything yet he said he has to problem but would like the speach person to make sure I can swallow so the liquid will not flow into lungs.The good sign of that is that I have been able swallow well at least my slivis anyway.Getting antzy about going home in the morning and trying to get back to somewaht normal...

    WELCOME HOME!

    Hope you have got to leave and go home.  You don't know what your post means to folks.  I'm scared to death!  I have to go for CT with contrast in the morning and tests prior to surgery March 7th.  Thanks for sharing.  Any advice  would be appreciated.  Keep posting and I'll keep reading.  What if you get sick and have to throw up with the Trach.  Will you drown?  I know this is a crazy question from an educated person but I've gotta ask it.

     

  • womancop
    womancop Member Posts: 3
    #9
    thennies61 said:

    Seen doctor today and

    Seen doctor today and everything is healing good.He wants to leave trach in during my radition treatments at least at first for safety reasons.Asked about being to eat or sip anything yet he said he has to problem but would like the speach person to make sure I can swallow so the liquid will not flow into lungs.The good sign of that is that I have been able swallow well at least my slivis anyway.Getting antzy about going home in the morning and trying to get back to somewaht normal...

      Do you have a feeding tube in after surgery

    How have you been eating?  With a feeding tube? 

     

  • thennies61
    thennies61 Member Posts: 285
    #10
    womancop said:

    I'm having surgery for Squamous Cell Carcinoma of side of my ton

    Hi I was reading about you having your trach in.  That is the scariest thing for me.  I will have the tumor on the side of my tongue removed on March 7th and they told me I would have a trach as well.  I get sick really easy from pain medication and am scared how this will go.  I thought they would take the Trach out before I went home???  They are going to remove the spot on my tongue and if it goes past more than 1/4 of the side of it they will do a reconstruction.  Did you have that done? Also they are going to remove my lymph nodes to see if it has gone there.  I am to date stage two.  I wish you luck and please keep sharing your journey.  You've gone there before me so it's good to know you can swall and hopefully taste.

     

    Hi womancop

    Hi womencop at first I thought it was a cyst at first untill I had a pet scan ct scan and bioboxy.Found it was a tumor under the tounge also stage two at the time.I thought maybe 1/4 of tounge but ended up being aittle more and the took muscle from my thigh and rebuilt it.They did remove lymph nodes and was all clear.They did tell me that I would have a trach and also a peg tube mainly for healing.I was surprized with everything they did there was no or at least very little pain.Was hoping the trach would been taken out.Willing to bet you'll go though radiation as I will soon and like everyone says the peg tube will be a big help.The trach on the other hand is more a discomfort then anything now but helps alot.My hardest part was using the sucktion machine but now that I learned and become comfortable with it can deal with it.Doctor said as radition treatments go he will take the trach out but for now more for safety reasons.Do worry about being scared everyone here has been but you find there is alot of support here and when in hospital they take very good care.Just give yourself time to heal finally my cheeks are starting to go down and feeling is coming back.Do have to have speach as with new muscles have to teach them how to work

  • debbiejeanne
    debbiejeanne Member Posts: 3,102 Member
    #11
    womancop said:

      Do you have a feeding tube in after surgery

    How have you been eating?  With a feeding tube? 

     

    womancop, i have a permanent

    womancop, i have a permanent trache and i've thrown up w/o drowning.  in fact, the trache has nothing to do with throwing up because the trache is in your neck so they are separate.  at least it is for me.  i would think yours is the same.  i also had to learn this stuff.  you will have to take special precaution to take a shower tho and i'm sure your doctors will explain that to you.  i'm not stupid either but this was all new to me and i was stupid to all THIS!  its been 2 years since my laryngectomy and i'm still learning about my stoma and the care of it.  i also learn about other cancers on this site.  no question here is stupid or off limits.  praying for you as you go thru surgery and tx.  it is not an easy road but you will make it thru.  take it one day at a time and come here often.  we will be here on the sidelines cheering you on.  let us know how you do.

    God bless you,

    dj

  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #12
    Getting Ready

     

    Once you go in and get strapped down before you know it the treatment is done. You might become a little dry mouth but everyone one if different in how they come out it, so you may be one who has very little problems with dry mouth.

     

    Get yourself geared up and ready and keep in you mind come April this will all be just a memory in the passed

     

    Will keep you in pray

    Tim Hondo

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